Question 1

Are you licensed and insured to work on Mazda vehicles in Montecito?

Accepted Answer

Yes. EZ Car Keyz holds a California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services license, LCO#6792, and carries full liability insurance. For vehicles like the 2011 CX-9 where the smart key system requires access to the vehicle's security programming, I also carry NASTF Vehicle Security Professional credentials. That matters because security key data for late-model vehicles is access-controlled, and not every locksmith operating in the area has gone through the credentialing process to obtain it legitimately. If someone quotes you a deal on a Mazda smart key job but can't tell you how they're getting the security data, that's worth asking about.

Question 2

How do I spot a scam locksmith before I hand over my car?

Accepted Answer

There's a pattern. Low quote over the phone, then new fees appear once they're on site and your door is already open. Mazda owners specifically have run into this with smart key jobs because the programming step is invisible to the customer. You can't easily tell whether the work was done correctly until the key fails two days later.

A real shop gives you a firm number for your specific vehicle before anyone shows up. They explain what the job involves. They have a verifiable business address, a real license number you can look up, and they don't invent complications after the fact. We have over 100,000 followers across our YouTube and TikTok channels showing exactly how we do this work, so you can watch the process before you ever call.

Question 3

Will the replacement smart key work exactly like my original factory key?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Once the key is properly registered to your 2011 CX-9, it communicates with the vehicle's security system the same way the original does. Lock, unlock, and the other fob functions all operate normally. I test every button and verify the vehicle starts before I consider the job done.

One thing owners sometimes run into with improperly programmed aftermarket keys: a persistent key warning on the dash that never clears even though the car starts. That happens when the registration wasn't completed cleanly. I use OEM-specification keys and verify the full result on site, so you're not finding out about a problem after I've left.

Question 4

I bought a replacement fob online. Can you just program it, or do I need to buy a key from you?

Accepted Answer

Bring it and we'll check it. The honest answer is that some online fobs for this vehicle register without issues, and some don't. The factory FCC ID on the original fob is what tells you whether a replacement is built to the same spec. If the one you bought matches, there's a reasonable chance it programs correctly. If it's a lower-grade clone that looks right but isn't, you'll either get a failed registration or a key that works for a week and then drops out.

If the fob you have doesn't take, I carry OEM-specification replacements. You won't pay twice for labor regardless of which way it goes.

Question 5

The key warning light comes on sometimes when I start the car, but then it goes away. Is my smart key failing?

Accepted Answer

Intermittent key warnings on this system usually point to one of three things: a battery that's getting low but not dead yet, a fob body that's taken enough drops that the internal components are slightly loose, or a door handle antenna that's starting to lose sensitivity. The CX-9's keyless system pings the fob through antennas in the door handles, and if one handle is reading weak, the car sometimes hesitates before it confirms the key is present.

Start with the battery. CR2025, not the thicker CR2032. If a fresh correct battery doesn't stop the intermittent warning, the next step is checking whether it happens more on one door than the other, which helps narrow down whether it's the fob or the handle antenna. Either way, it's worth catching before it becomes a no-start.

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