Question 1

My key broke in the ignition. Can you get it out?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Broken key extraction on these is a regular call. The 2000 Elantra uses a traditional ignition cylinder, and when a key snaps, the broken piece usually stays near the front of the cylinder where it can be worked out without pulling the whole column apart. We extract the broken piece, then cut a replacement key to your vehicle. In most cases the cylinder comes out of it fine. If there's any damage to the cylinder itself, we can address that at the same visit. Either way, you're not towing it anywhere.

Question 2

What exactly is a remote head key?

Accepted Answer

It's a key where the remote buttons are built into the head of the key itself, not clipped to a separate keyring fob. The 2000 Elantra came with this setup. You've got the metal blade coming out of one end and the button housing on the other, all one piece. It goes into the ignition like a normal key, and the same unit handles your lock and unlock functions. If the housing cracks or the buttons stop responding, the whole key head needs to be replaced and the replacement needs to be set up to work with your vehicle. The blade and the remote functions both matter, so you can't just swap the shell without addressing both.

Question 3

My Hyundai is showing a key-not-detected warning. What do I do?

Accepted Answer

On a 2000 Elantra with a remote head key, you're dealing with a traditional ignition cylinder, not a push-button system. If the car isn't starting or is acting like it doesn't recognize the key, start by checking the key itself for damage and try the spare if you have one. Remote head keys from this era can develop worn contacts inside the housing over time, and the transponder component can occasionally fail or lose contact if the housing has taken a hit. If the spare works and the primary doesn't, you're likely looking at a failed key rather than a vehicle-side problem. If neither key works, that points toward the vehicle's security system and is worth a hands-on diagnosis before assuming you need new keys.

Question 4

Can I still get a replacement key cut for a 2000 Elantra, or is it too old to find parts for?

Accepted Answer

Age works against you at the dealer, not with a locksmith. Hyundai dealers typically hold key records for about ten years, and a 2000 is well outside that window. A lot of dealer service counters will just turn you away. Mobile locksmiths work differently. We decode the key from what's in your hand or read the lock directly, then cut a new blade to match. Aftermarket blanks for this generation are still available, and a quality-sourced blank cuts and functions the same as the original. The car being 25 years old doesn't change the process much. If anything, older mechanical systems are more predictable to work with than newer ones.

Question 5

The buttons on my remote head key stopped working but the key still starts the car. Do I need a whole new key?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. On a remote head key this age, the lock and unlock buttons can fail independently of everything else. Common causes are worn button contacts inside the housing, corrosion from moisture getting into the seam, or a cracked circuit board from the key being dropped. If the blade still works in the ignition, the remote side might be repairable with a shell swap or contact cleaning depending on what's actually failed. Worth having someone open it up and take a look before writing off the whole key. Sometimes it's a ten-minute fix.

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