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[raywilb]

I need a spare key as only one supplied with car. iv,e been quoted £115 from a local shop that said they can provide a 3 button key programmed key. is that expensive ( I think it is ). also the key I do have is not operating the remote control. had a new battery put in & the insides seems intact.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

'The key' is, in essence, in 3 parts.

-the metal blade, operates the mechanical levers in the locks
-the immobiliser chip, housed inside 'the key'
-the 2 or 3 buttoned 'plip', which from MFL-onwards is integral in 'the key'

Depending what you actually want the spare key for... you can get a simple, bog-standard blank cut at any decent keycutter for maybe around £20. this should get you one with the chip in it specifically for deactivating the immobiliser, so you can start the car. No remote function. Using this key you'd have to actually unlock the car by turning the key in the door barrel. The alarm will sound until you turn the key in the ignition, as the car thinks it's had the door forced. That's only what you'd have to do in the event the battery dies in your remote plip anyway, it's 'no biggy'

If you want a spare key in the event you lose your own and desperately need to get in the car until such time as you locate said original key, then this is perfectly sufficient - after all you may never, ever need it.

If you want this spare key for a partner/whatever to use of a regular basis, then you'd probably want to go up a notch. Get the blank key blade cut, that's the one with the c-shaped plastic section attached, plus chip; then contact an OOFer endowed with a Tech II who will be able to programme you a working 'plip' (you source your own plip/remote part of the key, often literally a matter of a couple of quid) all-in this will be significantly cheaper than the £115 on offer.

Third alternative depends of if you fancy getting your hands dirty...you can swap over the keys, chip and plip, plus the bits on the car that receive the digital info, taken off a breaker on here, for most likely around half the cost of the locksmith's charge for the one key.

Depends how far you want to go, each direction has its advantages and disadvantages. 

[Andy B]

I need a spare key as only one supplied with car. iv,e been quoted £115 from a local shop that said they can provide a 3 button key programmed key. is that expensive ( I think it is ).

It is, but seems the norm these days. It could be worse, I paid £190 for one for the Smart and a new Mercedes key is £225 

also the key I do have is not operating the remote control. had a new battery put in & the insides seems intact.

Is it as simple as a re-sync ie key in ignition & press lock or unlock? (can never remember)

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Ahh, indeed, as AndyB says, simply insert the key in th barrel, turn to position II (so the one before the engine starts) then press one of the buttons. The car will lock and unlock, and the 'plip/remote' is synced.

Caused by removal of battery, or the button has been pressed too many times out of range of the car. 


If you're after a spare key simply because yours doesn't remote unlock anymore, happy to say this is the free fix!! 

[05omegav6]

'The key' is, in essence, in 4 parts.

-the metal blade, operates the mechanical levers in the locks
-the immobiliser chip, housed inside 'the key'
-the 2 or 3 buttoned 'plip', which from MFL-onwards is integral in 'the key'
-the car pass. Required to program the key

Depending what you actually want the spare key for... you can get a simple, bog-standard blank cut at any decent keycutter for maybe around £20. this should get you one with the chip in it specifically for deactivating the immobiliser, so you can start the car. No remote function. Using this key you'd have to actually unlock the car by turning the key in the door barrel. The alarm will sound until you turn the key in the ignition, as the car thinks it's had the door forced. That's only what you'd have to do in the event the battery dies in your remote plip anyway, it's 'no biggy'

If you want a spare key in the event you lose your own and desperately need to get in the car until such time as you locate said original key, then this is perfectly sufficient - after all you may never, ever need it.

If you want this spare key for a partner/whatever to use of a regular basis, then you'd probably want to go up a notch. Get the blank key blade cut, that's the one with the c-shaped plastic section attached, plus chip; then contact an OOFer endowed with a Tech II who will be able to programme you a working 'plip' (you source your own plip/remote part of the key, often literally a matter of a couple of quid) all-in this will be significantly cheaper than the £115 on offer.

Third alternative depends of if you fancy getting your hands dirty...you can swap over the keys, chip and plip, plus the bits on the car that receive the digital info, taken off a breaker on here, for most likely around half the cost of the locksmith's charge for the one key.

Depends how far you want to go, each direction has its advantages and disadvantages. 

Fixed... with no car pass you need to factor the cost of obtaining one

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Ah, true. I'm assuming the Op still has it.

Amendment, if you don't have the car pass, then that immediately takes you down the road of replacing the 'electric' side of things from another donor vehicle. Not anywhere near as expensive as it may sound, and everything is plug n play, no nasty soldering or magic tech 2 boxes required. And given the general reliability of the locking systems, they're often sent to the crusher still on the cars, there's not much demand for them, really.

[STEMO]

I paid £114 for a programmed spare key for my orlando and was happy to do so. I don't like not having a fully-working one.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

It's all down to cost v aggro v necessity, and how you weigh the one against the other. To me, £115 is a lot of money for half a day playing on my car, and getting new locks and keys with it. To others that would be a faff they'd gladly pay someone ten times that to do for them. Some want 'fire and forget' wishbones, some are happy to build their own. Each to their own, thing, really. 

[raywilb]

approx. 13yrs ago I bought a key & needed to buy a car pass too. just under £120 I think. I do like things to work as intended, but with this motor only the one was supplied ( so bad news if I lost it.) good thing I do have a car pass. but will see if I can source a spare via the net, 

[Nick W]

I need a spare key as only one supplied with car. iv,e been quoted £115 from a local shop that said they can provide a 3 button key programmed key. is that expensive ( I think it is ). also the key I do have is not operating the remote control. had a new battery put in & the insides seems intact.

That seems entirely reasonable to me, especially if done while you wait. Try your local Vauxhall dealer; they will want much more and several days to do it.

[Nick W]

Ah, true. I'm assuming the Op still has it.

Amendment, if you don't have the car pass, then that immediately takes you down the road of replacing the 'electric' side of things from another donor vehicle. Not anywhere near as expensive as it may sound, and everything is plug n play, no nasty soldering or magic tech 2 boxes required. And given the general reliability of the locking systems, they're often sent to the crusher still on the cars, there's not much demand for them, really.

No it doesn't. The firm I use charges a tenner more for a remote(and immobiliser chip) if you don't have the car pass. That is way easier than buggering about with used keys/remotes/ecus and fitting them. And they'll still do it while you wait.

[steve6367]

Ah, true. I'm assuming the Op still has it.

Amendment, if you don't have the car pass, then that immediately takes you down the road of replacing the 'electric' side of things from another donor vehicle. Not anywhere near as expensive as it may sound, and everything is plug n play, no nasty soldering or magic tech 2 boxes required. And given the general reliability of the locking systems, they're often sent to the crusher still on the cars, there's not much demand for them, really.

No it doesn't. The firm I use charges a tenner more for a remote(and immobiliser chip) if you don't have the car pass. That is way easier than buggering about with used keys/remotes/ecus and fitting them. And they'll still do it while you wait.

Joy, the VX security is good then!

[Nick W]

Ah, true. I'm assuming the Op still has it.

Amendment, if you don't have the car pass, then that immediately takes you down the road of replacing the 'electric' side of things from another donor vehicle. Not anywhere near as expensive as it may sound, and everything is plug n play, no nasty soldering or magic tech 2 boxes required. And given the general reliability of the locking systems, they're often sent to the crusher still on the cars, there's not much demand for them, really.

No it doesn't. The firm I use charges a tenner more for a remote(and immobiliser chip) if you don't have the car pass. That is way easier than buggering about with used keys/remotes/ecus and fitting them. And they'll still do it while you wait.

Joy, the VX security is good then!

If it can be made, it can be unmade - Denis Wheeler 1914-1994

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Fair enough, Nick.

What I said only based on everywhere local to me, where they won't/can't touch it unless you've got carpass, and the trusted carkeycutter who can do the immobiliser only, not the remote locking function. Glad you've got some better locksmiths round your way than I! 


Apologies to the OP if I'm leading you in the wrong direction.