I lost one of the two programmed keys that came with the car. The dealer was quoting $100 or more to create another! Can that be?
Any suggestions how to get this done more reasonably?
(Incidentally, is there any reason they charge so much? Except sheer exploitation )
Aspasia
No, exploitation covers it nicely.
There *is* a method to allow the car to run with a non-chipped (regular/cheap) key, but it involves disabling the immobilizer security system. Still want to do it?
?? That's interesting. I DO have a second key and it does work, but of course I have to lock-unlock the doors manually.
Car runs with a "chipped" key that has an electronic door opener- closer on the key chain.
It also also runs w/ that second key that has no electronic door opener.
Does that mean that second key is also chipped?
Does that also mean that the immobilizer security system is NOT disabled?
(I don't even know what an "immobilizer security system" is. I tried to look it up, and got this:
============== A vehicle immobilizer disables a vehicle's system after receiving from a vehicle security system two immobilizer control signals in predetermined states. The vehicle's system is a necessary system for the vehicle to run, for example, an ignition system or an engine computer, so that the vehicle is immobilized when the necessary system is disabled. The immobilizer includes switching and self-biasing circuits that bypass the security system. Bypassing the security system reduces the likelihood of immobilizing a running vehicle because of a security system malfunction. ===============
Can you restate this in language that my tiny mind could grasp?
TIA
If it will start the car and other duplicate keys will not start the car, the second key is chipped. The immobilizer is not disabled.
The key fob with the door unlock buttons has nothing to do with the immobilizer. It just works the door locks & rolls down the front windows. You can get another one of those on ebay pretty cheap and program your car to recognize it.
Oh, good! I didn't realize they could be had outside the dealer (I lost the second key fob a while ago) If I do find one on ebay or elsewhere, are there instructions online (or somewhere!) how to program car to recognize it?
TIA
Aspasia
I believe the instructions to program the car to recognize the key fobs is online at maxima.org.
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