Cheapest way to replace lost key fob?

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alexharr

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I originally had two key fobs but I lost one of them. What is the cheapest way to obtain a new key fob? I didn't want to go through the dealership because its far too expensive.
 

thorgal

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The cheapest way would be ...to find the old one .

Otherwise there is no other way to obtain it, but thru dealers.
 

schwaggy

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I originally had two key fobs but I lost one of them. What is the cheapest way to obtain a new key fob? I didn't want to go through the dealership because its far too expensive.

In Seattle, FOB was $365 and programming to the truck was $119.

CRAZY STUPID

If you have a GAP IID tool, you can program the key with it. Those are expensive tools, but so worth it. If you need to program a key, you can look at it as getting money off the IID tool, plus you get to keep it for so many other uses.
 

alexharr

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In Seattle, FOB was $365 and programming to the truck was $119.

CRAZY STUPID

If you have a GAP IID tool, you can program the key with it. Those are expensive tools, but so worth it. If you need to program a key, you can look at it as getting money off the IID tool, plus you get to keep it for so many other uses.

I would purchase that I just happen to be on a pretty tight budget at the moment.

Would this key work?
2005 05 Land Rover LR3 Land Rover Keyless Entry Remote - 3 Button
Assuming I can get it cut at a local locksmith and then programmed, do you think that would save me money?
Also, assuming I got the key cut, would I be able to turn on the ignition without getting it programmed?

If I were to get a $10 key from amazon or ebay, and then were to get the key cut, would that allow me to start up the car?
If so then I'll just do that without having the functionality of the three buttons.
 
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morrisdl

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Good luck finding that lock smith...Last I heard there is only one machine that cuts these keys and LR owns it. You could get a new blade from the dealership and match it to a used fob and reprogram you truck to accept it.

Call around - I found a cheaper dealership that only charged me $295 total.
 

Houm_WA

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ONE person in the world of the internet has reported having a key cut....I went to a slew of places in the Seattle area (specialists and big name places) and could not find anyone with the proper equipment or expertise.

I'd search this forum and others to try and find the person how reports having one cut. I think he is in Texas.
 

umbertob

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If I were to get a $10 key from amazon or ebay, and then were to get the key cut, would that allow me to start up the car?
If so then I'll just do that without having the functionality of the three buttons.

A $10 key is very likely a used key. Once the fob has been programmed for a specific VIN, it can't be erased and reprogrammed for another one. Not by a dealer, not by an independent shop, not by iIDTool and not by this mythical locksmith hiding somewhere on this planet. The short answer is no, you need a "******", never before used fob to successfully program it to start the engine of your car, even if you find someone able to cut a blank key blade to match.

Don't know about that fob sold on Amazon.
 

stmcknig

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I'd search this forum and others to try and find the person how reports having one cut. I think he is in Texas.

Aaaanddd that would be me :) I found maybe the Gandalf of locksmiths who was able to cut me a new key from a blank with what I think he called a sidewinder machine. He laughed at the idea that the only people who could cut it were LR.

UNFORTUNATELY, it was an in vain experiment (although I still have the physical key here on my desk) as the only way I know of to get a working RFID fob is to buy it through your dealer from LR in the UK. I tried a couple of eBay "unused" fobs and even my dealer couldn't pair them. Fortunately I was able to get a refund from the eBay seller.

AFAIK, all the keys come from LR in the UK. They use the VIN to first of all CNC machine your key based on the data they have. Then they "seed" the RFID chip in the blank fob with a value which your vehicle will read and validate when it is "paired". This is why the eBay ones don't work I believe. It's a bit like trying to pair a Bluetooth device if you don't have the pairing code, it ain't going to happen.

So long story short, I had to pay about $250 for the key from my LR dealer which shipped from the UK in about ten days. I was able to "pair" it to my LR3 myself using Nanocom/IID tool which saved me another $110 from my local dealer service department. It took all of about five minutes to do including making a cup of tea. The dealer claims their laptop diagnostics boot so slowly that it means they have to charge a one hour minimum. Right.

So sadly I can only suggest you don't waste time with eBay or China clones but find the cheapest LR dealer price for the key and maybe ask if someone in your locale has a Nanocom Evolution (not VIN locked) to pair the key for you once you get it.

Feel free to PM if you want more gory details ;-)
 

stmcknig

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What umberto said - once a key has been matched to a VIN, it's a one time operation. You can swap out the key shank with one that will physically match your door and ignition lock but that won't disable the alarm, or allow the immobiliser to allow you to start the LR. In theory you can order a replacement chip, disassemble your cheapo fob and resolder the new chip in its place. Ah but then you have to be able to program it and know what to program it with. At that point, I just paid the dealer $250...
 

Houm_WA

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During my own dead-FOB episode, I purchased a "******" FOB with NO SHANK from BP Utah, switched the shank from an existing dead-FOB and had the new FOB (and the old ones were present) re-programmed at my LR dealer. That was before I had my IIDTool.

The process worked. I saved a few hundred bucks that way.
 

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