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General => The Shed => Topic started by: steve76 on November 18, 2011, 11:22:36

Title: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: steve76 on November 18, 2011, 11:22:36
Hi all
 I brought a second hand car about 12 months ago now for me for work, it only come with the one key fob that does work, i thought it be safe to get a spare key so i brought a key fob from ebay and a local key cutter done the blank for me the problem i have is the new key will open the door and turn the engine over but the engine will not start it just cranks over and it will not let me program it to the car for the remote to work??? i ve done what it says in the manual to program the key when you do a battery change but still no joy, the manual does say about a master key which i don't have... any ideas please..

Thanks Steve.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: jimtheworzel on November 18, 2011, 11:31:28
take it to the dealer
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: elvis2003 on November 18, 2011, 11:32:01
no idea but good luck getting it sorted,im sure someone will be along in a min who can help
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: ACE on November 18, 2011, 12:04:09
Master key I think, better get a bank loan  :(

I don't expect you will get the answer in an open forum but a garage might be able to solve the problem if they can plug in their computor and re-configure the engine management system. Not cheap again. Just never let you working key out of your sight.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: lincsyokel2 on November 18, 2011, 23:52:29
It may or may not be possible to reprogram the key.

What you need to do is post an picture of the key to identify it, and  what is the make, modeland year of the car ?

The key may mechanically turn the ignition, but the radio part of the key might need programming with the ignition code. You might or might not need the red master key.  On a mondeo, for axample, the radio part of the key operate sthe alarm. Its possible to lock and unluck the door and start the car with a mechanical key, but you cannot set and unset the alarm, or remotely operate the central locking, without the radio part.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: cambourne7 on November 19, 2011, 00:21:02
We have a simular problem in that Harriet has at some point in a shopping trip got hold of my car keys and lost them :( luckly the husband had his. New set is £280 and its another £120 for the licence and software update to program the key!
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: cambourne7 on November 19, 2011, 00:21:21
DONT TELL THE DEALER YOU GOT THE KEY ON EBAY !!
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: Mr Smith on November 19, 2011, 07:40:56
Take the car and key to the correct dealer (Jag, Ford, Vaux, BMW) or whatever, and they will reprogramme the key, the last one I took along was a top of the range Lexus and I'm afraid that cost £350 three years ago, :)
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: daveyboi on November 19, 2011, 09:02:31
If you have a working key you might be able to save a lot of money by getting one or two from Timpsons who now are able to cut and programme a lot of the car key now. I saved over £200 for getting a spare for mine from the dealer price.

Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: ACE on November 19, 2011, 09:15:58


What you need to do is post an picture of the key to identify it, and  what is the make, modeland year of the car ?


This would be a big NO, NO on any motoring forum, due to security issues. Some undesirable people have the wherewithal to copy anything from the slightest hint. Picture your insurance company rubbing their hands when they are proccessing your claim for a stolen car and they find out you posted that sort of information on an open forum.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: lincsyokel2 on November 19, 2011, 11:04:04


What you need to do is post an picture of the key to identify it, and  what is the make, modeland year of the car ?


This would be a big NO, NO on any motoring forum, due to security issues. Some undesirable people have the wherewithal to copy anything from the slightest hint. Picture your insurance company rubbing their hands when they are proccessing your claim for a stolen car and they find out you posted that sort of information on an open forum.

complete  rubbish.

Even if you were able to copy the key profile, it only fits your car, and they have no idea which car is yours. Secondly, without the code programmed into the key, its pretty much usless anyway.

Ill tell you what, ill post you  a picture of my Renault Scenic Key,  you tell me the registration numberof my car from it.

(http://www.freedebate.co.uk/junk/key.jpg)

SO,  presumably you can now tell me the registration number of my Renaul SCenic (out of the 170,000 sold i nthe UK), plus where in the country i am, down to where the car is parked, and you presumably can program your copy of the key without access to the information and resources the Manufacturer has (who still needs to know the VIN number to do it). Otherwise, without all that additional knowledge, the image of the key is useless to you.

You need to stop believing some of the bollox you read on the internet. I frequent many forums, including pistonheads.com, the largest UK car enthusiast one. No where have I ever seen anyoen say 'i posted a picture of my key and my car got stolen'. 

What the OP needs to do is identify the exact key type and see how its programs, then you can determine wehther it needs the red key. Some radio systems use and increment hash code for the keys which changes at certain points, it may well be all he has to do is follow the key programming stesp to resynch the key with the car.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: Mr Smith on November 19, 2011, 11:17:29
I worked for a main dealership several years who also sold other makes of cars that came in and were good enough to go on the forecourt, but when it came to keyfobs and engine management systems etc if a problem occurred on these cars it was back to the appropriate dealership, no one carries every hardware garage system :),
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: ACE on November 19, 2011, 12:14:10
I dont need your registration. Your post code will do me fine, Available from many agencys.

The criminally minded can get whatever they want with their hacking skills as has been proved many times

But you are quite safe, nobody in their right mind would nick a scenic.

The matter of my posting was a bit of scaremongering I know but the gist of my posting is be careful what you let people know on an open forum.

I totally agree about reading the bollox writtten on the internet. That is why you are usually on my ignore list. I had forgotten to switch it on.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: Chrispy on November 19, 2011, 12:23:12
If you can find a 4 digit code anywhere, this may be the engine imobalizer override code.
You have to enter it each time, but if the spare is just for emergencies then this will not matter.

The problem is, the code is most likely to be attached to the master key, so you probably don't have it, but it may be worth a look through any paperwork you do have.

But I agree with most, your main dealer is your best option.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: lincsyokel2 on November 19, 2011, 14:10:36
I dont need your registration. Your post code will do me fine, Available from many agencys.

The criminally minded can get whatever they want with their hacking skills as has been proved many times

But you are quite safe, nobody in their right mind would nick a scenic.

The matter of my posting was a bit of scaremongering I know but the gist of my posting is be careful what you let people know on an open forum.

I totally agree about reading the bollox writtten on the internet. That is why you are usually on my ignore list. I had forgotten to switch it on.

Ok, whats my postcode?
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: ceres on November 19, 2011, 16:38:35
It took me 5 clicks to get the first five characters of your postcode (and your wife's name too!).  If I was prepared to pay £1.66 I could get the last character.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: ACE on November 19, 2011, 17:09:49


Ok, whats my postcode?

Just because I questioned your post, you have once again got confrontational. If you had taken the time to read the full post you might have noticed I did state the criminally minded could do the things you are challenging me do do. Fortunately I do not fit into that mould. I have not a clue  or even the inclination to even try. My son could do it if I asked, he could even stop and start most modern cars with his phone, but he is a skilled mechanic and has all sorts of resources to hand. Good job he is honest too, but there are quite a few that are not.

I know I am right in offering advice on keeping a car secure, and that's good enough for me.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: cornykev on November 19, 2011, 18:33:48
Well said Ace, now lets all be nice, yes lincs that includes you.   ;)      :-*
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: Digeroo on November 19, 2011, 18:54:09
I took my key which has broken to a key cutting shop and he had a little machine and put the key in and came up with the code on a little digital readout.  Still pver £100 so putting up with it broken.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: steve76 on November 19, 2011, 19:18:12
Many thanks for the replys all
 Looks like i will have to keep my only working key out of the reach  of the kids and save up to get in to the dealer..

Many thanks people..
Steve.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: fitzsie on November 19, 2011, 19:50:37
Unfortunately with todays technology nothing comes cheap any more. I lost the keys to our motorhoome on a Peugeot chassis and had to reorder. As we still had the Access Card the garage was then able to progamme the new key all at a cost of £220 !! Would have been a lot more if we hadn't had this card !!
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: davejg on November 20, 2011, 19:22:09
The battery went flat on my mondeo key fob, using the key allows me to do everything including set the alarm. Anyway told the garage at service time, he said take it to the main dealer, did that , they said take it to halfords, they said ring ford, rang ford, ford say takeit to main dealer did that , they said take it to halfords. Anyone remember the flanders & swann song "the gas man cometh" I only wanted a new battery!!
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: lincsyokel2 on November 20, 2011, 23:41:28
I took my key which has broken to a key cutting shop and he had a little machine and put the key in and came up with the code on a little digital readout.  Still pver £100 so putting up with it broken.

Which part was broken, the metal key or the radio/infrared transmitter? The point here is a 5 digit code would be the tumbler heights on the metal key, and a 9 digit number would be the radio hash  code.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: lincsyokel2 on November 20, 2011, 23:46:21
Unfortunately with todays technology nothing comes cheap any more. I lost the keys to our motorhoome on a Peugeot chassis and had to reorder. As we still had the Access Card the garage was then able to progamme the new key all at a cost of £220 !! Would have been a lot more if we hadn't had this card !!

Yes, its a rip off though. The master alarm unit unit reprograms the key. The dealers have a Master Master that tells some alarms to reprogram the next key put in the ignition. This is essentially what the red key does. The Dealers master is a universal one, and works on a particular alarm/key type combintion. Hence the exorbitant charge is more a reflection of the fact they have you over a barrel rather than ny great labour involved in sorting it.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: tomatoada on November 21, 2011, 07:34:33
The battery in my car key fob stopped working.  Went to the local Kwik-Fit with spare  battery.  The man got a tool and flicked the fob open, replaced the battery, and said come back if it doesn't work.  Did not charge me.   Hey presto fob working again.
Title: Re: remote key fob for car not working!!!
Post by: lincsyokel2 on November 21, 2011, 13:28:05
The battery in my car key fob stopped working.  Went to the local Kwik-Fit with spare  battery.  The man got a tool and flicked the fob open, replaced the battery, and said come back if it doesn't work.  Did not charge me.   Hey presto fob working again.

Ive found the batteries last about 8 years.
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