I get high blood pressure just thinking about this scam of the automotive industry. You can spend $300-400 just getting a key replaced . . . another reason to hate the dealership but that’s just the way it is. /* rant over */
OK, I’m need to replace a lost 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 proximity key fob for a push button start vehicle. (Not to be confused with my push-start vehicle 35 years ago). I can get this exact replacement on Amazon for $75.
Now apparently it does require some tricky programming that you cannot just do with the vehicle and one other fob (like you can on some vehicles) so I will need either a dealer or an automotive locksmith or some really bright hacker. I called a variety of locksmiths and got answers varying from “can’t do it” to “can do it for $350” to “I can come out for $85 and only then give you a quote”.
Plano Dodge wants about $350 and won’t program your own fob. Two other dealers, Dallas and Richardson won’t even return my emails. I guess business is good.
Any thoughts on a way to get these things programmed?
A 2016 Dodge is going to be VERY difficult to program a new fob for. 2000-2012 are pretty easy, but generally require two working fobs to program a third. Somewhere between 2012-1016 they locked that down to dealers and some locksmiths.
I’ve used Laura’s Locksmith in Denton to program fobs in the past. You might want to give them a call to see if they can help you with your 2016. They are trustworthy and didn’t (drastically) overcharge me.
$300 - $400 is not bad compared to most “keyless” start garbage made today.
Most likely you will be at the mercy of a dealership due to proprietorial software and since this deals with the imobiliser (anti theft deterrent) on the vehicle.
You’ll most likely get billed for a new transponder fob and programming. make sure you take your other fob so that you both work before you leave with a lighter wallet. I’d expect this to cost closer to $1k.
Please post your solution and experience so that others may benefit
Laura was a pleasure to talk to and unfortunately does not do that sort of key fob.
She referred me to Brian’s keys in Denton. Brian was also a pleasure to talk to. He thinks he can do it and if so it will be $50. So, maybe I can get by with two new fobs ($75 ea on Amazon) plus the reasonable programming fee.
I will eagerly report. Sounds like the ‘key’ is to stay out of Dallas.
BTW, Tlar, it already has the keyless start, just want a new key.
OK, the final resolution of this . . . The Dodge dealiership agreed to program the two keys I bought for $110. Brian in Denton could do for $50 for “no guarantee” they would work and the best mobile locksmith guy told me $85+ and I suspect there were other charges as well as he would not give me any quote.
So I did the $110 deal. I’m putting some tile trackers on these fobs ASAP.
TLAR, I did have to buy the fob separately and it did not include cutting the mechanical key, but, yeah, I was getting tired of all the time I was wasting trying to get the best deal and went with them.
BTW, the mechanical key - - - they wanted $44 each to cut! It is a really simple looking double sided key that I’m pretty sure would fit into any key machine but I’ll take it to a bricks and mortar locksmith.
Did a little research re the Dodge proximity key and talked with one of the service guys. Should have made a deal with them for them to give me the “code” for my vehicle for key programming. There is a code that goes with the VIN. They get that from a database. An outside locksmith must ‘buy’ that code from a dealer in order to program the key. I don’t even think it takes any equipment. I think they just have to have the car, one working fob and the blank fob.
Also, the remaining key did not have to be reprogrammed and the service guy said that if we find the lost fob, then it will work. So . . . apparently it is not like the euro keys (Merc, BMW, Audi, Porsche) where they must reprogram them all. Although I presume there would be a way to do that if one wanted, for ex, to insure against someone getting into the vehicle with the lost fob.
Your mechanical key is just for the doors and tailgate & the fob is for starting? I haven’t looked at the new Dodge/Fiats in several years - call me curious
The best vehicle anti - theft device in America today is a clutch pedal on the floor.
Hmmm. Guess I should know what the mechanical key is for. The door does have a key slot. I don’t think the glove box has a lock. The service guy called it a valet key. Not sure what it does other than get into the vehicle. The tailgate locks electromechanically with the rest of the vehicle.
So . . . being push button start, I guess if the fob is dead then the vehicle won’t start. Oops, probably should figure that out.
This is what I’m finding on a forum. Don’t know if it pertains to my vehicle.
NOTE: In case the ignition does not change with the
push of a button, the RKE transmitter (Key Fob) may
have a low or dead battery. In this situation, a back up
method can be used to operate the ignition switch. Put
the nose side (side opposite of the emergency key) of the
Key Fob against the Engine START/STOP button and
push to operate the ignition.
Key Fob
The Key Fob also contains the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter and an emergency key, which stores in
the rear of the Key Fob.
The emergency key allows for entry into the vehicle
should the battery in the vehicle or the Key Fob go dead.
The emergency key is also for locking/unlocking the
glove compartment. You can keep the emergency key
with you when valet parking.
So, perhaps there is a passive transponder in the FOB.
The other option would be to keep an extra CR2032 battery (and whatever tool is needed to get into the fob) in the truck and use the mechanical key to enter the vehicle (I’m guessing).
I’m not a Dodge guy but from real time experiences in helping friends with keyless start issues (not a Dodge) if the fob battery fails - a new battery may not resolve a “:fob not detected or not in range” situation without reprogramming).
Keyless start vehicles can make tow truck drivers unhappy when the wheels are locked at a sharp angle and cannot be straightened since the steering column cannot be unlocked unless the fob works…(some tow truck drivers are not the type that “think outside the box”)