keyfob replacement
Rookie
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 2
From: Alberta
When I bought mine, the dealer offered me an small warrantee (they have warrantees for everything) that covers "minor" incidentals - road chips, door dings, windshield cracks, scraped rims and lost keys, etc. It was $2200 CDN for 4 years. I think I will get my money's worth - at least I will have peace-of-mind.
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 194
Likes: 121
From: CA
Noone has brought this up. But here's my story why I want a spare keyfob:
My daughter, who is an avid paraglider, has many times got herself into emergency situations. I want to make sure that if she is in one of those situations and somehow loses the keyfob, she has a way to start the vehicle.
So I made a spare keyfob for every vehicle in the family. I remove the physical key and the battery from the keyfob. I then put the keyfob and the battery in a plastic bag, and hide the bag somewhere inside the vehicle.
I hide the physical key outside of the vehicle (there are many products and many ways to to this). If she loses the "normal" keyfob, she can always get the physical spare key, unlock the door, and get the keyfob.
(This didn't help her last summer in Switzerland when she had to throw the reserve, landed on a rugged mountain, fortunately did not get injured, and hiked 5 hours back to civilization).
My daughter, who is an avid paraglider, has many times got herself into emergency situations. I want to make sure that if she is in one of those situations and somehow loses the keyfob, she has a way to start the vehicle.
So I made a spare keyfob for every vehicle in the family. I remove the physical key and the battery from the keyfob. I then put the keyfob and the battery in a plastic bag, and hide the bag somewhere inside the vehicle.
I hide the physical key outside of the vehicle (there are many products and many ways to to this). If she loses the "normal" keyfob, she can always get the physical spare key, unlock the door, and get the keyfob.
(This didn't help her last summer in Switzerland when she had to throw the reserve, landed on a rugged mountain, fortunately did not get injured, and hiked 5 hours back to civilization).
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 112
Likes: 40
From: CA
I’m pretty sure dealerships are about the same price. When I lost mine last year I called around to a few and got the same quote of around $500. If you lost one it makes sense to reprogram the other for security reasons which is an additional $100. I know it’s hard to swallow but you’ll just have to bite the bullet.
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 194
Likes: 121
From: CA
I bought a pre-own keyfob with a blank key from eBay for about $100. The dealer (on Automall Parkway in Fremont) programmed it for about $200.
I know $200 is too much, but I didn't have any choice. When I did the same for my Honda Accord, the keyfob also cost about $100, and the programming cost at the dealer (on Marina in San Leandro) was about $120.
I later asked a kiosk in the Great Mall (Milpitas). The man said he could program it for $100. I can't verify it, however.
In any case, you'll need to bring all keyfobs because they'll have to reprogram all of them, even though there is only one new keyfob.
I didn't lose the keyfob. But I want 3 for each vehicle: one with the driver, one at home, and one with the vehicle (see my post above).
I know $200 is too much, but I didn't have any choice. When I did the same for my Honda Accord, the keyfob also cost about $100, and the programming cost at the dealer (on Marina in San Leandro) was about $120.
I later asked a kiosk in the Great Mall (Milpitas). The man said he could program it for $100. I can't verify it, however.
In any case, you'll need to bring all keyfobs because they'll have to reprogram all of them, even though there is only one new keyfob.
I didn't lose the keyfob. But I want 3 for each vehicle: one with the driver, one at home, and one with the vehicle (see my post above).
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 835
Likes: 408
From: PA
The products and services available for key fobs is always changing. Check with lock smiths in your area and compare prices. The computers they use to program these fobs are cost prohibitive unless you plan on programming a boat load of fobs. Take a look at recent youtubes and as always "google" is your friend. Depending on where you live you should always be able to beat the dealers price.
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