Replacement key?

SiD the Turtle · 17 Feb 2007 at 20:48

When I bought my Clio it only came with one key, so I'm very paranoid about loosing it as it has an immobiliser. I understand that taking it to a Renault garage will mean looking at a hefty £100 bill for a spare. Seeing as I have one key already will private shops and key cutters be able to programme a spare?

The Edge · 17 Feb 2007 at 21:03

Can't help with the question but i'm in the same situation with my ZX.

I don't think it has an immobiliser, but it might.

Any clues?

Ta.

wassap · 17 Feb 2007 at 21:07

Does your ZX have a keypad thing by the gearstick or does it have it have a fob with 2 buttons.

Enfield · 17 Feb 2007 at 21:21

wohoo said:
Does your ZX have a keypad thing by the gearstick or does it have it have a fob with 2 buttons.

That would be the immobiliser

The Edge · 17 Feb 2007 at 22:06

it has remote central locking with a one button fob, no keypad and no mention of an immobiliser in the manual.

I'm just worried that there may be a transponder in the ignition key.

SiD the Turtle · 17 Feb 2007 at 23:07

As I understand it (or so Wikipedia tells me) all cars in the UK built after 1997 must have an immobiliser fitted, correct?

No keypad on my Clio. Just a electronic key that doubles as the button for the remote central locking.

MrMatteh · 17 Feb 2007 at 23:40

its a mk2 clio?

any fobs going on ebay?

get a fob off ebay and get it recoded and then get a blade cut.

SiD the Turtle · 17 Feb 2007 at 23:52

MrMatteh said:
its a mk2 clio?

any fobs going on ebay?

get a fob off ebay and get it recoded and then get a blade cut.

Can you elaborate? How would I get it coded?

Yup its a mk2 Clio, 1999.

MrMatteh · 18 Feb 2007 at 00:03

My local Renault specialist do them

not sure on the exact cost, but ask nicely and I'm sure it'll be cheap

A blade is about £10 cut
A fob can easily be had for £10 on ebay and call it another £10 to get it coded

£30 for a spare key isn't so bad

All of this is based on my mk1 though

SiD the Turtle · 18 Feb 2007 at 00:14

Ah that's a bit cheaper than I've been told. I bit of Intarweb research tells me some places can read the code off the key and duplicate it so I'm going to pop into the shops tomorrow and see what the key cutters can do and report back.

The_Dark_Side · 18 Feb 2007 at 03:44

MrMatteh said:
any fobs going on ebay?

be careful, you might get fobbed off

/runs.

West · 18 Feb 2007 at 05:35

The_Dark_Side said:
be careful, you might get fobbed off

/runs.

Get Your Coat..

SiD the Turtle · 18 Feb 2007 at 13:48

Gah I tried Timpsons and the local trade shop and both couldn't copy it. Apparently the code is encrypted so its a no go. If it wasn't it'd be £30 maximum.

The Renault garage want £150 for it. I think I'll take my chances

The_Dark_Side · 18 Feb 2007 at 13:52

SiD the Turtle said:
The Renault garage want £150 for it.

are you kidding??
jesus, even Audi (famous for being inepensive...NOT) charged one of my friends £85 for a replacement key.
£45 for the key itself and £40 to code it to the car.

EDIT although they did give the car a full valet while it was in which i thought was a nice touch.

my advice is pickup a copy of autotrader and trawl the ads in the back.
there are usually mobile guys that can do stuff like this.

SiD the Turtle · 18 Feb 2007 at 14:21

The_Dark_Side said:
my advice is pickup a copy of autotrader and trawl the ads in the back.
there are usually mobile guys that can so stuff like this.

Good idea. I think Renault are so expensive because unless you know where to go they know that you HAVE to get a replacement from them, so they can charge what they like.