Niteshooter
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Kevin
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2017
- Threads
- 1
- Messages
- 224
- Reaction score
- 140
- Location
- Toronto Canada
- Vehicle(s)
- 86 Jeep CJ7, 86 T-Bird Turbo Coupe, 00 Saturn, 10 smart, 11 JK
- Vehicle Showcase
- 2
Ah yes the joy of key fobs! Tell me about that one, I have a smart ForTwo Brabus. Neat car but only got the 1 fob with it when I bought it used. They want 2 arms and 2 legs for a second one because it's some weird blank and then has to be programmed to the car's computer. Something like $400 for this, found some blanks but try and find somewhere to get them cut! On top of this unless the chip is programmed to the car you still can't start it. And if the battery dies, can't open the car. Granted you can pop the cap off the drivers door and use the key to get in. But I wonder if some cars no longer have a physical key. Thinking of those remote proximity systems, so what happens if the car's battery goes dead. Are you totally screwed?......
Exactly! I regarded the Cherokee with 280k as a free ride. I could fix it or re-engineer it. Usually see something coming before wheeling. And oh, the pleasure of doing that! All the parts...ALL were swaps at Autozone. Only had to pay for them once...Was able to carry spare starters, alternators, water pumps, etc. in a suitcase. Each time I fixed it, it drove and performed better than before. The Rostra cruise control was an absolute achievement. Factory cruise never worked reliably....just got tired of dealership having it rather than wheeling. Haven't replace the XJ yet. As I was pulling the trigger on a base 2 door Rubi JL, the sales guy said now you are required to buy the proximity ignition.... nope nope, nope. I rented a car with that..... went to drive it and nothing.... "fob not recognized". When these electronic nightmares go out of warranty at 50-60k and riders and drivers are stranded on something like Golden Spike with a $5000 pull-off fee.....nope! Not for me. No way! Can't trail fix that computer garbage.
I also have a 2000 Saturn, it has some anti theft system in the ignition switch. FYI I suspect the same switch they used in the Cobalt that forced a recall because the car would suddenly shut down while driving. Guess what, happened to me as well, coming off a highway ramp suddenly the car dies, power steering and brakes go away, luckily I prefer to own standard transmission cars so popped it in neutral and costed to the side of the road. A new ignition switch, BCM and a few hundred dollars later.... a few years later it did it again. But this time I started to search the internet because I knew of the recall on the Cobalts. Turns out you can defeat the anti theft system by installing a jumper/resistor in the ignition circuit wiring. So 30 cents later and an hour taking everything apart and putting it back together and the car runs fine. Besides who in the world is going to want to steal a 20 year old Saturn even if it looks brand new, has wide wheels and tires and a bunch of engine and exhaust mods....
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