Hello,
I broke shells on both of my car keys. It is still working but shell is broken so i had to sellotape it for now.
I remember i was reading somewhere on the web that there is cheaper way how to do it but can't find it now. I know i can buy a new shell for $10 but key cutting and coding is $55 plus gst.
Is this normal price for this service in sydney or there are cheaper locksmiths around?
Mister Minit quoted $300 and local locksmith $55 plus gst.
(The key is for Honda CRV)
Agree with pao2x Sounds Reasonable enough to use the local guy.
There is a website that goes though step by step how to reset each car key set it's quite straight forward you just need a mate as a lot of the cars require someone to physically lock the car with the other key while you're inside with the other one.
They also go through full reset if you need to wipe both keys and start again.
If you want to buy shells and do coding yourself.
Do you mind sharing the website? Sounds interesting
What year
2009
@Kennard: I think you lucked out most other Honda's can be done besides this one for some reason all the usual places say this one has to be programmed by locksmith Sorry.
There always has to be one. seems the CRV in that model you bought is one that the transponder that can't be done in just about the whole Honda range in that year by the reset in the car up to 2006 and after 20014 doesn't seem to be as much f an issue.
Plenty of info about the rest so you can program the lock etc. just no dice on the ignition transponder.
One person claiming to work for a Honda dealer said they realise it's a pain and if you go in with an attitude they won't help, if you feel it's your right and act entitled to have it done for free, they said just play a little dumb say it was accidentally smashed you needed it in a hurry this place said they could do it but it still doesn't work if the 55 doesn't include transponder coding which shouldn't be a big deal and ask politely for some help, apparently they do quite a few for the sake of it to keep on the good side of customers.
The other thing most said was this is one key that is quite easy to replace the casing which is a far cheaper option.
@Kennard: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KYJmjZKxZA)
This shows you how to remove and replace shell including transponder.
Thanks a lot for your info. I appreciate your help.
Its a pity but I might try to go to local Honda dealer and try.
@Kennard: sorry it wasn't more positive the other cars yo mentioned with the similar key below culd be done i'm not sure what makes the CRV so special in regard to the key
The shell as mentioned does sem like the best way to go for the cracked case
Yellow pages
So are you planning on getting a new key or repairing your old key with a shell? You shouldn't need to re code the key if you are just swapping the shell unless you damaged the motherboard. I recently fixed my key with this thing on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/COMMODORE-VE-2x-REPLACEMENT-KEY-…
Yes I only need to repair the shell.
Just go on eBay type in your car model number, then add key and find one that matches your one. The car manual should show you how to take the shell off. Just look for the key battery change section in the book or use google.
Yes I did that before
Found my key:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/For-Honda-Civic-Accord-Jazz-FRV-Repl…
Then I need to take it to car locksmith. The cheapest I found is $55 for cutting. Looks like I would have to go this avenue.
@Kennard: Why do you need to cut it? Can't you just pull out your key and slot it in the new one then just screw back in the lock screw? Is the key in bad shape? I'm confused.
I wanted to do exactly what you suggested.
But when i look at photo of the new shell i assume metal part ( uncut key) and plastic shell form one piece.
I am not sure if i can just take my key and motherboard and put it in new shell
@Kennard: Dam that sucks. Just did a google search and you are going to have to find a lock smith. You can try the flee market but the quality is bad on some.
@No Username:
I actually zoomed in the photo of ebay listing and there is a screw on the end attached to the shell. But still not sure if it would be possible to swap
If it's the part that holds the key onto the keyring I just drilled a hole, put a tack through the hole then used 2 part epoxy putty to make up the missing plastic, cost like $8 and I could have done 20keys.
I prob didn't even need the tack the epoxy was very sturdy.
Mister Minut sounds like they are quoting you a whole assemble and a reprogram and key cut. The locksmith sounds like it’s just a shell and a key cut.
As a locksmith myself, don’t go to mister minut. Not because of this price, but because all they do is clone keys. This is hit and miss. It doesn’t fix possible issues related to losing keys. Long story and a lot of reasons to use a locksmith over a shoe repair business.
I second this.
My ignition barrel on my BA Falcon died which is a common issue, couldn't start (turn), stranded on the other side of town and called a locksmith. I paid a premium but got a premium service. I didn't want to leave my car overnight (although it was parked next to a park with no parking signs) and didn't want to get thrashed with Uber/Taxi getting back home and back again.
You pay for what you get.
Cheers
Omg. So sorry to hear about your BA Falcon. That’s a whole steering column out if it’s the problem I am thinking of. The housing wears out at the back and it just stops working. Absolute shit design. Touch wood, I have only ever done one of these and hope to never see one ever again.
No amount of Mister Minut was going to fix that.
Thanks mate all good.
As per my previous recommendation for a proper locksmith.
The mobile locksmith has an expertise in fixing the BA ignition locks hence no replacement of the steering column was required.
I was charged $300 however if I factor leaving my car and if it gets broken into/damaged, I would be subjected $1K for excess with my insurance if I claimed and also taking Uber/Cab $180 home and back, I am still in front.
The repaired lock is actually better than new (I had this car from new) and he gave me a lifetime warranty .. so can't complain!
Furthermore, I wasn't going to take Public Transport on Friday peak hour (which will take me 2.5 hours to get home) as I had an engagement to attend a few hours later.
Cheers
If you are buying a blank (key blade and shell) and are reusing your existing buttons all you need is a key cutting place to duplicate the key to the new blank.
I’ve done this. Didn’t cost anywhere near $55. One place refused to do it because it wasn’t their blank, so they lost my business. Another place said the folding blank wouldn’t fit their machine and suggested another place. In the end I had to disassemble the folding blank to get the blade out to fit his machine, but it wasn’t a major hassle and he charged around $10.
Got to agree. $55 for just a cut seems a bit over the top, but have to say, some of these key cutting machines cost well over $40k to buy, so need to get that paid for. If it was $55 for a blank and a cut, that seems about right.
I’m an in-house locksmith, so I don’t do external work or cut keys for customers, but being partially automotive, sometimes we get people asking to cut keys for them, and I usually politely decline because their keys are usually eBay garbage. They are either steel, which wrecks my cutters, or they are just wrong in dimensions for the cutter and this can cause major issues. At least if I use my own keys, I know what they are made of and what their tolerance is like. That’s why locksmiths usually prefer their own blanks, it’s not some big conspiracy theory to shank you out of more money, it’s more so an unknown quality issue.
If you bring your shit quality, unbranded key to me and I cut it and it doesn’t work because of its tolerance being all out to buggery, you will blame me, I get a bad wrap, not the arsehole that sold you the shit key from ebay and then I have to cut you a free key on one of my good blanks. I’d Rather decline politely and lose one customer, then risk cutting a shit blank, it not working and then the customer gets on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc etc and blames me for their shit key to everyone else. ;)
It’s quite possible you could cut the key (assuming it isn’t steel) and advise the person that you’d recommend a better blank next time and you can’t guarantee the quality of the blank they supply. You could even note ‘customer blank’ in the receipt so they can’t come back at you.
It would be nice if every customer was like you. Fact remains, they are not. It's hit and miss. I may cut a ebay key and it works. Yay! Or, it may not. Boo. On the chance that it doesn’t, it's almost 100% of the time, it turns out to be a headache.
If I cut someone's shit eBay key and it didn’t work, who is their first port of call? Me, because I cut it. Even if I did warn them and note it on the invoice, people would still come back to me. Then I say, well, go get another key and I'll cut it for free. I can tell you now, people don’t say "ok, no problem" what they do say is "you stuffed it up, I'm not waiting another 2 weeks to get this key off eBay from China… YOU replace it, you messed it up…".
They NEVER blame the key seller on eBay and he gets 5 stars and "I love my key!! so pretty!! excellent ebayer!" as their feedback. What I get is a post on the local facebook mums group "shit locksmith, don’t use. stuffed up my key. How hard is it to cut a key? Don't use them. Refused to replace after they stuffed it up!! #shitlocksmith"
I get where you're coming from, but it just doesn’t work like that. I wish it did, and that people were rational and reasonable, but they are not. It's the same reason we don’t usually fit customer supplied parts unless we know 100% where they got it from. If it is the part that fails or is wrong/doesn't fit, it's "stupid, deadshit mechanic wrecked my car" not "ebay seller sold me a shit quality part that exploded…"
What some locksmith do is charge $55 for their key blank and cut, or charge you $110 to cut your blank, cause they know it will (profanity) up and you will be back, so you massage the price of a new one into the price to cut theirs.
Yes, this is what I read on the website couple month ago. Cutting was only around $10.
But I understand where is pegaxs coming from. It might be bad quality etc.
@peggaxs
Yes, big issue with the BA falcon. Mine broke , second hand steering column and cash job = $650.
Vinni got lucky I think.
Hell yeah, if they got out of it for $300, they got lucky. I don't know how they did it in the car. I don't think I could buy the kit to repair them for under $300.
For $300 and done in car and on site, almost sounds to me like a job that had a few corners cut. $650 sounds much closer to the price.
I guess I'll have to find out if it is a dodgy job.
The locksmith did give me a lifetime warranty so I'll see how they honour it if it does kak itself.
Cheers
Off topic-ish.
We bought a 2009 Subaru Forester but it only came with a single key.
I called Subaru to see what it was going to cost to get a new key but and programmed, they quoted around $600 for the key and programming.
Anyone worked out a way to do this cheaper? Tried pulling in a favour from a friend who works at a car dealership but they said I would need to go through Subaru directly…
Ring an automotive locksmith. Someone who specializes in dealing with car systems, not a house locksmith.
You will get out of it for about 1/2 the cost of a genuine key. Chances are the dealer will use a locksmith anyway, you'd just be paying the dealer markup.
If the key is lost, it needs to be deleted from the cars memory and the new one added. Some cars that's as simple as open and closing doors and pressing buttons, on some cars it's only able to be done through a programming interface machine.
It won't be cheap, but it will be cheaper than getting the stealership to do it…
Thanks guys!
I am in Sydney, don't suppose you guys can recommend any car locksmiths around the north shore?
(http://blog.keylessentryremotefob.com/2013/06/2009-subaru-fo…)
these are the instructions for your car, haven't read the whole thing if you need the FOB code Subaru print it on the circuit board the factory key you still have should have it.
yes it allows you to transfer the whole contents including the transponder or RFID which is what the locksmiths are charging you extra for
$55 is reasonable I reckon. Reasonable enought to go local