Does anyone have any Lishi decoding tips?

[hussainali]

Hi everyone,

Every time I try to decode a barrel using a Lishi, I always get the decode wrong and therefore the wrong cuts. Normally I use InstaCode to help but some vehicles and key types, you can’t use InstaCode. Any tips on decoding using Lishi?

Thanks!

[rapidlocksmiths]

if only someone had taken the time and written complete step by step guides for picking and decoding , hints tips and sequence info when necessary for the majority of lishi tools on the market and had them published in a number of trade magazines as well as in a book , if only .

locks act differently lock to lock , tools differ from tool to tool , so it would help if you asked about a specific tool , ie what lock did you pick open and decode incorectly ?

so what lock barrel did you try and decode
ignition or door lock
what lishi tool did you use
how many lift arms on the tool

[hussainali]

Haha sorry man I didn’t explain it properly. I know there are guides for different Lishi picks. Recently I was trying to decode a VA2 lock but the lift arms aren’t always on the numbers but rather in between. For example instead of being a clear 4 cut on the tool, sometimes it appears as though it’s in between a 3 and 4 and it’s hard to tell which it is? Am I pushing too hard on the lifters or too less?

[p1et]

Maybe you decode wrong side

[lion0304]

Maybe you decode wrong side

Oh yeah, totally agree. Manual work is definity diffrent than pressing OK.

[hussainali]

I decoded the VA2 like this: Position 1,2,4,5 = up. Position 3 & 6 down.

[key4man]

My friend, practice brings perfection, and your mistakes in doing things are the best way to learn to do it right

[rapidlocksmiths]

VA2 will depend on which version of va2 you are working on , dictated by year and model of the vehicle .

you will also have 2 different versions of the VA2 , one using 6 key heights on ABCDEF series , the other using just 4 key heights on 1234Q5678H series refered to as VA6 , these use a different lishi tool to get accurate decode , ABCDEF series uses VA2T single lift tool , the 1234Q5678H series lock uses the VA6 4 lifter tool , both tools will pick open both lock types but only the correct tool will decode its relevent lock series.

if using the wrong tool on the wrong lock series you will get miss reads

so

what lishi tool did you use ?

what year make and model was the vehicle ?

to confuse things further for you , there is also a 7 and an 8 wafer version of the lock too .

[hussainali]

I used the Lishi VA2T single lifter. It was a 2009 Renault Clio 1.2 Petrol. Yup successfully made it quite confusing haha

[rapidlocksmiths]

ok then if you have used the VA2T lishi then this is your error .

the clio on 2009 model uses the 1234Q5678H series lock , so the VA2T is the wrong tool for the job .

if remote key/flip key model then the correct tool is the VA6 4 lifter tool for accurate decode

if card system mode then the laguna 3 tool is the correct tool for this model

the VA2T tool is for the 6 height ABCDEF series locks and not for the clio 3 lock , the clio 3 lock uses just 4 key heights and uses 1234Q5678H series , so if using VA2T you will get miss reads as using a grid with different depths , you can use the va2t but you have to know the height differences between the 2 locks and compensate for this , so on your vehicle its just a case of the wrong tool for the lock so wrong tool for the job.

[hussainali]

Ah ok I see, thanks for the help!

[rapidlocksmiths]

regarding renault , psa and smart car models that use the VA2 key blade ;

with renault models using VA2 blade , you will find that all use VA6 lishi with 4 lifters on 1234Q5678H series , none use the VA2T

citroen all DS models and alot of models after 2010/2011 use the va6 tool on 1234Q5678H series and not the VA2T

peugeot most use VA2T tool ABCDEF series

smart car uses VA6 tool 1234Q5678H series

the main exceptions are

citroen berlingo , peugeot partner these have always used the VA2T ABCDEF series and never used the 1234Q5678H series

citroen C1 , peugeot 107 and toyota aygo used the va6 tool on 1234Q5678H series.

its all quite simple when you know your keys , series , change years and what model uses what tool , the boring time consuming study , but an essential part of being a locksmith .

clio 3 all keys lost id expect to use lishi VA6 4 lifter tool to pick and decode the lock , cut the key , program key and be done in 12 to 15 minutes start to finish, the tool is very accurate when used correctly .

some 2021 models of psa use 7 cuts , the VA8 tool gets these fine
some toyota use 8 cuts on key , the va8 tool also gets these

but all use same va2 blade .