OT Replacing car keys? May contain blog.

A good locksmith is the first port of call. They will tell you what they
can or cannot do, and hopefully minimise cost\ contact \ hassle with
main dealers.

Not having an original key for them to cut a pattern is the main
problem, but programming the new key once they have a cut blank is
relatively painless (compared to a franchised dealer).

You need to have the card with key information \ VIN on it. If not,
you'll have to fork out for a Pug dealer to get one for you. (Vauxhall
normally charge £20 for a bit of laminated card with this info on).

I paid £40 for a non-remote key and programming, compared to £75 a
Vauxhall dealer wanted, (on top of the £20 for the info card).

Steve

 

As some of you know on top of broken leg I'm also dealing with 2
burglaries, first house then garage and house.

My car keys have been stolen, so I need to get car locks changed and
new keys. They've also stolen bike keys and VFr - but old kwak and
benly are now keyless.

Thank **** newer ZXR is still on recovery truck. When it gets back i
may tuck it up in bed with me at night for safety.

House insurance will not cover car key replacement (house insurance
has long list of things it will not cover but that's another rant) and
car insurer will only cover up to £200 with a £100 excess and I'd lose
a chunk of no claims bonus - which I thought was protected but
apparently not.

Talking to cutomer services and getting rough idea of cost it's easier
to get it done rather than claim.

Garage I got the car from say it's not something they can easily do as

1. Have to break into car.
2. Have to recover car once broken into
3. Have to get parts
4. Think that even then a main dealer would have to get the electrics
to talk to each other.

Has anyone had to have this done? What is easiest way? is it simply
ring through yellow pages? I have spent much of today on hold with all
the various phone calls I'm having to make and am kind of hoping for a
magic one stop 'hey we do car keys and we're cheap' solution.

Oh and I'm out of gin but about to do an ocado order.

 

<groan>
Anyway, even if it was protected, you'd still have to note it as a claim
on your renewal for the next umpty years.

What car is it? Do you have no spare key at all?

Try ringing some of the normal High St locksmiths. They may well be able
to make some sensible suggestions.

Sounds like a plan.

 

Crikey, I though i was having a bit of a shitter!

--


Nige,

BMW K1200S
Range Rover Vogue
Suzuki GSX-R600 Racebike

 

Oh arse.

Have you had your house locks & keys replaced by a locksmith
perchance? When I got burgled in London, the locksmith that sorted out
all the locks in the house recommended an automotive locksmith who was
very, very good and managed to break into pretty much all my cars.
Wasn't too expensive either given that he had to change some of the
locks and cut keys to the lock for some of the other cars and bikes.
Mind you, that little shit of a burglar cost me something like 700-800
quid in total to have house locks replaced and the locks on 3 cars and
several bikes replaced or replacement keys fitted. Not to mention the
one key that someone had to buy at a swap meet in Italy because that
was the only place I could get a replacement.

Depending on how modern the car is and if it's got a factory fitted
immobiliser, you might have a 'master key' that can/has to be used to
reprogram the new keys to the ECU in the car. That is often a main
dealer only operation. That said, the aforementioned automotive
locksmith should be able to get into the car without doing too much
damage apart from everybody's hearing when the alarm goes off.

 

Peugot 206. I did have a spare key, they nicked it.

Tonight I'm slumming it with super duper pain killers and san miguel.

On the good news front looks like my stitches will come out tomorrow
and my the 'ooooos' from a gaggle of teenage girls it would indeed
appear that chicks dig scars.

 

Insurance company appoint 'homeserve' who have replaced locks and
boarded up garage and library windows for the moment.

Still, looks like patio doors (way in for 1st time) may be replaced,
which I was going to do later this year anyway.

Locksmith seems to be the way forward.

I'm not counting, it's too depressing.

Ta, that's good to know. Wheel is currently off as scrote who stole
keys - but we can't prove it - made a 'I'll be round later for the
car' phone call to one of madam's friends.

Please let the housing market pick up soon, 14 years ago this was a
lovely area

 

<tries to remember early 206s> Does it have a PIN immobiliser? If so,
then you just need worry about the door locks. If it's newer, then it'll
have a transponder in the key, and you're looking at 'em getting sweary
with the electronics...

Big question, I s'pose, is do you just want a key so you can use the car,
or do you want to get the locks replaced in case the scrotes come back
for the car? The former'll be much easier.

 

<snip>

Do you think that your semi-public hospitalization and being on
holidayness contributed towards your loss of property? If what has
happened to you had happened to me, my suspicions would be at DEFCON
three at least.

 

Hmmm, were I a devious git I'd be tempted to clean all the surfaces
he'd be likely to leave fingerprints on, put the wheel back on...
loosely.... and let nature take it's course.

A written off car gets replaced, after all.

 

The early keys can be programmed by most locksmiths

If its transpondered then its usally dealer only , citroen wanted £175.00 for a
remote transpondered key for my van robbing bastards

 

Can't you find a buyer for that VFR400 you've just acquired?

 

Oi!

--


Nige,

BMW K1200S
Range Rover Vogue
Suzuki GSX-R600 Racebike

 

The latter is preferable as they can come back any time.

 

No, madam saying she'd be staying at a friend's house that night seems
to be the trigger. She feels awful and loads of 'this isn't your
fault' has been applied.

They were.

 

On Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:31:25 +0100, Lady Nina wrote:

Ah, cool. Matters are in hand.

<waves to fate>

I am off to Gibraltar on Thursday for an unspecified period.

</**** you fate>

 

Don't forget the bottle with the 50/50 whiskey/paraquat mix in the glove
compartment.

There seems to be an infinite supply of replacements for written-off
scrotes, unfortunately.

 

A locksmith did my keys when I was locked out. The AA towed me to him for
nowt. Breaking into the car is stupidly easy without deadlocks (bend the
door frame a little), but still easy for a locky with deadlocks. Cost me £65
for a reprogramme and 2 new keys - he had a box of tricks that did most
cars. Dealers wanted £150 just for a new key. The actual swapping of lock
barrels will be rather more expensive - 5x remove lock barrel and swap the
order of the wafers around, probably at at least 1/2 hour per lock.

My pug has two keys - one day to day key, and one crap no remote with a
credit card thing attached (though yours may be with all the paperwork
that's locked in your glovebox). That has a 4 digit key code which I
understand is useful for rekeying. If it gives you any hope, my 406 has
multiplexed electrics and complication up to the eyeballs, but the
autoelectricians could still code keys to it after replacing the body
computer. If your pug dealer is anything like mine, stay well clear.
Everything seems to cost 5x what you'd expect.

 

This was for a Ford with chip keys, FWIW. Other option is a complete lock,
key and brain set from a scrap car - likely available on ebay for £200.

 

Add Eydens of Coventry onto your list.
<http://www.eydens.co.uk/>

I needed 2 keys programming, a place in Kent did them for £150 if you
posted them off with the black box, Eydens came round my house and did
it for £45. They do key cutting in the vans as well, and I'd expect them
to be able to do something with your locks.
I'm in Leicester, I thought they were a local Coventry service, but no,
all over the Midlands.
Alan.