Today’s mod, new key housing!

Jett · **Joined:** Fri Apr 17, 2020 12:07 am **Posts:** 250

I dislike the bulky remote key that my Jeep has so I was looking at options and found on eBay that you can get a new housing and key blank that you can transfer the guts from the old key into the new housing so I picked one up that is the “switchblade” style like Mercedes cars and others come with. Well, it was quite a test of dexterity to get all the parts swapped over and at one point I thought I bricked the whole key because it became unresponsive and I was pretty bummed but after driving the car it started working again and I got the metal part cut yesterday so now I have a working remote fob that is a switchblade style! It’s still a little bulky, bigger than a Mercedes key, but the folding aspect makes it less pokey in the pocket and I think for 8$ it was a well worth it mod for sure. Plus, I get to keep the old key which will work to open the doors only so I will stash that outside the car in case of a lockout. I’d post a pic, but I can’t.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2020 1:38 pm

If you won't post a picture, how about a link to the key in case someone on the forum is interested? :wink:

TURBO-DIESEL-FREAK · **Joined:** Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:29 pm **Posts:** 1167

Jett wrote:

I dislike the bulky remote key that my Jeep has so I was looking at options and found on eBay that you can get a new housing and key blank that you can transfer the guts from the old key into the new housing so I picked one up that is the “switchblade” style like Mercedes cars and others come with. Well, it was quite a test of dexterity to get all the parts swapped over and at one point I thought I bricked the whole key because it became unresponsive and I was pretty bummed but after driving the car it started working again and I got the metal part cut yesterday so now I have a working remote fob that is a switchblade style! It’s still a little bulky, bigger than a Mercedes key, but the folding aspect makes it less pokey in the pocket and I think for 8$ it was a well worth it mod for sure. Plus, I get to keep the old key which will work to open the doors only so I will stash that outside the car in case of a lockout. I’d post a pic, but I can’t.

I have been wanting to do something like this for my vehicles for years. I really like the switchblade style keys.

If photos are not available, how about a link to the product?

Jett · **Joined:** Fri Apr 17, 2020 12:07 am **Posts:** 250

TURBO-DIESEL-FREAK wrote:

Jett wrote:

I dislike the bulky remote key that my Jeep has so I was looking at options and found on eBay that you can get a new housing and key blank that you can transfer the guts from the old key into the new housing so I picked one up that is the “switchblade” style like Mercedes cars and others come with. Well, it was quite a test of dexterity to get all the parts swapped over and at one point I thought I bricked the whole key because it became unresponsive and I was pretty bummed but after driving the car it started working again and I got the metal part cut yesterday so now I have a working remote fob that is a switchblade style! It’s still a little bulky, bigger than a Mercedes key, but the folding aspect makes it less pokey in the pocket and I think for 8$ it was a well worth it mod for sure. Plus, I get to keep the old key which will work to open the doors only so I will stash that outside the car in case of a lockout. I’d post a pic, but I can’t.

I have been wanting to do something like this for my vehicles for years. I really like the switchblade style keys.

If photos are not available, how about a link to the product?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 1058759869

This is the one I used.

casm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 694

Jett wrote:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F271058759869

This is the one I used.

Cool, and thanks for that. I think I'm going to order a couple of these and do this as well; the KJ key always seems to be the one in my pocket that jabs me somewhere really uncomfortable.

Any pointers on the swap? You mentioned it needed some dexterity - what were the main sticking points?

Jett · **Joined:** Fri Apr 17, 2020 12:07 am **Posts:** 250

casm wrote:

Jett wrote:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F271058759869

This is the one I used.

Cool, and thanks for that. I think I'm going to order a couple of these and do this as well; the KJ key always seems to be the one in my pocket that jabs me somewhere really uncomfortable.

Any pointers on the swap? You mentioned it needed some dexterity - what were the main sticking points?

Well there’s a few things that all have to happen at once. You gotta preload the spring for the key to flip out, I found it easiest to have the buttons facing down and then you have the back cover rotated like 180° out of position to engage the lug for the spring on the back plastic. But this back also holds the battery and the battery kept falling out so it would make it much easier if the battery holder would retain into the plastic to hold itself during assembly. Glue maybe. Oh and have the key in open position to do all this. That’s about it lol. Oh and don’t mess with the buttons too much or you may temporarily put the system to sleep like I did. Have faith and got for it. I’ve been loving having it done! Much better.

casm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 694

Well, the fobs arrived and the swap is done. You weren't kidding when you said it was a fiddly job.

Eventually got everything back together, but the lack of tabs to hold the battery contacts in place compared to the original key makes the swap more annoying than it should need to be.

Wasn't thrilled with the spacer foam intended to let the membrane touch the contacts on the PCB. That seems like something that could go out of shape / shift / disintegrate given enough usage.

Otherwise, the new fobs are OK. Going to see if they're a long-term item or not, but overall I like them.

Jett · **Joined:** Fri Apr 17, 2020 12:07 am **Posts:** 250

Awesome glad it worked for you. Now if I can just figure out how to get a clone of my chip.

Today’s mod, new key housing!

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