We recently purchased a 2005 Dodge Durango that came with two keys:

1. Key with FOB -- but FOB not programmed to the vehicle.
2. Key only.

Both keys work and start the vehicle just fine. (Therefore, I clearly do not have the Sentry system on this Durango.) The only problem is that the one with the FOB does not lock/unlock the doors.

After researching this a bit, here's what I believe to be the case:

1. To program a new FOB myself, I would need one working one. (If this was a Sentry key, I'd need TWO working ones to program a 3rd, but for a non-Sentry system, it looks like I just need one working one to program a second.) In any case, I don't HAVE a working one, so no luck there.

2. I BELIEVE that this existing FOB that I have has been programmed to another vehicle -- and I believe that it CAN be reprogrammed to this vehicle -- with the proper equipment.

3. When an original owner buys from a dealership, they are giving a PIN to help with reprogramming later. Dealerships and some locksmiths can get around this PIN requirement if you pay them enough.

My question is this: does anyone know for certain if you need the PIN to reprogram a FOB-only key (that does NOT have the Sentry stuff)? I know that you need it for the Sentry stuff -- but I can't tell if you need it for a NON-Sentry system.

The local locksmith charges $76 to reprogram a key if you don't have the PIN. He charges $38 to do it if you have the PIN. However, I still wonder if the PIN is really required for a non-Sentry system. He seemed a little confused about that -- I think he assumes that ALL keys are Sentry and that is simply not the case.

Anyone know? Thanks!

- John...

 

John
You will not get that kind of information here, on pin codes. The dealer needs to see a picture ID and the information that you own the vehicle. Now if you know someone at the dealership that has access, they can help you.

 

Some 05 Durango have sentry key, and some don't. However, they look identical. If you want to find out if yours does or not, try tracing a Black None Chipped Key off your existing one, and try start the car with it. If it starts, you don't have sentry key.

If it doesn't start, well... at least that few dollar bought you a key that can open the doors when you lock yourself out.

If I remember correctly, Programing a non sentry key fobik does not require a PIN.

 

To be very clear, I was not asking for PIN codes. I was asking about the process involved. I was asking if you actually needed the PIN to program a NON-SENTRY key.

My local dealership doesn't seem to know much about it at all -- they don't even think it is POSSIBLE to have a 2005 Durango that doesn't use a Sentry key -- even though the manual clearly lists it as optional -- and even though I have a normal non-FOB/non-Sentry key that currently works fine in it. They want $160 for just the key blank -- and they tell me it is so expensive because of the Sentry stuff. Which, as I said, I don't have nor need. So, asking them is fairly pointless, so I thought I'd ask about it here.

But, again, I was not at all asking for PIN codes. I was asking about what was needed to program a non-Sentry key FOB.

Thanks though.

- John...

 

Exactly! As I said, I actually already have a non-FOB/non-Sentry key for the car that starts it just fine. I clearly don't have the Sentry system.

Ok -- that is what I was really asking. Thank you! Now if I could just convince my local dealership of that so they don't want to charge me $183 for this. ($160 for the key blank plus $23 to program it.)

- John...

 

Most dealers are useless and inept with their inventory and service and are only interested in making a dollar. I was looking at my Durango before I bought it with my wife and she asked the guy if it has a power lift gate. He proceeded to tell us it did not as a fact have a power lift gate while I pressed the automatic lift gate opener on the key fob. He just stopped in mid sentence and changed the subject. ACE hardware can cut chipped keys for $60.00 in my area. I never tried it, but I lost my second key and an extra would be nice for emergencies.
FF

 

Indeed!

My problem is that I need to get the FOB programmed to unlock the doors -- so I'll need a dealership (or good locksmith) to do it. I just have to figure out the details for a non-sentry key fob -- so it'll hopefully be less than the $160 they are quoting me for just the key. I have the Sentry-key part number -- so I'm trying to track down the non-Sentry part number to see if I can give that to the dealership and they will finally agree with me that there actually IS a non-Sentry key option for this Durango.

- John...

 

The dealer would need to use the witec pod or starscan to go into the RKE module and program the remotes, only if you don't have any remotes program.

 

I don't have any programmed remotes currently, so I know that they would need to do that. The issue is simply that they are quoting me $23 to do that programming -- but $140-$160 for the Sentry key/FOB itself. I'm just hoping that there is a non-Sentry key/FOB instead that would be cheaper. So I could buy it -- and then the same $23 worth of programming...

- John...

 

Send me a pm with the last 9 of the vin and mileage. And i'll send you the build data and that should tell you what you have in the vehicle.