School me on new keys....

"415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30) 07/24/2019 at 23:06 • Filed to: None

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I got this TSX with only a #2 key, and I don’t like only having one key. I got the tech package in this car and the dealer said its like $600! I got an aftermarket key but nobody will program it, they say my car with the package is impossible for their systems. I tried two places I was told could do it.... I really don’t want to pay that for a spare key! What do I do Oppo? Well I see an OEM key for $102, so they dealer would program that for me? They say the key is double that at a dealer? Damn these new cars. 

facw > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/24/2019 at 23:23

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I’m in a similar boat. My Volvo only has one key, and I’m amazed I haven’t lost it (even temporarily) yet. I don’t need a fancy remote key, but being able to start the car in a pinch would be good. I think the kiosk at Home Depot says they can make one for like $80, but I’ve read mixed stuff about how well that works. Should have gotten El_Uly to sell me one at a discount when he still worked for Volvo.    

Agrajag > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/24/2019 at 23:24

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What year is it? Ace sells them for up to model year 2014 for $179.99 . It’s not a thing all stores do so you’d have to find one near you that can do it.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > facw 07/24/2019 at 23:34

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I’m told it sends a signal to the car so it has to be programmed at the dealer. I might be able to buy a used one and change the metal part? 

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Agrajag 07/24/2019 at 23:37

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2011, but it’s a tech package, so the price for my key was even more than a not tech package car! I went to two places people said did it and they couldn’t. I see used keys on Ebay. It’s ridiculous .

My bird IS the word > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/24/2019 at 23:38

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So,

The factory fob can be programmed by anyone for cheap, the fob has a physical key that is laser cut to the vin and that is how they can charge that much. I don’t know if there is a way around it but its totally why i didnt get a new key for my mini. That was 300$ Fuck that, you can get a PlayStation for that money.

Im pretty sure its extorsion at this point.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > facw 07/24/2019 at 23:39

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I see these are available. So if I bought an OEM key on ebay and changed this so they can cut it and the dealer can program... ?

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > My bird IS the word 07/24/2019 at 23:40

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Thank you for visiting us online.

The estimate for a #1 Key with programming depends on the trim TSX Wagon you own.

Base Model: $539.74

Tech Model: $630.19

The estimate includes the parts, programming and estimated tax. We will need to special order the key for you. Please let me know if you would like to order a #1 Key or if you have any other questions.

Thank you!

Sincerely,
Patty MenoMarin Acura Service Department

OmerCarrothers333 > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/25/2019 at 00:08

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I have a baaaad feeling about this...

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > facw 07/25/2019 at 00:48

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Well some locksmith say they can reproduce a key and program them, I emailed one that says they do all that, it’s late so I don’t know the answer. I’m going kayaking for a couple days, if they can do it I will report back. 

Dogsatemypants > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/25/2019 at 00:49

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It isn’t really the key, it’s the need to register the key with the ecm through a proprietary connector and the use of a subscription service. Similar deal with my volvo. I can get a new metal bit laser cut, but the immobilizer chip in the fob needs to be registered by a volvo authorized shop. Or i could buy a dummy terminal running a cracked version of the software for about the same cost.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/25/2019 at 00:53

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My friend owns two shops and he has helped me program some keys in the past on much simpler cars, like a Versa, for example. Some guy came in with a Beemer coupe that needed front brakes and the parts were like $1,200 , my pal’s cost. Just yesterday, my brother was asking for my help with his Elantra Sport. Being the Sport package reduced parts choices to exactly one. Like you said, damn these new cars.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/25/2019 at 02:34

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I don’t know about Acura. But on Mercedes only dealers can do it. Used keys cannot be reprogrammed, so people that buy on eBay are screwed. Keys are a theft relevant part, and out policy on theft relevant parts is thorough and tight.

Older cars can only order keys through a dealer, and they will come pre-programmed from our Texas distribution center.

Newer cars have keys that can be programmed in store, but only by some people, and only if you already have a working key. The people who can do the programming must have clean backgrounds and get a personal approval letter from the GM of their store, then attend and pass a class.

Mercedes logs records of all key programming work in their central server; who, when, and all that. Getting a key programmed or ordered requires proof of ownership and proof of ID. If you've lost all your keys, then the process requires all the above, the car to actually be at a dealer, and approval from Mercedes themselves.

All this to prevent Fargo from happening. Only way to steal a Benz is with a key or with a tow truck. So we make keys very difficult to acquire. 

My bird IS the word > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/25/2019 at 08:22

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I would ask what about a remote controll costs 600$. Make the salespeople do their job.

functionoverfashion > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/25/2019 at 10:01

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If you just want a spare that will open the doors and start the car, I don’t see why you’d need the more expensive key. It might do more than the other kind, but if this is just a backup, you might be able to get away with the other style in a pinch. Like a valet key that some cars have, where it has limited functionality but at least you can drive the car. Then i f you lost the “good” one, you could decide whether or not to fork over the cash at that time.

For my 2012 Volvo, I was able to get a keyfob online for cheaper than the dealer cost by about $100, but then had to pay them to program it to the car ($80 I think) . But if I had bought it from the dealer at the more expensive price, they STILL charge the $80 for programming, so it was a small savings. I went pretty deep down the rabbit hole of what I can do with a laptop and VIDA interface to the car, but it seems like you really need to have dealer-level privileges on a Volvo. 

The thing is, I’ve had a very bad experience with losing the only key I had to a car, and I will never again have only one key to any car for any price. Doesn’t mean I won’t try to save some money getting there, though.

Amoore100 > functionoverfashion 07/25/2019 at 11:52

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Just out of curiosity (if you don’t mind me asking), how much was the key to purchase? Our indie managed to get us a second key to a 2012 XC70 we just got for my brother and it ran us around ~$200-250  fully programmed IIRC and I was gobsmacked since I was expecting something closer to the half-a-grand price range.

functionoverfashion > Amoore100 07/25/2019 at 11:57

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Don’t mind at all, yeah I think we spent $280 in total, so ~$200 for the key + $80 in labor.

I may have made a stride in doing more programming with my Volvo, though. After we take it to the airport for a family vacation (not messing with it right before that!) I want to try to enable the remote start feature, which is apparently literally only software. It sounds just sketchy enough to work and probably not turn my car into a literal brick. I’ll be sure to share the results either way!

Amoore100 > functionoverfashion 07/25/2019 at 14:22

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Yeah, weird how the fob key is somehow cheaper than a real key—I suppose it’s because most of it is the programming and the lil backup physical key can be cut in a jiffy.

Agreed! I am so mad that it’s half-a-grand to do it at a dealer because for me it seems like it would be awesome to have in the Tucson heat to get the AC cranking a little earlier. Perhaps we’ll have to mention it to our indie and see if he has any ideas...although I eagerly await the results of your experiment as well!

functionoverfashion > Amoore100 07/25/2019 at 14:37

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My experiment isn’t too sophisticated. I’m using VDASH which I learned about on swedespeed, I just haven’t taken the time to plug it in to my car yet and wait for it to “crack my CEM code”  or whatever... that part scares me a little.

link to swedespeed thread

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 07/26/2019 at 18:13

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Yeah, I was told automotive locksmiths can program them. If it will drive the car but not seat memory etc... I called a locksmith and they haven’t called me back yet.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Dogsatemypants 07/26/2019 at 18:16

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Yeah, I am told good locksmiths can program them, one is supposed to call me. If that doesn’t check out I guess dealer. 

thefinalmonster > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/27/2019 at 20:14

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Those Acura part prices seem awfully expensive!

I bought a used E46 a couple of years ago and it only came with one key. Took it to a BMW dealership, they checked my title (to make sure I was the owner). They provided one brand new key fob, plus also the little wallet sized spare key, programmed, ready to use for a grand total of about $25 0 all in . Can’t remember the exact number. That price also included deletion of the lost keys so they cannot be used anymore. Not all BMW parts are expensive....

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > thefinalmonster 07/27/2019 at 22:13

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Yeah it seems nuts but I checked the forums and people say they are not cheap. I have the tech package in the car so it adds something to the normal price unfortunately.