A?? for someone that knows about auto lock systems on cars

[Chris2597]

Dh and I bought dd a used car this weekend. It only came with the key....The original owner had lost the automatic door opener/lock that hangs on a key chain....Can we purchase these...I have an extra...can they be re-programed....It also only came with one key, which I was told has a chip in it...Can the key be duplicated and/or just a regular key be made? Any advise appreciated.

 

[ash&abby'smom]

You can go to a dealership with the vin # and proof of ownership for the key and the remote can be purchased at the dealer also or autozone and can easily be programmed. The key will have to be programmed depending on the make/ year etc. This should not be too pricey unless you bought a lexus, mercedes etc,

 

[Mskanga]

It also only came with one key, which I was told has a chip in it...Can the key be duplicated and/or just a regular key be made? Any advise appreciated.

The key CAN be duplicated BUT it will only work to open the doors , not to start the engine , but you can get a copy of that key from the dealer at a much higher price though. Hope this helps.

 

[Chris2597]

Thank you for the speedy replies...I will try to stop by an autozone tomorrow....can I program the remote or does it have to be done professionally. I want to expedite this as I think it is a safety feature for dd to have her car unlocked when in a parking lot and not fumbling with keys in the lock. I got a key made at Walmart today so we at least would have access if dd locks her keys in the car.
I am sure I will be in sticker shock over the price of the chipped key....I heard they are close to 75-100 for one....

 

[jfulcer]

Thank you for the speedy replies...I will try to stop by an autozone tomorrow....can I program the remote or does it have to be done professionally. I want to expedite this as I think it is a safety feature for dd to have her car unlocked when in a parking lot and not fumbling with keys in the lock. I got a key made at Walmart today so we at least would have access if dd locks her keys in the car.
I am sure I will be in sticker shock over the price of the chipped key....I heard they are close to 75-100 for one....

Ha! My parents just payed $220 to have a new chipped key made for her Toyota. It's highway robbery, IMHO.

If it's too much to get a new keyfob purchased/reprogrammed consider getting an aftermarket car alarm installed. We were in the same situation, and I ended up paying like $99 to have a basic car alarm installed and got two keyfobs. I can 'add on' to the system in the future, but it's worked well for me and the price that I paid for it wasn't too bad.

 

[Chris2597]

So....new keys came with your car alarm?? I am not even going to venture to tell dh that a new key will cost 200+....he is still trying to get use to $$$$$ being subtracted from our savings to pay for dd car....

 

[LK03]

I know that when DH and I purchased a new Toyota and Nissan on the two keys and keyless remote keychains was one metal piece of strip that has numbers on it. The dealerships told me in the chance we need a new key made it had to be at the respective dealerships and with that number on the metal piece handy it'd be a lot less money but still more expensive than a key made at Wal-mart. I doubt that metal piece is on the key chain?

 

[Hannathy]

I had a new key with a chip in made for a Chevy Lumina at ACE hardware and it was about 30 or 35. You do not need to go to the dealer a good key place like ACE hardware can do it for most cars much,much cheaper.

 

[Chris2597]

I will call our local ACE to see if they do the chip keys, but I wonder how they program the key with the chip that is in the car...oh well, I guess if they can do it...they will have the answer.
The car did not come with the key code for the chip. I have one for both of our new cars....somewhere around the house....and this reminds me that I need to find them and put the code in the car file....

 

[Disney Doll]

Talk to the dealer. They can probably get you a new key fob and a new key. The key fob will have to be programmed to your car's locks though, as will the key, if the computer chip kind, which it probably is since the car has the ability to have a key fob.

Those computer chip keys are pretty pricey. I have a Ford Explorer and they are like $30 to replace.