25 replies to this topic

[Harry0075]

Hey, just called evans halshaw (wolverhampton vx dealer) and they've said its going to cost £88 for a new fob plus £47 (minimum) to have it recoded. just wondered if anyone knows of anything on the net that does it cheaper. (2nd hand will do) just need it as a spare. only came with one fob. cheers ppl.

[james141]

Hey, just called evans halshaw (wolverhampton vx dealer) and they've said its going to cost £88 for a new fob plus £47 (minimum) to have it recoded. just wondered if anyone knows of anything on the net that does it cheaper. (2nd hand will do) just need it as a spare. only came with one fob.

cheers ppl.

You can do it with an OP-COM interface from ebay ~ £25

[Harry0075]

You can do it with an OP-COM interface from ebay ~ £25

cool, just need to get a key fob thingy then...are they vx220 specific or can it be any vauxhall alarm remote? mines a 2000 NA. ta

[james141]

Not sure TBH as long as it looks the same should be ok I would think.

[Matt]

Are you sure as I thought you could only recode the immobilizer bit in the key itself, i didn't think you could do the alarm fob part as well? If you can got any pointers as i have the op-com sitting at home!! BTW: is this not the wrong location for this thread?

[mandarinvx]

Moved


I wouldn't use the Wolverhampton garage - they are utter pants

[framauro]

Hey, just called evans halshaw (wolverhampton vx dealer) and they've said its going to cost £88 for a new fob plus £47 (minimum) to have it recoded. just wondered if anyone knows of anything on the net that does it cheaper. (2nd hand will do) just need it as a spare. only came with one fob.

cheers ppl.

You can do it with an OP-COM interface from ebay ~ £25

Is this to reprogram the alarm fob?



Or the transponder in the key?

[Ren]

Harry I think this would be the easiest way to do the alarm as you need the red code card to program a new fob. No idea how much it costs but knowing Vauxhall it will be mega money. That would just leave a new key then.



Taken from useful thread sticky. http://www.abacuscar...p;productId=285

[colgy]

Transponder in the key? My key is empty, normally has stuff in other vauxhalls, I thought that the fob worked alarm and immobiliser?

[Matt]

Are you sure as my key has a little plastic/glass tube thing which is the immobiliser bit. I thought it was only this that could be coded with the tech2, and I thought you needed a special clip and software to do the alarm fob.

[framauro]

In response to colgy, this is a PM conversation I had with 'The Insider', who I think is a former (or current?) Vauxhall employee.

Hello Insider. I wonder if you can help me. I have two VX keys. One works fine. The other does not start the car (engine turns over and over and over but does not start). I also have a red 'credit card' in the owners folder.

VIN is W0L0EAR972N00xxxx.

I guess it's the transponder in the spare key that is 'wrong'.

What would I need to do to get this fixed?

Are key transponders programmable?

Am I able to 'train' one keys transponder from another working key, or is generally only applicable to alarm fobs?

Thanks

Providing the second key is fitted with a chip then it will just need programming with tech 2. for this you will need the 4 digit security code on the car pass. if you don't have this it will cost about £15 from a dealer to request it from AEL. A good key cutter/ locksmith may be able to "clone" your keys to match without using tech 2.

Thanks. Is there any visual indication on the key itself to show if the key has a chip in it? How do I know it's not just an Astra 1.4L key? It looks identical to the 'main' key btw.

Also, where would I go for reprogramming with tech2? Any motorsport place? TMS / Plans? Or a Vauxhall dealership?

well you have hit upon the main problem there, without pulling the key to bits how do you know? It could be a cheapo blank.

Any vX dealer can do this and should only charge about £20 (yeah right).

Have a word with a locksmith, they quite often clone them as well as cutting them.

[colgy]

Confused now! When I took my car key to keycutters to duplicate, they told me it contained a transponder. Guy offered to open it up and show me; when he did it was empty! Unless we've both missed something, I can't understand why my car isn't immobilised??

[Harry0075]

Confused now! When I took my car key to keycutters to duplicate, they told me it contained a transponder. Guy offered to open it up and show me; when he did it was empty! Unless we've both missed something, I can't understand why my car isn't immobilised??

hey colgy, does that mean that if you were to just get the key cut from a locksmith, it would be able to start your car??

[p4cks]

hey colgy, does that mean that if you were to just get the key cut from a locksmith, it would be able to start your car??

Nope. The key needs to come from VXL as it has the transponder chip in it.

[Harry0075]

hey colgy, does that mean that if you were to just get the key cut from a locksmith, it would be able to start your car??

Nope. The key needs to come from VXL as it has the transponder chip in it.

apologies for my lack of knowledge but if colgy says there was no transponder chip in it (empty), then unless its his spare key...how how they be able to start it up?

[p4cks]

OK, for a spare set of keys and a fob I've found you need to do this...

Key;
Can only be bought from VXL for £27 (and only if you have the Security Card which in itself is £20). Once purchased, they can programme it to your car for another £30ish or you can DIY with a OP-COM reader connected to your laptop.

Fob;
If you have acquired a spare fob, you can only reprogramme it to your car via VXL and only if you have the Red Code card. If you have not got this card, like me, you need to buy a new alarm which subsequently comes with two new fobs. The alarms are available from Abacus.

apologies for my lack of knowledge but if colgy says there was no transponder chip in it (empty), then unless its his spare key...how how they be able to start it up?

He may be mistaken. The key must have a chip somewhere in it (some aren't always visible) somewhere, or else the car would not start.

Edited by p4cks, 30 December 2009 - 07:14 PM.

[Harry0075]

ok, so for the fob ill get the abacus alarm, thanks for the link. for the key i'll have to get a security card. Do I need to get that from the dealership?

[p4cks]

for the key i'll have to get a security card. Do I need to get that from the dealership?

Aye. You'll need your V5 and some ID such as a drivers license or passport.

[Harry0075]

for the key i'll have to get a security card. Do I need to get that from the dealership?

Aye. You'll need your V5 and some ID such as a drivers license or passport.

cheers p4cks

[colgy]

OK, for a spare set of keys and a fob I've found you need to do this...

Key;
Can only be bought from VXL for £27 (and only if you have the Security Card which in itself is £20). Once purchased, they can programme it to your car for another £30ish or you can DIY with a OP-COM reader connected to your laptop.

Fob;
If you have acquired a spare fob, you can only reprogramme it to your car via VXL and only if you have the Red Code card. If you have not got this card, like me, you need to buy a new alarm which subsequently comes with two new fobs. The alarms are available from Abacus.

apologies for my lack of knowledge but if colgy says there was no transponder chip in it (empty), then unless its his spare key...how how they be able to start it up?

He may be mistaken. The key must have a chip somewhere in it (some aren't always visible) somewhere, or else the car would not start.

Yeah there must be something in it, I'll need to dig out small screwdrivers and check......