Replacement car key – be careful.

[JimmieSParticipant @jimmies]

With my 10 year old Hyundai’s spare key falling apart to the extent a cocktail stick was required to press the ‘open’ button I decided it might be time to get a replacement. First key cutting shop quoted £150, the next £120 and the third, after asking as did the others had if it still worked, quoted £60 for a re-shell which was done in 20 minutes.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

For some the chip in the key fob can be carefully removed and put into the new cut key, saving a fortune ! Noel.

[Maurice TaylorParticipant @mauricetaylor82093]

Hi,

Have a look on eBay for Hyundai key fobs .

Maurice

[John Doe 2Participant @johndoe2]

Modern car keys have three elements:

The physical metal key. This needs a very expensive machine to automatically measure and cut a new one, or quite an expensive machine and a skilled operator.

The key fob has a transponder which the car engine immobiliser needs to ‘interrogate’ and ‘approve’ before it allows the engine to start.

Finally, the new key fob needs to be registered by, and paired with, the vehicle alarm and central locking computer, before it will allow entry. This requires an expensive computer to connect with the car alarm computer and write the new key fob identity into its memory.

And of course your own identity and ownership of the vehicle will need to be carefully established.

This is why modern car keys cost so much to replace, and the workshop time to access the car computers and reprogram them – although as usual the car dealers charge over the odds and rip us all off.

I have just bought an expensive Autel computer tablet for car maintenance, which should also do the two latter functions, but I have not tried it on those functions yet.

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

“First key cutting shop quoted £150, the next £120 and the third, after asking as did the others had if it still worked, quoted £60 for a re-shell which was done in 20 minutes.”

If the cheapest service vendor fulfilled all the conditions and requirements as explained in previous posts, doesn’t this just demonstrate that you must always ‘shop around’ and not to accept the first price? This goes for all goods and services. Not so long ago SWMBO demanded we had a Velux skylight fitted to lighten a gloomy landing. The quotes from local builders hovered around the £2k mark. I was recommended by a friend to contact an eastern European guy who did the job for under £1k, including all parts and materials. The job was done in a day (12hours work) and his workmanship was absolutely first class. Price is seldom a reliable guide to quality especially in services.

[John Doe 2Participant @johndoe2]

Agreed. However in the OPs example, the cheapest person simply changed the external case, the other two were presumably quoting for cutting and/or reprogramming a new key.

But, yes, shop around as well. It would be great if vendors would quote their mark-up percentages as well as their prices !

 

And don’t get me started about builders – they have gone the same way as car dealers, plumbers and dentists in ripping us off.

[Chris Crew]

On Chris Crew Said:

“First key cutting shop quoted £150, the next £120 and the third, after asking as did the others had if it still worked, quoted £60 for a re-shell which was done in 20 minutes.”

If the cheapest service vendor fulfilled all the conditions and requirements as explained in previous posts, doesn’t this just demonstrate that you must always ‘shop around’ and not to accept the first price? This goes for all goods and services. Not so long ago SWMBO demanded we had a Velux skylight fitted to lighten a gloomy landing. The quotes from local builders hovered around the £2k mark. I was recommended by a friend to contact an eastern European guy who did the job for under £1k, including all parts and materials. The job was done in a day (12hours work) and his workmanship was absolutely first class. Price is seldom a reliable guide to quality especially in services.

My car ESL failed, had the experience exactly as you described, the repair took 3 weeks under gurantee, they replaced the most expensive components 1st(EIS), but it was eventually the outsourced little motor(ESL)(Like RC toy car)-Cheapest part.

[VicParticipant @vic]

An app on your phone to get into a Tesla is beginning to sound attractive. 😉

[Grizzly bearParticipant @grizzlybear]

Hi,

Skoda Yeti, key fob case worn out. Bought a case complete with blank key via eBay. Approx. £15 UK

Transfered the electronics and swapped the blank key for the original, it works fine.

The key part looked complicated, but thanks to YouTube it wasn’t too bad.

Timpson shoe repair & key cutting, quoted £50

Bear………..

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

My brother got a new key and case the other day for around £20 and swapped the transponder over himself.

[george baker 1Participant @georgebaker1]

Hyundi i10, my sister was quoted £500 to “replace and pair” a key, she paid £120 CASH to a local independent

 

A lesson to us all? Especially me as my fob is wearing out.

George

[Author]

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