Lost my car's only transponder remote/key fob

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Lost my car's only transponder remote/key fob - aftermarket replacements?

dejadeadnz

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#155919 12-Nov-2014 22:20

Our Ford Fiesta's one and only (grr Ford is so cheap) remote combined with a key fob has been lost. Can anyone recommend a good after-market place that can cut a key and also program the remote so that we can start the car with the key part and also open the car's doors with the remote?

So far the cheapest we've found is $325 (http://www.gtmechtronix.co.nz/index.php). I'm too scared to even find out the price of getting this done with a Ford dealer.

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#1174841 12-Nov-2014 22:36

I've just gone through this exercise. It will probably be cheaper to get an aftermarket alarm fitted rather than getting a transponder key. I got an AVS 3010 fitted for $200. Not a top of the range alarm or install but is fine for what I want. You may still be left with having to get a chip key but for the same money you can end up with a more sustainable solution.

Go and talk to a local locksmith (not Mr Minit) and they can give you some options for keys.

vexxxboy

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#1174843 12-Nov-2014 22:39

i looked in to how much it was if i had to replace my key fob on my Toyota and was told $3000-$4000, It seems they have to replace everything. So i have really looked after it since.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

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#1174846 12-Nov-2014 22:45

My car insurance covers these things ... I think ... hmm ...

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#1174847 12-Nov-2014 22:46

vexxxboy: i looked in to how much it was if i had to replace my key fob on my Toyota and was told $3000-$4000, It seems they have to replace everything. So i have really looked after it since.

Wow! No way!

Coil

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#1174849 12-Nov-2014 22:55

BMW if you lose a key its $300 for a new one. They dont need to re do everything cause they already got all the details from the factory. Hurr Durr.

Coil

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#1174850 12-Nov-2014 22:59

Also, $20 says you find the key after you get the new locks or what ever with in 1 week.

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dejadeadnz

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#1174852 12-Nov-2014 23:16

Handle9: I've just gone through this exercise. It will probably be cheaper to get an aftermarket alarm fitted rather than getting a transponder key. I got an AVS 3010 fitted for $200. Not a top of the range alarm or install but is fine for what I want. You may still be left with having to get a chip key but for the same money you can end up with a more sustainable solution.

Go and talk to a local locksmith (not Mr Minit) and they can give you some options for keys.

Thanks for the suggestion! In my case I guess the reason why I am keen on a transponder remote + key is that I now only have one working key left and regardless of whether I sort out a remote door opening solution, the risk of running around with only one key that's matched to my car's immobiliser is too great. When that key is lost, I am probably looking at a 4-figure cost (perhaps not as great as $3 to $4K as apparently quoted to another member here but scary enough). With a working key, for $325 (hopefully less) I can get myself a remote attached to another working key.

I don't even want to think about how much this exercise would cost on my wife's brand new VW.

TimA: Knowing my luck lately, I would hardly rule that scenario out.

Coil

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#1174854 12-Nov-2014 23:18

A new euro car you can get a new key for $300-$400.

On your car a second key cant be more than $400.
Re doing all the locks and a new immobilizer etc will definitely be like 3k. It was $900 with 2 keys on my dads audi.

Bung

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#1174855 12-Nov-2014 23:37

vexxxboy: i looked in to how much it was if i had to replace my key fob on my Toyota and was told $3000-$4000, It seems they have to replace everything. So i have really looked after it since.

Looking at some replacement key sites that may be old information and now they can reprogram the car ECM if necessary.

Handle9

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#1174868 13-Nov-2014 06:45

dejadeadnz:
Handle9: I've just gone through this exercise. It will probably be cheaper to get an aftermarket alarm fitted rather than getting a transponder key. I got an AVS 3010 fitted for $200. Not a top of the range alarm or install but is fine for what I want. You may still be left with having to get a chip key but for the same money you can end up with a more sustainable solution.

Go and talk to a local locksmith (not Mr Minit) and they can give you some options for keys.

Thanks for the suggestion! In my case I guess the reason why I am keen on a transponder remote + key is that I now only have one working key left and regardless of whether I sort out a remote door opening solution, the risk of running around with only one key that's matched to my car's immobiliser is too great. When that key is lost, I am probably looking at a 4-figure cost (perhaps not as great as $3 to $4K as apparently quoted to another member here but scary enough). With a working key, for $325 (hopefully less) I can get myself a remote attached to another working key.

I don't even want to think about how much this exercise would cost on my wife's brand new VW.

TimA: Knowing my luck lately, I would hardly rule that scenario out.

Depending on the car you can get 3rd party chip keys from a locksmith for $100-$200. They will work with your immobiliser. Go and talk to your local locksmith.

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#1174887 13-Nov-2014 06:47

vexxxboy: i looked in to how much it was if i had to replace my key fob on my Toyota and was told $3000-$4000, It seems they have to replace everything. So i have really looked after it since.

Toyota NZ cannot "talk" to Toyota JP to get a matching key?

Anyway bcoz of my fears, I was 1cm away from signing a new jap import but when I found out only 1 key looked Toyota-ish and another looked MIC-cloned I said umm sorry I'm not buying your car!

Now I know why I did that!

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#1174907 13-Nov-2014 07:24

Is it worth taking a gamble and buy one of the numerous Ford Fiesta remotes on ebay and use some of the youtube vids to try to do the prorgamming yourself.
Unfortunately you'd still need to find somewhere to get a key cut of course (and is this even an option, does the key itself have 'smarts' in it as well).

New Zealanders, on average, have one testicle.

Handle9

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#1174910 13-Nov-2014 07:25

Having one key is fine as they can be easily copied IF you have the key. If you don't then it is your own fault to be honest. You generally don't need the remote opener functionality and this can be programmed in after the fact if you have the immobiliser chipped key.

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#1174915 13-Nov-2014 07:55

Ford have changed their system numerous times over the years so without knowing the year of the car it's impossible to give 100% accurate advice.

What you could possibly do is a) buy a key off somewhere like eBay where they are common, b) program it to the door lock yourself, c) get it cut yourself at a locksmith, d) take it to a Ford dealer to have the key paired to the immobiliser as this is something that can only be done with the appropriate hardware and software in newer cars. In older cars you could do this yourself.

MikeB4

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#1174918 13-Nov-2014 08:15

If they are over $1000 an insurance claim maybe in order for a lost unit

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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