Question 1

How do I spot a fake locksmith before I get taken advantage of?

Accepted Answer

Three things to check before you hand over your keys or your card.

First, look up the business name on the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services database. Every legitimate locksmith company operating in this state is required to carry a BSIS license, and they should give you that number without hesitation when you ask. If they stall or redirect, end the call.

Second, ask for a firm quote on the phone for your specific vehicle. A real locksmith will ask the year, model, and how many working keys you currently have. Jaguar smart key work is not the same job as cutting a basic house key, and pricing that does not account for that difference is a red flag. Vague answers on the phone usually mean a very different number once they are standing next to your car.

Third, ask what diagnostic tool they use on Jaguar vehicles. You do not need to know the answer yourself. Just ask the question. A locksmith who actually does this work will answer without blinking. One who cannot do the work will fumble it.

Question 2

What exactly is a smart key and how does it work on the 2019 E-Pace?

Accepted Answer

Your E-Pace does not use a traditional key that simply turns tumblers. The smart key communicates wirelessly with the vehicle's key management system to verify it is an authorized fob before the engine is allowed to start. That communication is encrypted, which is why a key that has not been registered to your specific car will not work even if it is the correct physical shape.

The fob also handles your remote lock, unlock, and the other button functions for the doors. The CR2032 battery powers all of that. When the battery drops too low, the car may stop recognizing the key entirely, which can look like a much bigger problem than it is.

What this means practically: you cannot buy a replacement fob online and have it work out of the box. It needs to be programmed to your car using professional diagnostic equipment. No workaround exists for that step on this system.

Question 3

What equipment do you actually use to program a Jaguar smart key?

Accepted Answer

Professional-grade immobilizer programming tools with Jaguar-specific coverage. On the 2019 E-Pace, key registration goes through the OBD port using a diagnostic interface that can communicate with the vehicle's key management module directly. The process involves reading the current key data, registering the new fob, and confirming the vehicle accepts it before closing out the job.

I also carry the correct blade decode tools for Jaguar vehicles so I can cut a working emergency blade on site if needed.

If a locksmith cannot tell you specifically how they handle Jaguar key management, that is worth taking seriously. This is not a vehicle where general automotive locksmith experience is enough. The tooling matters.

Question 4

My E-Pace is showing a key-not-detected warning but the fob is right there. What is going on?

Accepted Answer

This is one of the more common complaints E-Pace owners post about in forums, and it usually traces back to one of three things.

Battery is the first suspect. The CR2032 in the E-Pace fob can drop below the threshold the car needs while still showing power on a basic battery tester. If you have not replaced it recently, start there and make sure it seats flush against both contacts when you close the fob back up.

Second possibility is that the fob has lost its pairing after a low-battery event or a module reset. The car remembers keys by their registered profile, and sometimes that link needs to be re-established with diagnostic equipment even if the fob itself is fine.

Third is a reception issue near the antenna. If the warning is intermittent and the car starts fine once you hold the fob closer to the start area, the key itself is probably okay but the signal path is degraded.

If the warning is consistent and swapping the battery does not change anything, that is when you need someone with the right tools to look at the key management data directly.

Question 5

Can I add a second key for my 2019 E-Pace myself, or do I need a shop?

Accepted Answer

You need a shop. There is no self-programming sequence on the E-Pace smart key system. Adding a key requires diagnostic equipment connected to the OBD port to register the new fob with the vehicle's key management module. A button sequence or ignition-cycle trick is not an option here.

The upside is that it is a clean, defined job. A locksmith equipped for Jaguar work can add a spare key on site, wherever the car is parked.

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