replacement key

So I am told!

Malcolm

I stand corrected. I had an account of a horror story from a colleague in another city. This was thpought to be reliable but obviously he was being deceived.

Sorry!

Malcolm

If you do not have any keys then a new twice unit must be replaced with a new key. As it is possible to programme a new key if you have an old key that is already programmed to the twice unit, you can not do this without a key already programmed to the twice unit.

For what it's worth we just bought a second key for our '99 9-3. We recently purchased the car and it came with only one key. While we were having the car gone over at the dealer's we were told that if we loose the one key that we have the car will not start, will have to be towed, and an entirely new keylock system put in to the tune of about 700.00. We bought a key off of eBay for 30.00 and had the dealer configure it to our car for 60.00.

FYI

D Mitton

Judging from the tooling marks on my keys for my '99 9-5, they are most decidedly *not* laser-cut, but in my case, are cut on a milling machine with at least one chipped flute on the cutter.

Maybe you've been *told* it's laser-cut, but that doesn't make it so. The tooling marks are quite clearly from an end-mill cutter with a 2.5mm diameter.

Other than that, yeah, go get another key so it can be programmed to your car, or if you lose it, it gets really expensive. But, the key isn't laser-cut.

Dave Hinz

I guess that means you or your dealership don't take kindly to customers buying these rather expensive key blanks from other sources and then asking the dealership service department to set them up to work with the car.

I have seen key blanks for my 9000 sell for about $10 on places like e-bay, but my car doesn't have electronic stuff in the key. I don't even know what a dealership would typically charge. It doesn't seem like keys would be available at the local hardware store, or even be on the shelf at the local locksmith.

Walt Kienzle

Having just lost my only key to my 1999, 9-3. It was a simple matter to go to the dealer and have a new key made for about $30. I believe the key with the built in alarm buttons costs over $100. The key opens the doors, and fits the ignition and everything, but just won't start the car until the car has been programmed to accept the key.

But, since it was the last key that I had, the computer needs to be replaced for it to work. I tried the dealer who said it would cost $1100 for a new computer. I tried a Saab specialist who said he might be able to get the one key work with the old computer. But, alas they couldn't do it. So, now I'm having the Saab specialist replace the computer(which comes with a key) for about $800.

Great security system, but just don't lose that last key. I don't think I'll even bother locking my Saab anymore, not like any one could steal it anyway. And kudos to them if they can get the car started without a new computer, 'cos I tried just about everything and it would not start.

"laser guided" I can accept.

Agreed. I would suggest that the phrase "laser cut" is therefore unclear at best, and a marketing-speak inaccuracy in reality.

Dave Hinz