29 replies to this topic

[-Dab-of-Oppo-]

-Dab-of-Oppo- Fiat Flip Key Mod ™






* This mod should be straight forward enough for most to take on but you try it at your own risk, I accept no responsibility if you cock things up. I would not advise doing it if you do not have a second set of keys spare to fall back on should you happen to break or lose something!


I never really liked the rather basic separate RCL fob and key so have come up with this more modern looking solution that combines the two into a flick out style key. This should be more convenient to use, stop the pointy key either wearing holes in your pockets or stabbing your thigh and of course simply look good. This is a very cost effective mod that requires no re-coding or cutting of new keys. The Fiat key case is the perfect size for the job and unlike most it only has one button for both lock and unlock just like the VX so you don’t have to have any spare buttons left on show just doing nothing.



You will need -

Fiat flip key casing - (£10 ebay)
Vauxhall metal pin badge - (£2.49 ebay)
Lotus metal pin badge - (£3-5 ebay) I am sure those of you not keen on the mixed branding can find a suitable alternative badge / sticker. Anything will do really just to cover up the Fiat etching.
Dremel tool with cutting wheel
Super glue
Hot glue gun
Wire cutters
Pin Punch
Nail File
Small phillips screw driver


To start prise the two key halves apart and very carefully trim the casing with some strong cutters to release the key blade and immobiliser chip.







The chip looks like this and is securely wedged into its own little compartment in the top right hand side of the key.







DO NOT lose this! The car will not start without having it in close proximity to the ignition barrel. It will look just like one of the broken bits of plastic you have been cutting away so be careful not to discard it as rubbish!



Now take the chip and glue it into your new flip case. There are two little tabs perfectly situated in the top left corner that can be used to house it.









Unfortunately the width of the blank key already fitted although it's the same style is not wide enough to replicate your OEM VX key onto. So you can't simply just go and get it cut, a little modding is required...



Disassemble the flick casing and remove the key blank and pivot tab. You need to hammer the retaining pin through using a punch or sharp slim object.







Keep the lock pin safe once pushed out. The key blade should now pull off.







Putting the two key blades together will show you where you need to mark in order to get your key to slot into the metal flip tab. Using a Dremel cutting wheel and a file bit by bit cut the base of your key until it pushes tightly into the slot. Make sure cuts are as central as possible otherwise since it is wider than the uncut blade it will foul the edges of the case when pushed closed or retracted.











There is some leeway if you get it wrong just cut the end back a bit and start again or make the tab smaller so you have enough room to shift it across. This off-set should then effectively allow it to be brought back more central. You can see how tight the fit is here you may find that to start with you have to manually pick the blade out a bit before the spring action will take effect. Mine has now loosened up over time and fires out nicely. You could always sand the edges of the case to help with clearance to.

Get your notch right before you get to the 296 numbers as otherwise you won’t have enough left clear to be able to push it all of the way into the ignition.













Because there is a hole in the middle of the VX key I did not want to make a groove for the lock pin like the original had. Instead I cut two little notches like this shown in red.















I then glued the blade into the pivot piece and hammered the retaining pin in as far as it would go. I dremeled off what was left sticking out and used the remainder to do the same on the other side.

[-Dab-of-Oppo-]

Prise the two halves of the alarm / central locking fob apart and remove the circuit board. Take out the batteries and holder as well before handling it too much.

You need to gently file the pointed corners of the PCB so they become rounded thus allowing the circuit board to slot perfectly into the case as shown. Flatten off the little black plastic tabs under the area it will sit so it can lay a bit flusher.







Depending on if there is any slight variation in the production of these you may have available to you the fraction of a millimetre necessary for the board to fit in front of this moulded plastic tab. So check before you cut it down as unlike me you may actually be able to utilise it.



Looking through the button window from the front of the case you should now be able to see the little white button like this. It won’t be central but there is enough there to be able to click it.





Take the larger part of the back piece and cut away the plastic like this to allow clearance for the batteries when put back together.




Now lay your button in the hole and hold your circuit board in position. The button should click consistently smoothly when pressed from the front. I did not bother but you may like to dampen this action a little by sticking a small piece of rubber to the back of the plastic button. (Maybe use the rubber grommet from the VX fob if you are sure you don’t want it anymore?)
Still holding everything in the position you know to work take your hot glue gun and secure everything in place. Be careful not to let the glue run underneath the PCB as it may cause the switch to lock up. Also leave enough room on top for the batteries to slide under the contact when in their holder.



It should then just be a case of re-assembling everything. Screw the top section of the backing on first. You need to hook the straight sticky out bit of the spring behind the tab of the cover and then twist it through at least one full anti-clockwise turn to tension it before clipping it shut.
Test the flick action functions correctly and if so screw on the lower back piece. That should be job done all that remains is to choose what enamel
pin badge or decal etc. you want to use to cover up the crappy Fiat logo.

The Lotus one to my eye sat better on the front -





I filed this pin badge down a lot to make it much thinner, I like it but may replace it with one of the proper domed stickers from an official Vauxhall flip key. Hopefully that will sit nicely within the hole like the Fiat badge would.


The End.

[-Dab-of-Oppo-]

Link to flip key - http://www.ebay.co.u...=item5ae6888480

I best offered a tenner and it was accepted straight away.

Vauxhall Pin Badge (needs alot of sanding down) - http://www.ebay.co.u...=item19d34c7474

VXR Pin Badge (Only just fits so may look a little out of place) - http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1c1e9422fa

[Mike (Cliffie)]

How much to do one for me???

[-Dab-of-Oppo-]

I'm sure you could do it yourself? Really not that hard. I would have done you one for the cost of the parts but TBH don't really want to take on the responsibility of potentially mucking up someone elses keys. (Even though it's easy and there is very little risk envolved)

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Just ordered the key fob. Can I post you the lot???

[-Dab-of-Oppo-]

Just ordered the key fob. Can I post you the lot???

Sorry thought I said above that I didn't fancy doing it on behalf of anyone else. This thread was only really intended to inspire and show what can be done with this particular fob. I would feel terrible if I happened to fcuk up someone elses property.

All the pointers are there, just see how you get on with a DIY?

[s-express]

very good write up

[GiGo]

Nicce mod :: Can you do mine as well Offer a service here Graham

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

looks great! you can make some cash here!

[Lee Heath]

Agree yeah people send you there keys and you do this too them Money too be made for sure

[Darcini]

OK, so let's start a list 1 Cliffie 2 GiGo 3 Stuwy 4 Lee Heath 5 Darcini - dependant on cost

[Jason]

So this is the pier pressure VX group, sweet...

[GiGo]

So this is the pier pressure VX group, sweet...

Looks like it



Best not send all the keys at once, wouldn't want to get them mixed up

Altho wouldnt mind the keys to Cliffes

Edited by GiGo, 18 August 2012 - 11:46 AM.

[Mike (Cliffie)]

I was only poking Dab, seems there is a .org list now. I will DIY, your guide is straight forward. Only thing I dont have is a glue gun.

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Very good!!!! Well done bro!

[SteveA]

Great idea! I've just finished doing mine, and without using any glue. I have a couple of points that may help people in future. Not sure if the ignition barrel depths are different in these cars but even cutting my key down so it was as long as possible still made it so I had to push the key in hard to make it turn. After a few goes of this the weak point where the hole and cutouts are snapped and left my key in the barrel. Luckily I had a pair of plyers handy to pull the remaining part of the key out. If you are doing this I recommend going to your local locksmiths and getting a new key cut. It cost me £4.50 and allowed me to lengthen the key by up to an inch with no holes or weak points. I actually lengthened it by just under 1cm so it would still fit nicely in the fob and was able to do the groove in the key like the original Fiat one. When filing the wedge shape on the locating part of the key so it will fit in the rotating housing be sure to only do one side and that side will be the one that faces outwards when the key is closed. If you do this wrong the key won't fit flat to the body of the fob when closed. It also seems like proper flip key VXL logos are very difficult to get but you can get Opel ones and I am looking at sourcing some VXL ones too. Thanks for the idea Dab

Edited by SteveA, 26 August 2012 - 09:44 AM.

[ChrisS1]

Got any photos Steve?

[-Dab-of-Oppo-]

Great idea! I've just finished doing mine, and without using any glue.
Thanks for the idea Dab

Nice to hear people are finding this usefull and taking the mod on. Where you able to simply wedge your circuit board in then?

Not sure if the ignition barrel depths are different in these cars but even cutting my key down so it was as long as possible still made it so I had to push the key in hard to make it turn.

Strange, I think they must be. Mine fits in and turns absolutly fine with a little blade to spare. Infact in the end I cut it down more than what is shown in the photo with red notchs and I completly missed off the hole which caused the weak point you mentioned.

It also seems like proper flip key VXL logos are very difficult to get but you can get Opel ones and I am looking at sourcing some VXL ones too.

It's annoying I did actually spot some black or red new style badges intended for the Insignia key on ebay as I was doing the mod but didn't bother buying them as I had allready ordered my metal pin badge one. I can no longer see them for sale, they would have been about £3 each iirc.

When filing the wedge shape on the locating part of the key so it will fit in the rotating housing be sure to only do one side and that side will be the one that faces outwards when the key is closed. If you do this wrong the key won't fit flat to the body of the fob when closed.

Do you mean the thickness? Yes you will need to file down the flat face of the blade a little to get it to slide into the pivot piece. Not sure it should make any difference which side you do though, you should just be able to turn it over and have it either way? My key is symetrical which I assume they all must be otherwise you would only be able to insert the key holding it a certain way round. I took the smallest slither off of both the top and bottom to make it a tight fit and have it sit in a central position.

[-Dab-of-Oppo-]

Got any photos Steve?

Be good to see and hear feedback from anyone who does do this.

Cliffie have you finished yours yet?