How to prevent paying $$$ for needing to prematurely replace a key transponder

[Wallythacker]

Why not hotglue the chip to the steering column if you open up the key for any reason?

Then you can use a cheap $2 key to start the car as the transponder chip is now seen forever detected by the circuit. What am I missing here?

[Fummins]

Germany and Australia have completely different keys than we do. Their chip is tiny, ours is part of the key fob(key head). So you probably could if you took apart a key and did what you suggested. If you only have one key then you no longer have keyless entry cause your fob is now in your car.

I don't think attempted Mirage thefts are very common but if it didn't have an immobilizer it'd quite possibly become the easiest "modern" car to steal.......in the world.

[stecoop]

Why not hotglue the chip to the steering column if you open up the key for any reason?

Has anybody actually tried this?

[stecoop]

I don't think attempted Mirage thefts are very common but if it didn't have an immobilizer it'd quite possibly become the easiest "modern" car to steal.......in the world.

There comes a point when a car isn't worth stealing; and a little further down the road (no pun intended) the car isn't worth spending $300, $400, or $500 for a new key. I just think a car owner should have the option of disabling the immobilizer so that any MECHANICALLY compatible key will start the car. Or a screw driver, if they're that cheap.

[Fummins]

Agree, I don't think there's a big market for Mirage's in Nigeria.

[Mark]

Germany and Australia have completely different keys than we do. Their chip is tiny, ours is part of the key fob(key head). So you probably could if you took apart a key and did what you suggested. If you only have one key then you no longer have keyless entry cause your fob is now in your car.

I don't think attempted Mirage thefts are very common but if it didn't have an immobilizer it'd quite possibly become the easiest "modern" car to steal.......in the world.

The remote power locks and transponder chip are two separate items.

Remote power locks require a battery to operate. The transponder chip is a stand alone item inside the unit.

It costs less than $15 to purchase a new key with transponder only, have ACE Hardware cut it, and program it to my Mirage using my two factory keys (no programming tool necessary). For whatever reason, this cannot be done with a Canadian Mirage. My two factory keys have the attached remote power lock buttons. The extra key I had made just has the transponder chip/no battery.

I could live without remote lock buttons. It's not that hard to push the power lock button inside the door. Most of our driving instructors have to do that, because the company is not going to pay to have multiple remote keys made for each vehicle. 5 different people (including my local mechanic) have a $3 cut key for the Impala I use most of the time. Their $3 key gets them in the car. If they want to drive the car, they have to use the chipped key kept in the glovebox.

I have zero need for a third key for my Mirage, but I made one just the same. If I should lose a factory key, I can make a $15 replacement key provided I still have two working keys. Programming a new key with remote power lock buttons would require an extra step & surely more cost.

[Fummins]

I guess a plain transponder key would work for stecoop. I'm looking for a replacement working keyless entry key. The transponder is not seperate if you have a keyless entry key. I'm not gonna be the first to break one off the circuit board for science lol.

[stecoop]

I guess a plain transponder key would work for stecoop. I'm looking for a replacement working keyless entry key. The transponder is not seperate if you have a keyless entry key. I'm not gonna be the first to break one off the circuit board for science lol.

The problem I have is that my car came with only ONE factory key that will start the car. I bought a second key online ($95), had it cut (for free) and tried to have my local dealer program it to my car; unfortunately, it was either deffective or counterfeit and wouldn't work. The dealer quoted a new key, fully programmed, for $395 (OUCH!) So I'm not willing to risk the ONE working key I have for experiments. I would rather "fix" the car.

[Mark]

The problem I have is that my car came with only ONE factory key that will start the car. I bought a second key online ($95), had it cut (for free) and tried to have my local dealer program it to my car; unfortunately, it was either deffective or counterfeit and wouldn't work. The dealer quoted a new key, fully programmed, for $395 (OUCH!) So I'm not willing to risk the ONE working key I have for experiments. I would rather "fix" the car.

My local ACE Hardware claims they can make a key for most any car. They also have a machine that will do laser cut keys, too.

I purchased an $85 2016 Ford Focus key from ACE Hardware (in stock @ the store). That price included laser cutting the key to match the original key & programming the immobilizer chip to the car (which required hooking up their device to the car's OBD-II port). They just went out to the parking lot and programmed the new key to the car (5-minute process at most). The new extra key does not have the remote lock buttons, but a driving instructor can unlock the car with the key & drive with it.

Whereas, I can have a Mirage key made for about $15. The key costs about $8-9 from eBay, it's not a laser cut key, and the key will program itself to your car (provided you have two working keys to carry out the manual procedure). I had to sign a waiver for them to cut the key I brought in.

If you don't have two working keys to carry out this process, I would ask if they can do the process used for our Focus car?