You DON'T want to lose your key!

[GNVenom]

What a hassle!

A word to the wise: Do not leave both sets of keys where they can be lost or stolen. Don't ask me how I know...

Anyway, you can't just go and purchase a replacement key and fob. The key is cut by a special GM facility, and the remote fob is programmed at the dealer, hooked up to a computer on-line, and takes about an hour to program each fob. You can't do it with the TEC II or by the conventional means of plugging the key in the ignition and proceeding with the routine.

And, it'll cost you - hundreds. I had my Camaro flat-bedded to the dealer yesterday, and it takes several days to get the keys.

Sooooo, if you have a spare, put it in a SAFE place, which is a different safe place that the first set resides.

And, if you're inclined to get a spare key, be prepared for a long drawn-out procedure. HINT: Order a spare key from your GM dealer NOW - you'll need to show proof of ownership. Then once you have it, wait until your car goes to the dealer for warranty or service, and have them program it while it's there.

Then PUT IT AWAY.

[1BADLS3]

I think the key here is that you need both sets to cheaply/easily get a 3rd key.

If you have none, or one, you're pretty much screwed because the VATS/security system needs to read the other fobs that have been programmed into the computer as well. It takes a trip to the dealer to program out the other codes and then set up new primary/secondary codes.

At least that's the way it works with my Jeep.

[austinjames]

thanks for that info, great idea.

[GNVenom]

Apparently starting with the 2010's, GM has stepped up security and made it very difficult to for a would-be thief to scam a working key. Necessary steps mean it's going to be a hassle.

I had the car locked in my garage, so I ordered a replacement key/fob Had to go to the dealer to do it, show ID, and so on. Got it three days later, opened the car door, and swiftly set off the anti-theft horn-beeping routine. That's the best I could do. Got it out of gear, rolled it into the driveway and called Roadside Assistance, who summoned a flat bed tow truck to the house, and brought it to the awaiting Chevy dealer.

By the end of the week, I'll have my car back with two new keys/fobs. Don't know the cost yet, but I think it cost $130 to program the fob. Add to that the cost of key cutting and new fob. X2. Ouch!

[GNVenom]

Originally Posted by Comrando

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141555

Wrong! That doesn't apply to our GEN 5 Camaros. It works on the standard chip key only. That procedure worked on my 2009 Traverse.

Switchblade fobs are completely different.

[Riddikulus5Gen]

I just went through the joys of prorgramming or 'adding' a new key to my car, and
the thing that took the longest was waiting for the new one the dealer had ordered to come in.
From day ordered, took over a week, I think about 8 business days to be delivered.

Luckily, mine was used, (that's the ONLY reason I say those words in the same sentence), but the car was turned in with 1 key already, so that one worked, and the new key was just going to be a back-up anyways.

So, anywho, since my dealer is from across country, the car made it home
before the spare key did, and that means, I had to go get the new key programmed at a dealer out here. (And to add to the process, a week or so later, the original owner found the spare key that came with the car), so now, I have a total of 3 keys, and that means, that either: all 3 need to now be reprogrammed, OR (once I was in the shop at the dealership), you could choose to "add" a key instead of reprogramming all 3.

So, from start of plugging the car into the computer, to finish, the process of adding the 3rd key took about 20 minutes? maybe 30 at most? It runs through this process that sets a timer for at least 15 minutes while the car and computer sync up and do their thing, and then you go through with all the keys and test them out, making sure they do what they are supposed to do, then voila!
All done.

granted, 72$ later, (Thank goodness my dealer in NC fronted the bill. *THANKS GUYS @ BIGGS CADILLAC!*) I was finally finished with the ordeal.


So lesson is, yes, can be a bit of a pain to obtain and program a new set of keys,
so BE CAREFUL and SMART and store one away in a safe place that YOU WON'T FORGET! haha, and keep the one you use attached to something that is easy
to keep tabs on as well.


good luck!

[Sunlover]

A few weeks after we got the new car, I decided we should have a 3rd key, so I went to the parts department, and they ordered me one, pre-cut based on our VIN#. It cost in the neighborhood of $55. It took about a week or so to arrive. When it came in, I took both our existing keys in, cause I knew from past experience how much of a hassle it usually has been to re-program fobs when you get a new one. The service managers hadn't done one yet, so they looked up some info, started the car with one of the existing keys, then with the new key, and that was it. He had no idea it would be that easy, and I CERTAINLY didn't. All three work just fine, and I wouldn't have even needed to take the other original key in, as it turns out. They didn't charge me anything, except for the key (given the ease of things, makes sense).