Question 1

My key broke and part of it is stuck in the ignition. Can you get it out?

Accepted Answer

Yes, broken key extraction is a standard mobile job. I carry the tools to pull the broken piece without damaging the ignition cylinder -- done carefully, the cylinder stays intact and usable.

Once the fragment is out, I can cut a replacement key from the extracted piece or pull the cut directly from your vehicle's lock data. On a smart key fob like the Telluride uses, if the electronics inside the fob are still good and only the blade or the shell is damaged, there's often a path to transplanting the working components into a fresh shell rather than starting from scratch. Whether that saves you anything depends on what's actually broken, and I'll tell you honestly on site which way makes more sense.

Question 2

What exactly is a smart key and how is it different from a regular car key?

Accepted Answer

A smart key does a few things at once. It handles passive entry -- meaning the doors can unlock just from the fob being in your pocket when you touch the handle -- and it communicates with the vehicle's security system to authorize the engine to start when you press the button. There's also a physical blade folded inside for situations where you need it, like unlocking manually if the battery is fully dead.

Your 2024 Telluride uses this setup. The fob has five buttons and runs on a CR2450 battery. Because the key is actively enrolled in the vehicle's security system, a replacement can't just be cut and handed to you -- it has to be paired to your specific car using diagnostic equipment. That's true whether you buy the fob from a dealer or from me.

Question 3

My Telluride is showing a key-not-detected warning. What should I check first?

Accepted Answer

Start with the battery. The Telluride fob uses a CR2450 -- make sure that's what you're putting in, not a thinner substitute. A correctly sized fresh cell fixes this more often than people expect.

If the battery is good and you're still locked out, try holding the fob directly against the start button while pressing the brake. The vehicle has a backup detection path specifically for low-signal situations, and this often gets you started enough to drive somewhere and address the underlying problem.

If neither of those works, the issue could be the fob itself, the antenna in a door handle, or something in the security system that needs a proper diagnostic read. That's the point where you call me rather than keep guessing.

Question 4

I bought a replacement fob online. Can you just program it to my Telluride?

Accepted Answer

Possibly, but there's a catch. The fob has to be the correct one for your vehicle -- the factory FCC ID on the fob needs to match what your Telluride expects. If someone sold you the wrong fob, no amount of programming fixes that.

Assuming the part is correct, yes, I can pair it using diagnostic equipment. There's no owner-accessible self-programming sequence on this system -- adding a smart key requires a tool that communicates through the OBD port with the proper security credentials. So even if the fob is right, you still need a tech to finish the job. Call me before you buy anything online and I'll tell you what to look for.

Question 5

Can I add a spare key without going to the dealer?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Adding a spare to a 2024 Telluride is exactly the kind of job I do in RiverPark driveways. I bring the fob, I bring the equipment, and I add the new key to the system on site. The whole thing typically runs under an hour.

The dealer is not your only option, and for most people it's not the most convenient one either. You get a real receipt, a licensed tech, and you don't have to sit in a waiting room.

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2024 Kia TellurideKey Replacement - Save vs Dealer in Ventura County

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