[ds968]

What a scam ! So as if it wasn't enough that the average key fob and programming costs upwards of $ 300 with some models running into $ 500-$600 range ( folks, we're talking about a f****ng spare car key !! ) here's the b.s. part of it : For the Grand Cherokee I just bought, the dealer charges $ 240 for the fob, and an additional $ 75 for programming . However, I can find the same OE fob from various sources online for as little as $ 60. Here's the catch : they can ONLY be programmed by a dealer because it needs a code not available to anyone else and that code is in tne car's computer. So IF you bring a fob bought from another source to the dealer the same programming time spent converts from $ 75 to $ 165 . Still cheaper, but what justifies the programming cost difference ?! Scam !

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[kwikt]

Totally out of control!!!!!!

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[MCL968]

There was a way to self-program the fob on my Escape. I did an internet search and I found that you could program the car to recognize the fob, rather than the other way around. It involved a complex routine of key turning and pedal stomping, but it eventually worked.

 

Also, some lock shops can do the same job.

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[ds968]

Yes, SOME lock shops can do that but for SOME makes and models only . I think among various other manufacturers Jeep wised up to that and programmed ( not sure starting with which year, but 2014 I know ..) something in tne ECU that prevents third parties from doing that . I only called two different locksmith places which advertise they can duplicate most fob chips , but both said this particular model is not one of them. On the bright side, a Ferrari or a McLaren key duplicate is probably $ 1,000 , so I should be relieved that I don't have any of those cars , right ? LOL .

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[968Syncro]

It is the Gillette business model:  give away the car, and make your money on the lost keys.   

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[ds968]

To add insult to injury, I found out today that the local dealer's first available service appointment ( whether it's to simply program a duplicate key which takes maybe 15-20 minutes, or , if your car breaks down and you might be in need of REAL service ) is two weeks from now !! One more reason not to ever buy newer cars..

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[ds968]

And the drama is not over...on Monday I set up an appointment at the dealer where I purchased the car ( which is inconveniently located about 45 min - 1 hr drive away, depending on traffic ) because I was promised a discounted price ..about $ 100 less than what the closer proximity dealer would charge..not to mention the longer time to get an appointment . So , before setting up the appointment I called the parts department to make sure the key fob and blanks are in stock, received confirmation that yes, they are in stock, so I set the service appointment for today. Nonetheless, I called again on Thusrday to re-confirm the appointment and asked to make sure everything is in order before I drive there at 7 am on a Satirday . Assured that all is fine and dandy I drove over, only to discover that when I arrived there and service called parts to bring the fob over for programming , parts notified them that the last fob was sold yesterday and nothing is available in stock ! The service manager said that when I called to re-confirm the service appointment , that's all they do, they do not contact parts to also verify the part is in stock ..wait, WHAT ?.,, Well you can only imagine the scene that ensured .. The dealership's general manager is not in until noon today, but he'll get an earful from me as soon as he gets in . How's this for complete incompetence ?!! So if someone makes an appointment for an alternator replacement, could they face the same situation of showing up after making arrangements to take time off work or whatnot , and then told when they get there that the part is not available with no forewarning ? WTF ?!

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[az968]

Wow, what a bad month you have had, is nothing going to work well for you? None of my cars are new enough to have these keys, I guess I'll just keep them running as long as I can.

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[ds968]

Just a comedy of errors which affirms many people's opinion of dealers...and they were completely unapologetic about it, nothing more than a shoulder shrug and the audacity to say they'll reorder it , and can take me in on Thutsday .. Yeah, good luck with that !


Yeah, at least the bad " month " could always be worse ; the stock market could be plunging , I might not even win today's $ 900 million powerball lottery, it could be raining outside...

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[az968]

So you are now 3 for 3 ?

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[ds968]

And today the dashboard alerts indicated the key fob battery needs to be replaced ( soon, I suppose...) . Question to those of you with fancy-schmancy button start cars and key fobs that do pretty much everything for you but heat your morning coffee .. Does one just pop the cover and replace the battery, or does removal of the battery erase the programming , and a new battery can only be replaced by the dealer who charges you the obligatory $ 175 - $ 200 for reprogramming the fob ?

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[MCL968]

All of ours just pop out and pop back in, no big deal. The Volvo fob goes through batteries at twice the rate as the Lexus.

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[ds968]

Good to know, hopefully the Jeep will be the same.   This key fob is only about one year old, my MBZ key fob still functioning perfectly fine on the same battery is going on about eight years now   

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[flash]

if the MBZ key is the type that you actually insert into the ignition, kind of like a regular key, it charges while it is in there.  we had that on the SL550.  the one thing to keep in mind is that they run down if not used.  we had to periodically swap keys to keep them charged.

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[ds968]

Ah, so that's the explanation for the MBZ - yup, that's the snub nose but insert fob type.     

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