It looks like the transponder chip thing is glued to the circuit board on the inside of a 14-15 north american keyless entry key head.
Will post pics one year.
In regards to the post about remote starts being a fad for people who think push button start is cool, it really isn't. Remote starts have been around since at least the early 90's. It used to be a luxury item. Why go outside in -30c to warm up your car when you can just do it while taking a pooh?
I'd like to have remote start, I park on the street at work. Can't really let it warm up on the road unless I'm in it, bums would steal it. But with my luck I'd go out to a dead battery and a flooded engine.
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View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE wussie cvt edition. 1.2 automatic: 37.7 mpg (US) ... 16.0 km/L ... 6.2 L/100 km ... 45.3 mpg (Imp)
Finally today got my car working again!
An auto locksmith came to my house and probably took him 10 minutes to do all. I was charged AUD$ 235 for the first key and AUD$ 130 for the second one, so my mistake in total costed me AUD$ 375. The price is for two new keys with controller (he simply put the old ones in). So yeah, still don't know how but I definitely made the expensive mistake of losing the transponder chip of both keys.
This seems to be common with Mitsubishi cars according to the locksmith, the key is poorly designed and the transponder is not fixed inside. If you have your both keys, glue the transponder as per post #1; if you have only one, better get a copy/clone to avoid paying expensive replacement keys as I did.
See photos of one of the new keys I got:
By using the original controllers, he didn't have to do anything to keep your remote entry system working. That surely simplified things. So he cut two new chipped keys and programmed them to your car in 10 minutes? Must be a simple process with the right tools!
Glad it worked out for you!
I'm thankful we can programmed our own extra blank keys ($10-15) ourselves in the States. It requires two working keys, however. Thus, it's something you want to do before you lose or damage an original factory key.
Good it works again!
The sort of keys you got are the sort where the chip easily gets lost. If for example the key is in your pocket while carrying a big heavy box, it will break apart easily whithout being noticed and you get problems. As in post 1.
The other sort of key without buttons as seen in post 7 does not break apart, and is good to have in the house just in case. Most locksmiths can make them easily, and they are very much cheaper than the push button sort. That can save you $$$!
In the States, you can buy blank key like the one in post #7 for about $10-12 on eBay. Local hardware store will cut it for $2.50. You program the new blank key yourself by following the instructions in your owner's manual & using two keys you already have. Like I said before, it takes two keys to program a new blank one. Thus, having 3 keys on hand is good if you happen to lose one somehow you can make a replacement on your own.
This is worth having done. Otherwise, you are at the mercy of a locksmith, dealership, or someone to help you program a key. I also realize not all Mirages in all areas of the world can do this. It's worth checking in your owner's manual if this option exists for you.
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View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 52.2 mpg (US) ... 22.2 km/L ... 4.5 L/100 km ... 62.6 mpg (Imp)
When I use the term blank key, I mean it comes with a chip that's not programmed. You program the key, & it becomes functional. With our Mirages, it can be done by turning your car on & off with two functional keys and the third blank key will program itself without the need of any programming tool/equipment. It costs you nothing (& no tools are necessary) to program an extra $10-15 key!
I could make an extra Mirage key for every member of my family for under $15/functional key!
Last edited by Mark; 04-23-2021 at 05:52 PM.
Does anybody know if it's possible to turn off the immobilzer system or permanently bypass it? I tried to "Disable" it in ETACS, but that made the car unstartable. (Fortunately it remembered the previously programmed keys so when I re-enabled it the car would start again.) It seems these transponder keys are less a theft deterent and more a profit channel for dealers.