Replacement key without dealership?
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,686
Likes: 21
From: South Georgia/East Florida
yes, both my Grand Cherokee and my '04 Ram have a chipped key and a separate FOB. I don't believe you have any alternative but to go to the dealer if you have the ones with the FOB and key in one if you only have a single key...
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Northern New Jersey
My local Home Depot has a locksmith that comes in a few day a week. Had a key made for $85.00 plus tax. This included the required programing. The only diference to the OEM key is theres no ram head.
Champion
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,702
Likes: 2
From: N. Florida
... As far as the fobb losing it's interaction with the truck ecu is not true. Fobbs are built using micro chips that store the frequency indefinately or until written over. They need no battery to keep their info. Same deal with the truck losing it's power and removing the battery. Everything is retained. There are no programming issue's to worry about. clock and radio are part of volitile memory(RAM) and not flash memory.
I unplugged my battery like 15 times and completely drained the system and never had any issue's.
I unplugged my battery like 15 times and completely drained the system and never had any issue's.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I don't have an answer but I have an idea. If one placed the programmed key within 4 inches of the ignition switch, Couldn't one slip a regular key, cut correctly, into the ignition and start the car?
I believe the keyfob micro chip needs only to be placed near the ignition to turn the switch on. I would glue the wireless key to the steering column. If so, the regular key might be able to start the car.
I can't find an expert who will confirm my suspicion and if it doesn't work I'd need to tow my car to the dealership 60 miles from here.
just an idea, but it may help. Sorry for all the words.
I believe the keyfob micro chip needs only to be placed near the ignition to turn the switch on. I would glue the wireless key to the steering column. If so, the regular key might be able to start the car.
I can't find an expert who will confirm my suspicion and if it doesn't work I'd need to tow my car to the dealership 60 miles from here.
just an idea, but it may help. Sorry for all the words.
Champion
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,971
Likes: 91
From: Jersey
I don't have an answer but I have an idea. If one placed the programmed key within 4 inches of the ignition switch, Couldn't one slip a regular key, cut correctly, into the ignition and start the car?
I believe the keyfob micro chip needs only to be placed near the ignition to turn the switch on. I would glue the wireless key to the steering column. If so, the regular key might be able to start the car.
I can't find an expert who will confirm my suspicion and if it doesn't work I'd need to tow my car to the dealership 60 miles from here.
just an idea, but it may help. Sorry for all the words.
I believe the keyfob micro chip needs only to be placed near the ignition to turn the switch on. I would glue the wireless key to the steering column. If so, the regular key might be able to start the car.
I can't find an expert who will confirm my suspicion and if it doesn't work I'd need to tow my car to the dealership 60 miles from here.
just an idea, but it may help. Sorry for all the words.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thanks alot. This validates what I suspected. I will need to play with the distances between transponder and keyway. I don't have but one key (the dealership didn't have two and did not tell me I would need about $350 to make a second key). I'm also disturbed that we went from a $5.00 cut key to a $350 electronic key. Wish I had been smarter. Appreciate the help.
