Key fob reprogramming

[Stu-]

Does anyone know if it is possible to reprogram a second hand key fob? This is just for central locking.

Long story short. I only have one key, which the remote locking has recently stopped working, i went to change the battery and while i had the key open, i noticed that one of the small microchips was lifted on one edge. I wedged it down with a small peice of blutac, which worked for a few days. The chip has now completely snapped off.

I was hoping to buy a cheap second hand 2 button key fob off ebay to reprogram to operate my central locking and then fit that to my existing key section with imobilizer chip. I will be getting a brand new flip key soon, but would like to get this key fully working again.

 

[Muttley]

Yes, it is possible to pair another remote locking/alarm keyfob transmitter with your car. You may need VCDS, and this is the only option if you don't have another key (usually the "dumb" key that comes as a spare)

 

[RUM4MO]

Yes, it is possible to pair another remote locking/alarm keyfob transmitter with your car. You may need VCDS, and this is the only option if you don't have another key (usually the "dumb" key that comes as a spare)

Just one comment, the OP's flip key has now become a "dumb" key, so he should be able to reprogram that secondhand remote fob using the instruction probably on this and other VAG forums - just a maybe helpful thought?

One for the OP, if you do not know this already, you will need to take a lot of care so that you do not damage the transponder pellet when you remove it from your U/S flip key fob as it is just encased in glass and stuck down with a flexible glue, I'm guessing that you know it is not in the key blade like in the ordinary dumb keys, but is stuck in the remote fob housing.

 

[Muttley]

Any second key should work as well as any other, as far as I can tell, it is only being used as proof that you have a key that fits the lock mechanism and has a recognised transponder.

However the process for DIY remote pairing does not always work. For one thing, it adds a key and there are only four memory slots in the car system for keys - leaving room for two DIY additions. VCDS can be used to wipe all the old keys and recognise just the ones you have - something that you should do if you ever have a key stolen, for instance.

Are you sure about the transponder being in the remote fob, because I've never seen one like that? The transponder is kept with the key blade so that one half of the key starts the car, and the other one does remote locking/alarm setting. The transponder does not need any battery power, it's energised by the reading coil, like an RFID tag. It is also intentionally made fragile to make it difficult to dig out of a key intact, for security reasons.

The Leon Flip Key Guide thread shows you what they look like inside and gives you the DIY remote pairing procedure.

 

[Stu-]

Yes, it is possible to pair another remote locking/alarm keyfob transmitter with your car. You may need VCDS, and this is the only option if you don't have another key (usually the "dumb" key that comes as a spare)

Is there a guide anywhere to do this? I should be able to borrow a friends vcds

One for the OP, if you do not know this already, you will need to take a lot of care so that you do not damage the transponder pellet when you remove it from your U/S flip key fob as it is just encased in glass and stuck down with a flexible glue, I'm guessing that you know it is not in the key blade like in the ordinary dumb keys, but is stuck in the remote fob housing.

I don't have a flip key yet, just a normal 2 button key. My next step after getting this key fully working again was to get a brand new flip key with Virgin immobiliser and program that to the car using vcds/commander, so then I will have 2 working keys.


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[Muttley]

Ross-Tech remote control matching page

 

[Stu-]

Perfect. Thanks for your help




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[RUM4MO]

Ah, my mistake, I just assumed that with the age of your car that when new it would have come with 1-off flip key and 1-off "dumb" key - and that it was just the remote section of the flip key that had failed.

Also, at that age of car, I'd think that my description of how the security works is correct, though for much newer cars it might be wrong.

The assignment of just 3 or 4 key "slots", as far as I know, only covers the engine "deadlock" function, the remote open/close function is basically a random selection at factory so on average every 100 or 1000 or so cars will have the same remote lock/unlock base code, though they do roll on each time they are used to minimise risk.

I fully support the idea of wiping out any lost keys from memory, so that will get done if and when you get round to adding in any new keys.

 

[plexing]

did a flip key upgrade on mine, two button fob and it programmed in with a bit of jiggery pokery.

Basically i had to start the car with the main key, get out, lock it with my spare then hold the lock button until some supposed beep happened.
Did this outside a mates house trying to be all clever so obviously the beep never happened. i was a touch narked, id just spent £45 in total getting this upgraded.
Turned off the car and was about to throw in the towel when i was walking away and pushed lock on the wrong remote (the new one i thought didn't work due to no beep), car locked. put in my transponder from the spare and its never failed me since!

may be worth trying the same kinda thing with a new key base? there's a youtube video somewhere of this all being explained probably better then i just have. but the process should work tbh. Surely worth a try?