Replacing a Wrangler fob

[JeepGeezer]

My wife had her wallet and keys stolen from her purse today so, among other things, I need to replace her fob. I know I can get a new fob from the Jeep dealer ($280-$320 depending on the dealer) and have them program the Jeep for it ($90 plus several hours wait time) but before I spend $400 I thought I would look at some alternatives.

I can buy a new fob on Amazon or at some of the local stores for far less, but I don't know where else I could get the key laser cut and have it programmed other than the dealer. Does anyone have any suggestions about where to do this sort of thing? Or information about whether or not the 3rd party fobs are any good?

Thanks for any help.

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[REGGAVEGGA]

Do you have the other to copy a new one from?

 

[autotragic]

My wife had her wallet and keys stolen from her purse today so, among other things, I need to replace her fob. I know I can get a new fob from the Jeep dealer ($280-$320 depending on the dealer) and have them program the Jeep for it ($90 plus several hours wait time) but before I spend $400 I thought I would look at some alternatives.

I can buy a new fob on Amazon or at some of the local stores for far less, but I don't know where else I could get the key laser cut and have it programmed other than the dealer. Does anyone have any suggestions about where to do this sort of thing? Or information about whether or not the 3rd party fobs are any good?

Thanks for any help.

Start calling local locksmiths. You may have to pay a Jeep dealer for programming but at least you can get the fob and the key cut for a lot cheaper than what the dealer will do it for.

 

[Gregj]

A good locksmith can cut the key, programming the FOB is a different matter.

 

[JeepGeezer]

Do you have the other to copy a new one from?

Yes, but I think that the dealer just uses the VIN number to determine how to cut the key. Or at least that is what they asked me for when I called. No one asked me if I had an existing key to copy.

It might be very different with a locksmith, and I will have to check that out today.

 

[JeepGeezer]

Start calling local locksmiths. You may have to pay a Jeep dealer for programming but at least you can get the fob and the key cut for a lot cheaper than what the dealer will do it for.

Maybe, but maybe not.

This has been a bit of a learning experience for me, and what I have found out is a bit of a surprise.

First, they don't program the fob. They program the Jeep to accept the frequency of the fob, and that requires some disassembly of parts of the Jeep to access the hardware to do the reprogramming.

Second, I guess it is not all that easy. Or at least not all that fast. Both dealers that I called said it was a 1-2 hour job and one of those dealers told me that if I dropped the Jeep off early in the morning they would have it done by the end of the day. Since it is the only car we have I had to check with another dealer and was told one or two hours.

Third, one of the locksmiths that I checked with said that they could do the work, including programming the car, but the cost was $200 plus the fob. The dealer only wanted $90 for the same thing, and that is probably the first time I found a 3rd party to be more expensive than the dealer.

Fourth, and this is a guess at this point, I think I will have to have all of the existing pairings of fob and Jeep removed to insure that the stolen fob can not start the Jeep, and then have both my existing fob and the new one for my wife programmed for the Jeep. Otherwise I fear that just adding a new fob pairing to the Jeep will still allow the old fob to start the Jeep.

And I still have to find out if the dealer can (or will) cut and program a 3rd party fob or if they will only do the official fobs.

So I guess this verifies one of the basic laws of the universe - Nothing is as easy as it is supposed to be ...

Anyone ever use a 3rd party fob? If so, how are they? On Amazon you can buy one for our Wrangler for about $60, which is a lot less than the about $300 the dealer wants.

 

[autotragic]

Maybe, but maybe not.

This has been a bit of a learning experience for me, and what I have found out is a bit of a surprise.

First, they don't program the fob. They program the Jeep to accept the frequency of the fob, and that requires some disassembly of parts of the Jeep to access the hardware to do the reprogramming.

Second, I guess it is not all that easy. Or at least not all that fast. Both dealers that I called said it was a 1-2 hour job and one of those dealers told me that if I dropped the Jeep off early in the morning they would have it done by the end of the day. Since it is the only car we have I had to check with another dealer and was told one or two hours.

Third, one of the locksmiths that I checked with said that they could do the work, including programming the car, but the cost was $200 plus the fob. The dealer only wanted $90 for the same thing, and that is probably the first time I found a 3rd party to be more expensive than the dealer.

Fourth, and this is a guess at this point, I think I will have to have all of the existing pairings of fob and Jeep removed to insure that the stolen fob can not start the Jeep, and then have both my existing fob and the new one for my wife programmed for the Jeep. Otherwise I fear that just adding a new fob pairing to the Jeep will still allow the old fob to start the Jeep.

And I still have to find out if the dealer can (or will) cut and program a 3rd party fob or if they will only do the official fobs.

So I guess this verifies one of the basic laws of the universe - Nothing is as easy as it is supposed to be ...

Anyone ever use a 3rd party fob? If so, how are they? On Amazon you can buy one for our Wrangler for about $60, which is a lot less than the about $300 the dealer wants.

I've only ever replaced my fobs with Amazon specials and never had an issue with it. Typically dealers don't want to mess with them though. At least that's been my experience.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@JeepGeezer

Is your JL an automatic? Does your JL have remote start?

I know you are wondering why I am asking... but I have a valid reason for asking..

I'll reply back after you reply with the answers to my ?'s.

 

[JeepGeezer]

@JeepGeezer

Is your JL an automatic? Does your JL have remote start?

I know you are wondering why I am asking... but I have a reason for asking..

I'll reply back after you reply with the answers to my ?'s.

Yes, and no.

It is an automatic but it does not have remote start (as far as I know. There is no remote start button on the fob).

And yes, I am wondering why you are asking.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Yes, and no.

It is an automatic but it does not have remote start (as far as I know. There is no remote start button on the fob).

And yes, I am wondering why you are asking.

Well, a way to go for you would be to buy an OEM remote start kit for JL.

The OEM remote start kit, comes with 2 new factory key fobs and all else needed for your JL.
Comes with 2 cut keys..

The cost of the remote start kit is approx. $325 (depends where you buy the OEM kit) and install of kit is an hrs. labor at the dealership.

You can also have your single, 3 button fob left in the mix so you have it to use.... no, that fob will not have the remote start button but will still work.

Anyway, for close to the same amount of $ you will be paying to get 2 working / reprogrammed 3 button fobs again, you can get remote start with it's 2 fobs and end up with a 3rd fob.

Yes, I know a couple of people that did this. They figured the $ difference in the end to have remote start was worth it. Lots depends on if you would like to have remote start...


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[Rhinebeck01]

@JeepGeezer

Forgot to mention in my last post... IF you decide to go with the OEM remote start kit do be sure to have the dealership do the following:

ADD SALES CODE TO VEHICLE IN DealerCONNECT
1. Log on to https://dealerconnect.chrysler.com.
2. In the "Service tab"-"Warranty Administration" box -"Vehicle Option Updates" screen, enter the vehicle VIN
and add the sales code XBM (Remote start) as a "Dealer Installed Option".
3. Confirm that the new sales code has been successfully added to the VIN.

OH.... if anyone is interested in how the Dealership Tech programs all ... programs the fobs using the WiTech ll, read here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/rp-part-images/assets/ed05d7342e5aec5c2d487089802f510e.PDF

 

[Wulfgott]

If you have maxcare (I am guessing you do not...) they will replace the fob under the extended warranty.

They are not cheap (from the dealer). They are ordered based on your VIN (and cut before being sent to dealer). The programming done by the dealer takes less than 10 minutes once they have the replacement fob in hand. Using the dealers portable scan tool. When I replaced mine the service advisor came out and did it herself. Vehicle never even had to move past the check in area where the service advisors are. It took about a week to arrive once ordered.

As for having one cut, there are some small locksmiths that can do center cut keys (does not have to be a "laser" cutter like many places will tell you. However, the manual cutters are hard to find. Some of the smaller "mom & pop" style shops do have them. Cost me about 10 bucks a key to get what I had done but I had to have the key blank already.
If you were in So-Cal I know for a fact that the little parking lot shop "Pomona Locksmith" (old photomat type building in the parking lot) @ San Bernardino ave & Indian Hill Blvd, does or did cut center cut keys (manual cutter/key copy machine). I had them do keys for my pickup a couple years ago.

If you don't have remote start and want it, I would personally do what Rhinebeck01 says above and add it.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Only some/very few/a handful of dealership Service Department's, can actually cut the key for you.

If dealer cannot cut the key, call around to local locksmiths and ask them if they have a
" NINJA Laser – Electronic Key Cutting Machine" (Retails for $7000+-) and/or if they can cut a 2016 Jeep Fiat High Security Emergency Key. Most are familiar with this key and if they can handle/cut that blank, they can cut your factory key blank. Again, it takes a special Electronic Key Cutting Machine and not all locksmiths have one.


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[REGGAVEGGA]

I work for Hillman. We have key fobs and mostly sold at ace .. the machine you need is called a condor machine .. it cuts the keys that are just cut on top and not all the way thru..it should be about half of what a dealer charges ..that is why asking about the other key ..

 

[Rhinebeck01]

If you have maxcare (I am guessing you do not...) they will replace the fob under the extended warranty.

They are not cheap (from the dealer). They are ordered based on your VIN (and cut before being sent to dealer). The programming done by the dealer takes less than 10 minutes once they have the replacement fob in hand. Using the dealers portable scan tool. When I replaced mine the service advisor came out and did it herself. Vehicle never even had to move past the check in area where the service advisors are. It took about a week to arrive once ordered.

As for having one cut, there are some small locksmiths that can do center cut keys (does not have to be a "laser" cutter like many places will tell you. However, the manual cutters are hard to find. Some of the smaller "mom & pop" style shops do have them. Cost me about 10 bucks a key to get what I had done but I had to have the key blank already.
If you were in So-Cal I know for a fact that the little parking lot shop "Pomona Locksmith" (old photomat type building in the parking lot) @ San Bernardino ave & Indian Hill Blvd, does or did cut center cut keys (manual cutter/key copy machine). I had them do keys for my pickup a couple years ago.

If you don't have remote start and want it, I would personally do what Rhinebeck01 says above and add it.

@Wulfgott

That Service Writer had a hand held unit that actually communicated with a WiTechll in the Service bay area.

With that handheld.... a Tech for example, can actually go out to the lot and do deeds lets say that require the WiTech ll in the mix. Computer updates, and more and yes, do the key fob programming dance you mentioned.

Next time you are at the dealer look for communication modules mounted on exterior of the Service Dept. bldg.. The hand hand device interacts with these when accessing the WiTechll in the Service Bay.

Technology these days is something else!!

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