highway robbery!

[davidc4430]

my commodores key has started not wanting to unlock my car

i figured its got a battery in it and prolly needs replacing

so today i dropped into my local former holden dealer (they still have holden stuff everywhere inside)

they took a look at my key and gave me the 'oh yours doesnt have a battery it has a CHIP' 

so instead of replacing a battery i need to replace the whole bit with buttons ect, just the key bit could be transferred over

how much i ask?

lets see, $120 for the part, then $100 to recode it to your car!

$220, i walked away saying 'rediculous'

[4channel]

Once upon a time things were made to last. That was discovered to be a bad idea as one item lasting a lifetime for a person means a non-returning customer for that item.

Sorry to hear of this that has happpened to you. It is a rip off. Total bull****  that they put on you  too.

[imastawka]

David, the remote is only for your convenience.

You can still unlock, lock and also drive the car using the key manually.

Remember when we used to have to do that?

[zanadoo_56]

Crikey.  What are you going to do next?

My last car had conventional keys - thank goodness. 

But I had a boss who was prone to mislaying his car keys - once to his work assigned car unfortunately - and it had electronic locks.  He looked everywhere for it but no luck.  Eventually he was given a replacement key.  Then it happened again and though he again got a replacement, procurment were very frosty about it despite his senior position.  I had an awkward conversation with them assuring them he wasn't losing the key on purpose. LOL

When we got a new boss, he decided his office needed rearranging.  He got someone in to help and we (his staff) asked them to keep a look out for the car key (or keys)!  They never turned up though.  Whenever the car got serviced or cleaned we also asked maintenance to look out for the key(s).  No luck then either.

At the time when the second key was replaced, it was only then when I found out how expensive those keys are. I used to watch people open their car doors long before they got to the car with those keys.....and wondered what was the point.  I had my car with its 'old fashioned' key for about 16 years before I had to sell it.....and of course its conventional keys still worked.

[lyhargr_0]

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@imastawka wrote:

David, the remote is only for your convenience.

You can still unlock, lock and also drive the car using the key manually.

Remember when we used to have to do that?

---

We still do, no fancy nancy cars here 

[davewil1964]

$220? Bargain.

I had to get a new key for my Hyundai and it cost $450. Would have been another $70 if the blade needed replacing. The worst was that the old fob was okay, but the recoding made it useless. So I didn't even get a spare mobiliser.

[not_for_sale2025]

If it were me, I'd be ringing Holden to check if it is correct that the remote had a chip, and the cost to replace and recode it.

[davewil1964]

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@imastawka wrote:

David, the remote is only for your convenience.

You can still unlock, lock and also drive the car using the key manually.

Remember when we used to have to do that?

---

Generally the im/moboliser needs to be present to enable the ignition. If the chip has malfunctioned (as appears to be David's case) the car won't start.

[domino-710]

Do we need a wire coat hanger & a lesson in hot wiring. 

Think my vehicle is too old - has the remotes - but the key opens the doors & starts the car.

[lyndal1838]

$220 was a real bargain.....I had to replace the keys to a 2012 Toyota HiAce with an alarm.

Toyota quoted me nearly $1000 but took pity on me and told me whick local locksmith did their work and who to ask for.  I got out of that one for just $460.....and found one of the original keys two days later.....now it has to be reprogrammed.