embarrasing.

breadturbo said:
dont they need to have access to the car to code the keys? otherwise how do they know what 'code' to program it to?
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We have these things called 'computers' these days, useful for storing information about cars etc. ;)

They can look up the reg/chassis number and get the information.
 
A friend was in this exact situation, mk4 Astra. Vauxhall couldn't help him, apparently they don't keep the records of cars over a certain age and were unable to make him a new key. I think he just found the key in the end, I'll ask though.
 
breadturbo said:
dont they need to have access to the car to code the keys? otherwise how do they know what 'code' to program it to?
Click to expand...

No, (for example with Merc, BMW, Porsche etc) any main dealer can order a key for any car on the planet from its VIN number. The key takes a few days to come as it is created and programmed in at the factory in germany. They know what to program it to as they know what codes it needs as they were the ones who built it and therefore set its codes.
 
Which is actually kind of worrying, given that most cars these days have the VIN visible at the bottom of the windscreen.

All you need to do is convince some pleb at a dealership to order you a key, job done.
 
I imagine they're pretty strict about proving who you are and that you own the car - I don't imagine you can walk in and say "One key for VIN number xxxx please good sir" :)

Didn't they do this in Gone in 60 Seconds - with an inside man?
 
Depends on how good you are at blagging.

"I'm working down here in Wales this week and I've just lost my key down a grid. Is there no chance you could order me up a key while I'm here, otherwise I'll have to somehow get home to Edinburgh, just to get my logbook and then come all the way back" etc. etc.
 
Should be able to bend the top of the door out slightly so you can unlock it (and bend it back in) to get to the boot, being a vauxhall ;)
 
If you only had 3 hrs in which to lose them, i'm presuming you came home, locked your car, slept, got up, left for work (discovered keys missing).
All you have to do is retrace your steps and they should be quite easy to find.

I don't understand why you think they would be at your parents, unless in the 3 hrs you had to lose them, you walked to your parents taking your car keys with you !! If so, have they looked for them ?

When you got out of your car (and then locked it) where did you go ? As you said you looked all down the driveway for them, did you walk down the driveway with your keys on you ?

If all you did was get home, sleep indoors, get up they must be in your house !!!

:)
 
Lum said:
Depends on how good you are at blagging.

"I'm working down here in Wales this week and I've just lost my key down a grid. Is there no chance you could order me up a key while I'm here, otherwise I'll have to somehow get home to Edinburgh, just to get my logbook and then come all the way back" etc. etc.
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I'd be very, very concerned if any dealer would let you get away with that - they should have a strict no v5 no keys policy. No matter how nicely you ask..
 
edit: ^^^^ It does happen though. Social Engineering and all that. You could hit up multiple dealerships until you find someone who can help, or who needs a bit of extra cash

Or they could have been dropped near to where he parks his car. If it's the street maybe someone handed them into the police (or just kept them with the intent of nicking the car later)
 
Lum said:
Depends on how good you are at blagging.

"I'm working down here in Wales this week and I've just lost my key down a grid. Is there no chance you could order me up a key while I'm here, otherwise I'll have to somehow get home to Edinburgh, just to get my logbook and then come all the way back" etc. etc.
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Not a chance in hell that would work. They need the V5, accompanied by photo ID matching it. They are very strict.
 
breadturbo said:
dont they need to have access to the car to code the keys? otherwise how do they know what 'code' to program it to?
Click to expand...

Wicksta said:
We have these things called 'computers' these days, useful for storing information about cars etc. ;)

They can look up the reg/chassis number and get the information.
Click to expand...

It depends on the immobiliser set up, some cars have the key coded to the car so the dealer needs the car to program a new key VAGs system is setup this way hence the higher cost as the dealer charges to code the car. Other systems have the car coded to a key so you can get a replacement key pre-programmed with no need for the car as it is basically a copy key.

The benefit of having the key coded to a car is every key has a unique code so if you loose the key you can delete it from the cars immobiliser so it will no longer open/start the car. Although with the right software you can easily bypass the immobiliser/alarm on any car and code new keys etc. This is how most newer cars are stolen if they haven't broken in your house for the keys they basically code in a new key to drive it away.
 
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I bought a Vectra C key recently and it was £95 all in from a main dealer. (that included the blank, for which I needed the V5 and whatnot, cutting and coding/pairing).
 
Toyota wanted £115 for a new key for the celica
£75 for the new key and £40 for reprogramming

Toyota however are a bunch of chimps, i bought a new key from ebay for £15 and found the programming instructions for the remote from programyourremote.com or something like that, and the immobilizer programming from another site

When programming both, its not a case of imprinting on the key. Signatures on the key dont change, instead you are telling the ECU/Alarm system that the new key is one authorised to unlock/start the car.

Big BUT though, in my case you needed 1 original key to be able to program the new ones. Aside from that it was just a special sequence of turning the ignition, opening and closing doors and pressing pedals
 
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