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which national chain offers deal on modern car key duplicates?

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Ohioguy

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Jul 8, 2012, 4:59:32 AM7/8/12
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We just bought a 2003 Pontiac Montana, which is the first vehicle
we've ever encountered that has keys with transponders/chips/rfid in
them. I should say "key", because the vehicle only came with 1.

We need to get 2 more made, for a total of 3. I've been told that
they cost $100 each, so we would need to spend $200 to get the 2 copies
made that we want.

$200 seems pricey to me, considering that we used to be able to get
car key copies made at the local hardware shops for a few bucks.
However, I have absolutely no experience with this newer type of auto keys.

I thought I would check on here first, just to make sure I'm not
getting ripped off. Can anyone recommend a national chain that is able
to make auto key duplicates for less? Thanks!

Jeff

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Jul 8, 2012, 3:55:05 PM7/8/12
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Ohioguy <no...@none.net> wrote in
news:4ff94ca6$0$29085$882e...@usenet-news.net:
Try calling a locksmith that does auto keys. They should be cheaper than a
dealer.

This site says that Pontiacs require you to get a remote control to match
to the new key.
http://www.autotransponder.com/2003_pontiac_montana_keys_and_keyless_entry_
remotes

Mrs Irish Mike

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Jul 10, 2012, 5:26:21 PM7/10/12
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I used to work for a parking company, the kind where they need to take
your key to move it. One thing you don't want to do is lose one of
those babies. Some of those keys cost more than $500 to replace. There
is even a car key that costs $20K to replace (Aston Martin).

Look to see if your car can use a "valet key", and see if it will
work for your lifestyle (ie, no glove compartment).

BigDog811

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Jul 12, 2012, 10:48:28 AM7/12/12
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On Sunday, July 8, 2012 2:59:32 AM UTC-6, Ohioguy wrote:
> We just bought a 2003 Pontiac Montana, which is the first vehicle
> we&#39;ve ever encountered that has keys with transponders/chips/rfid in
> them. I should say &quot;key&quot;, because the vehicle only came with 1.
>
> We need to get 2 more made, for a total of 3. I&#39;ve been told that
> they cost $100 each, so we would need to spend $200 to get the 2 copies
> made that we want.
>
> $200 seems pricey to me, considering that we used to be able to get
> car key copies made at the local hardware shops for a few bucks.
> However, I have absolutely no experience with this newer type of auto keys.
>
> I thought I would check on here first, just to make sure I&#39;m not
> getting ripped off. Can anyone recommend a national chain that is able
> to make auto key duplicates for less? Thanks!

Don't buy chipped keys from a third party!!! Bite the bullet and pay the dealer. $100 each is actually a pretty good price for these keys. The keys to my 2009 Grand Cherokee would cost me nearly $130 each to replace.

Valet keys have limited functionality and can't be used for day to day driving.

If they stop working, and third party keys frequently do, the dealer will replace/reprogram them for no additional cost unless they've been damaged by mishandling.

The lesson to be learned here is to make sure that when you buy a car, new or used, the deal includes a key for each driver and a spare. Kinda sad this is even necessary, but it's the new normal. Welcome to the 21st Century.

The Real Bev

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Jul 12, 2012, 5:24:37 PM7/12/12
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On 07/12/2012 07:48 AM, BigDog811 wrote:

> The lesson to be learned here is to make sure that when you buy a
> car, new or used, the deal includes a key for each driver and a
> spare. Kinda sad this is even necessary, but it's the new normal.
> Welcome to the 21st Century.

ALL new cars, even the cheap ones, require these fancy keys? I can't
imagine wanting such a thing :-(

--
Cheers, Bev
MSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMS
FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. It comes bundled with the software.


bob haller

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Jul 14, 2012, 1:09:45 PM7/14/12
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i have a venture with the chipped key. 100 bucks for each copy. i have
wondered if theres a way to remove this :( feature :(

im.1.max...@xoxy.net

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Jul 14, 2012, 6:10:07 PM7/14/12
to
On Sunday, July 8, 2012 4:59:32 AM UTC-4, Ohioguy wrote:
> We just bought a 2003 Pontiac Montana, which is the first vehicle
> we&#39;ve ever encountered that has keys with transponders/chips/rfid in
> them. I should say &quot;key&quot;, because the vehicle only came with 1.
>
> We need to get 2 more made, for a total of 3. I&#39;ve been told that
> they cost $100 each, so we would need to spend $200 to get the 2 copies
> made that we want.
>
> $200 seems pricey to me, considering that we used to be able to get
> car key copies made at the local hardware shops for a few bucks.
> However, I have absolutely no experience with this newer type of auto keys.
>
> I thought I would check on here first, just to make sure I&#39;m not
> getting ripped off. Can anyone recommend a national chain that is able
> to make auto key duplicates for less? Thanks!

Don't spend your money until you research this more.
I have heard of people pasting the chip of the good key near the lock and using a regular cut key for the actual use. Get a cheap key made and see if this works. When you are confident of the result you could FUBAR the original and tape it to the column or something. You are creative. Give something like this a try first.

Dennis

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Jul 17, 2012, 1:23:38 PM7/17/12
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On Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:24:37 -0700, The Real Bev
<bashl...@gmail.com> wrote:

>ALL new cars, even the cheap ones, require these fancy keys? I can't
>imagine wanting such a thing :-(

I just drove a rental car for a week while on vacation (a 2012 Buick).
It had "keyless ignition", which means there is no place to put a key
(no lock on the steering column) -- you just need to have the RF "key"
in your pocket/purse to enable starting via a push button on the dash.
Seemed convenient initially, but I quickly found that this means there
is no "Accessory" feature: you had to start the engine to turn on the
radio or to open or close the power windows. Not so convenient after
all. Maybe automakers should think these feature through a little
more.

Dennis (evil)
--
An inherent weakness of a pure democracy is that half
the voters are below average intelligence.

Vic Smith

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Jul 17, 2012, 10:11:10 PM7/17/12
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On Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:23:38 +0000 (UTC), Dennis <dg...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>On Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:24:37 -0700, The Real Bev
><bashl...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>ALL new cars, even the cheap ones, require these fancy keys? I can't
>>imagine wanting such a thing :-(
>
>I just drove a rental car for a week while on vacation (a 2012 Buick).
>It had "keyless ignition", which means there is no place to put a key
>(no lock on the steering column) -- you just need to have the RF "key"
>in your pocket/purse to enable starting via a push button on the dash.
>Seemed convenient initially, but I quickly found that this means there
>is no "Accessory" feature: you had to start the engine to turn on the
>radio or to open or close the power windows. Not so convenient after
>all. Maybe automakers should think these feature through a little
>more.
>
>Dennis (evil)

No, it's a problem with renters not being aware of "non-standard"
methods. Here's how ACC works.
http://www.buickmanuals.org/buick-1186.html

I have the same issues with unfamiliar cars.
So rental cars need an owners manual in the glove box.
Good luck with that.

--
Vic

Dennis

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Jul 17, 2012, 10:58:44 PM7/17/12
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Actually, this rental car did have a manual in the glovebox and I went
through it pretty carefully (I'm a big read-the-manual nerd). I never
found a mention of an "Accessory" feature. Not in the "Controls"
section, not in the "Windows" section, nothing.

And I even tried the procedure mention on the website you linked while
I was sitting in the car fiddling with the controls (this missing
feature really bugged me) and pushing the start button always started
the engine (or stopped it if it was already running).

Maybe I needed to sacrifice a dead cat at midnight or something...

BTW, the whole control layout was way too busy and complicated (this
was a common theme among the online reviews I read). The center
console/dash was a huge arrary of buttons with ambiguous labels like
"Info", "Home", "Return", etc. The control to toggle the mph/trip
odo/mpg display was on the turn signal stalk!

Otherwise, it (a 2012 Regal) was a pretty nice car -- comfortable,
smooth and quiet. I got around 31 mpg average over ~600 miles. Only
$250 to rent it for 8 days.


Dennis (evil)
--
My output is down, my income is up, I take a short position on the long bond and
my revenue stream has its own cash flow. -George Carlin

Vic Smith

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Jul 17, 2012, 11:44:36 PM7/17/12
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On Tue, 17 Jul 2012 19:58:44 -0700, Dennis <dg...@hotmail.com> wrote:


>
>BTW, the whole control layout was way too busy and complicated (this
>was a common theme among the online reviews I read). The center
>console/dash was a huge arrary of buttons with ambiguous labels like
>"Info", "Home", "Return", etc. The control to toggle the mph/trip
>odo/mpg display was on the turn signal stalk!
>

Some people like the confusion - and the challenge of learning it all.
Me, I like it standardized. Used to be you could get in most cars in
pitch black, and your left hand could easily find the lamps knob, and
your right hand the ignition switch. Bye bye to that.
I also have no need for tire pressure sensors, all kinds of integrated
sound system/informational displays, etc., etc.
Others like having all that, or get sold on it, or want bragging
rights.`
Putting all manner of functions on the turn signal stalk seems to
really complicates things. Might just be bad perception.
I didn't like the auto-headlights when I got the '97 Lumina.
Felt like I should control that. I was wrong. It works fine, better
than me at getting the lights on when they should be on.
Oddly, though some of it seems like a maintenance nightmare, a good
tech has no problem with it, and it seems to me there's less problems
than with the old stuff. It's scary to shade tree mechs, but my son
had no trouble replacing a bad turn signal switch on the Lumina. That
one has wiper and cruise on the stalk. Endless wires.
That's the main difference with the new stuff - harder to shade tree.
My son is more than a shade tree mech, and not intimidated.
But he sometimes bitches about too much component integration.
Anyway, many ways of looking at it.

--
Vic

h

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Jul 19, 2012, 10:32:18 AM7/19/12
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"Jeff" <j...@donotspam.me> wrote in message
news:XnsA08AA1E448C...@209.197.12.12...

Meh. I'll just stick with older cars with actual keys, thank yew. If the car
requires a remote it's a deal-breaker for me.


BigDog811

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Jul 19, 2012, 5:18:42 PM7/19/12
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On Thursday, July 19, 2012 8:32:18 AM UTC-6, h wrote:
> &quot;Jeff&quot; &lt;j...@donotspam.me&gt; wrote in message
> news:XnsA08AA1E448C...@209.197.12.12...
>
> Meh. I&#39;ll just stick with older cars with actual keys, thank yew. If the car
> requires a remote it&#39;s a deal-breaker for me.

So...I guess you're good mechanic who can restore/repair "classic" cars? If not, that'll only work for you for a few more years (if that long). Cars that old will go the way of the do-do bird shortly. After that you'll either change your tune, or get around by walking, cycling, or riding a bus.

h

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Jul 20, 2012, 8:59:52 AM7/20/12
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"BigDog811" <bigd...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:7b8c31d6-bd49-4a06...@googlegroups.com...
I drive about 2,000 miles a year. I got over 200,000 miles out of my last
Subaru (I was commuting back then) and my current Subaru is at 150,000
miles. I'm pushing 60, so I don't think I'll be needing another car ever
again.


The Real Bev

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Jul 22, 2012, 3:21:10 AM7/22/12
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On 07/17/2012 10:23 AM, Dennis wrote:

> On Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:24:37 -0700, The Real Bev
> <bashl...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>ALL new cars, even the cheap ones, require these fancy keys? I can't
>>imagine wanting such a thing :-(
>
> I just drove a rental car for a week while on vacation (a 2012 Buick).
> It had "keyless ignition", which means there is no place to put a key
> (no lock on the steering column) -- you just need to have the RF "key"
> in your pocket/purse to enable starting via a push button on the dash.
> Seemed convenient initially, but I quickly found that this means there
> is no "Accessory" feature: you had to start the engine to turn on the
> radio or to open or close the power windows. Not so convenient after
> all. Maybe automakers should think these feature through a little
> more.

Not likely. Guess who brought us the self-closing trunk, the
dashpot-substitute that tries to kill you when it fails, and the
side-mirror that requires you to remove the AC in order to replace the
glass.

--
Cheers, Bev
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Yahoo has released its own search engine. For more info,
type 'yahoo search engine' into Google." -D.Miller


Ohioguy

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Jul 22, 2012, 9:49:11 AM7/22/12
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After doing some more searching, I can recommend this place,
"Discount Keyless":

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&me=A217WN3M61G6L5

I got 3 keys for roughly $15.50 each, shipped. I was able to program
them using the procedure outlined in my car manual, in about 15 seconds
each. That saved me about $200!

Mrs Irish Mike

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Jul 22, 2012, 4:22:43 PM7/22/12
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On Sunday, July 22, 2012 6:49:11 AM UTC-7, Ohioguy wrote:
> After doing some more searching, I can recommend this place,
> &quot;Discount Keyless&quot;:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?ie=UTF8&amp;marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;me=A217WN3M61G6L5
>
> I got 3 keys for roughly $15.50 each, shipped. I was able to program
> them using the procedure outlined in my car manual, in about 15 seconds
> each. That saved me about $200!

Ding Ding Ding!!! We have a winner!

BigDog811

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Jul 24, 2012, 3:54:24 PM7/24/12
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On Sunday, July 22, 2012 2:22:43 PM UTC-6, Mrs Irish Mike wrote:
> On Sunday, July 22, 2012 6:49:11 AM UTC-7, Ohioguy wrote:
> &gt; After doing some more searching, I can recommend this place,
> &gt; &amp;quot;Discount Keyless&amp;quot;:
> &gt;
> &gt; http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;amp;me=A217WN3M61G6L5
> &gt;
> &gt; I got 3 keys for roughly $15.50 each, shipped. I was able to program
> &gt; them using the procedure outlined in my car manual, in about 15 seconds
> &gt; each. That saved me about $200!
>
> Ding Ding Ding!!! We have a winner!

Not necessarily. It worked out for him. Good.

Do your homework.

I checked the site and a replacement key for my 2009 Grand Cherokee would cost a few cents shy of $75.00. The site says that it can't be user programmed but that a Jeep dealer would do so without charge. Not true. My local Jeep dealer says that they only program OEM keys for free. Also, that all keys for the vehicle would have to be reprogrammed. They charge $40.00 EACH on a third party key replacement. For me that would be $120.00 for three keys, plus the $75.00 cost of the replacement key. That's a total of $195.00. Whereas if I just buy a $140.00 replacement from the dealer they reprogram everything without charge.

I randomly called two local locksmiths. Nope. They can't program Jeep keys, only dealers can do it.

Ivan The Not-So-Bad

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Jul 27, 2012, 11:47:33 PM7/27/12
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