Can My Key Be Fixed?

Gageraid · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 1:37 pm

My key fob has sucked for a long time.
It finally stopped working, and I believe I found out why.
NONE of the functions work.
Obviously I tried switching out batteries with no success.
I found what looks to be a very small metal piece to be missing.
Without knowledge on the subject, I thinking it's just some sort of metal conductor piece that can be soldered back on with another piece of metal or whatever it's made of.
I can get a picture up tonight, but it'll be hard to see because of how small it is.
Was thinking about walking down the road to my local locksmith to get his opinion.
Thoughts?

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

It's often easier/cheaper to just replace a circuit board than it is to re-solder it. The amount you would spend on a tech to replace/repair the board will cost the same as a brand new key most likely...

Gageraid · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 2:33 pm

I'll keep that in mind.
Last year my spare key broke in half and the whole circuit board had burn marks on it and was missing a few pieces.
Don't know how that happened.
Anyways... would rather not have to fork out a lot of money for keys, but will if I have to.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 6:14 pm

While the dealer charges $200 for a new key, you can get a blank chip key from Amazon for $28 and have Ace Hardware cut and program it for about $40 more. Here is the Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KTHZJ1O/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1BVLNYYEQXY2X

Scar0 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:49 pm

Not sure if the Pics will help, but here are a couple of the inside of my Fob.
The green wire I added to extend the range.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:17 pm

Scar0 wrote:

Not sure if the Pics will help, but here are a couple of the inside of my Fob.
The green wire I added to extend the range.

Does that really work? I hate the fact that my key sometimes barely makes it past 3 parking spots. Yet, others it'll go across the lot..

Scar0 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2015 12:25 am

With the wire I got an extra 10' of range back in 2010. I'm still using my original 07 batteries in my fobs and it still works about 40-50' (line of site) away. One of these days I will get new batteries, but for now, I really don't need more then 30' anyway.
In the Pics you can see 2 wire lengths 2" and 3" both lengths netted the same range extension.

Gageraid · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2015 6:32 pm

lfhoward wrote:

While the dealer charges $200 for a new key, you can get a blank chip key from Amazon for $28 and have Ace Hardware cut and program it for about $40 more. Here is the Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KTHZJ1O/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1BVLNYYEQXY2X

Just to clarify... I believe I'm going to buy two of these.
When I get them, I just take it to Ace and they'll cut and program?
Is a trip to the dealer needed? :dizzy:

Remember, my key fob doesn't work AT ALL.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:30 pm

Gageraid wrote:

lfhoward wrote:

While the dealer charges $200 for a new key, you can get a blank chip key from Amazon for $28 and have Ace Hardware cut and program it for about $40 more. Here is the Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KTHZJ1O/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1BVLNYYEQXY2X

Just to clarify... I believe I'm going to buy two of these.
When I get them, I just take it to Ace and they'll cut and program?
Is a trip to the dealer needed? :dizzy:

Remember, my key fob doesn't work AT ALL.

Hmmm, I don't know. I think they might need a working key to copy. It might be worth a call to your local ACE before spending any hard earned cash. I bet they could cut it and get the chip part working (because that works on yours), but I don't know about the unlock buttons, etc.

Gageraid · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:45 pm

Thanks, Lauren. Sketchy key issues lol.
I'm excited to have some working keys again, and would like to save some money doing so.
I'll call them tomorrow and post the results.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:03 pm

Hmmm... doesn't look promising.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f67/can-i-program-remote-key-fob-myself-1412987/
but see...
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/programming-keyless-entry-fob-help-546998/

Gageraid · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:17 pm

Thanks for posting those links.
Really stupid situation for myself.
Someone told me the other day that the "risers" might be stuck in the key chamber which is why I can't unlock it that way. They said to use WD-40.
I'd prefer to just fix the key chamber, but two working keys and fobs would be nice, too.

Scar0 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:39 pm

You need 2 programmed and working keys to program a third/fourth key yourself.
If you only have 1 working key then a dealer will have to program a new key into the system for it to work (ie. start the rig and stay running). But this does not mean you have to buy the key from the dealer! Buy your own key, have it cut, then take it to a dealer for programming.

Gageraid · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 1:58 pm

Scar0 wrote:

You need 2 programmed and working keys to program a third/fourth key yourself.
If you only have 1 working key then a dealer will have to program a new key into the system for it to work (ie. start the rig and stay running). But this does not mean you have to buy the key from the dealer! Buy your own key, have it cut, then take it to a dealer for programming.

Okay.
So does this plan sound right...
Buy two keys with fobs off Amazon, take them to Ace to have them cut, then take them to the dealer to have them programmed?

Scar0 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 3:20 pm

Yep, you got it.

Gageraid · **Posted:** Thu Jan 29, 2015 7:07 pm

Thanks to those that responded.
I'll be ordering the keys tonight as long as I don't forget.

Can My Key Be Fixed?

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