As it says on the tin - one member of this household lost a central locking key today. It may be retrieved tomorrow in one of two shops, but if the mission

ends in failure, can any fellow members enlighten me as to the likely cost of replacement?

Thanks.

The key is the same basic design as those used on Audi and VW cars. I put a VW one in the washing machine six or seven years back (left it in my trouser pocket) and I seem to remember the replacement cost was somewhere between £30 and £40.

The key is the same basic design as those used on Audi and VW cars. I put a VW one in the washing machine six or seven years back (left it in my trouser pocket) and I seem to remember the replacement cost was somewhere between £30 and £40.

Plus programming........

Plus programming........

Mmmm ... I think that was the total bill, but it was a while ago and my memory may be failing me. Would the dealer program it? I had a very good relationship with the service guy at the VW shop and they may not have charged extra for that.

Around £120... :'(

Around £120... :'(

I had a feeling it was of that order. Be thankful it's not an Alfa as that would be £300 ish for the key before programming. I'm sure Allams told me it was about £80+ programming (& vat.....)

Or that it isn't one of those Chrysler Crossfire sports cars............NO keys available!!

www.crossfire-key.com

Try fleebay for the parts you need

TP

As it says on the tin - one member of this household lost a central locking key today. It may be retrieved tomorrow in one of two shops, but if the mission

ends in failure, can any fellow members enlighten me as to the likely cost of replacement?

Thanks.

The local Skoda dealer told me, within the past four weeks, to try hard not to lose it coz it would cost me more than £200 to replace. Some of that was time required to program it (at their hourly rate) and the rest was the item itself plus VAT.

I've been warned NOT to use a spare key from Ebay / Timpsons the shoe repairer etc. EXCEPT to open the door in an emergency. If you use a non-approved and non immobiliser equipped key in the ignition it apparently upsets the electronics and it won't start and you'll need to get the car to a main dealer to be re-programmed.

RE. Ebay. WARNING!!!! I do have an Ebay / Timpsons key which cost a fiver from Ebay for the blank and a fiver for Timpsons to copy it but have been warned, as just mentioned, do not use it in the ignition!!! as it doesn't have the immobiliser, use it just to get in the car (if, say, you've locked the key in the boot).

For those here who know better or have a different experience, I'm just telling you what I was told. If I'd actually had to buy and program one I'd tell you exactly what it cost but in the meantime this is my understanding.

Edited 3 August, 201114 yr by oldstan

'kin 'ell prices have gone up in recent years then! Must be careful to empty my pockets!

60 EUR for replacement/programming here.

Skoda service also told me that even if somebody found the lost key, he will be able to enter in the car by mannualy unlock it but wont be able to start the engine.

... and with your pseud, you should know.

Done a bit of web surfing on this, and there seem to be quite a few companies offering to supply and code keys for VAG group cars, at significantly less than main dealer prices. I haven't had any dealings with any of these companies personally, so no idea how reliable they are, but one of them is Shark Performance and I know that several people on here have used them to remap their engines and seem to be very pleased with their service quality. Their website says they can program a new key for £30 and that this is 25% of what a main dealer will charge you.

When you get it programmed, make sure you take all the keys with you and tell them you are replacing a lost new key (not just adding an extra key). This ensures the lost key will not start or remotely unlock the car.

Thank you all for your insight.

The present Mrs F has just returned from work tonight to announce that the security people in the Kennet Centre, Newbury, had taken custody of her key (handed in by the shop assistant in Holland & Barrett), and have repatriated it to its rightful owner. We now have two keys again...thank heavens.

Have myself driven to Alfreton in Derbys. and back today in da Yeti (using remaining spare key) and found it a fairly civilised experience. Radio, CD and card plug-in all worked well and 45.9 to the gallon overall - this in a 1.4 TSI - is a pleasing rate of consumption.

That's great news

TP

That's great news

TP

Do later Skodas still have the option to start with a damaged key (chip disabled) My early Fabia would start with a cut only key by entering a code in the speedo reset button. I used to give the key to the kids if they wanted to return to the car before us, they could get in but not start it without the code.

Edited 29 October, 201114 yr by Osmodia

Do later Skodas still have the option to start with a damaged key (chip disabled) My early Fabia would start with a cut only key by entering a code in the speedo reset button. I used to give the key to the kids if they wanted to return to the car before us, they could get in but not start it without the code.

12 years working on Skodas and I have never heard of that..lol

I've used it once on a Fabia, just had a look in the online manual and it's not in there. It was definately detailed in the cars hard copy manual, it was a 2001 X plate. You could do the same with the MK 1 Octavia.

Wow, new one on me.

I'll have a look in our old workshop manuals see if it says anything in there.

It is somewhere in ELSA. It's one of those things you come across by accident and then can never find again.

Instructions are as follows...

Turn and hold the clock knob to the right. Press the trip reset for 1 second. Release the clock knob.

Your will see 0000 in the trip display.

Turning the knob to the right selects the next digit. Each press of the trip reset increases the digit value.

When you have the correct number displayed, turn and hold knob to the right and press the trip reset.

Depending on the ECU, you have either a single start attempt within 45 minutes or multiple start attempts within 45 minutes.

I had a feeling it was of that order. Be thankful it's not an Alfa as that would be £300 ish for the key before programming. I'm sure Allams told me it was about £80+ programming (& vat.....)

It could be worse.

Lose the red key to a Fiat Punto and it'll cost you £800 !!!!

It requires a new ECU to be fitted as well as a new key.

I have no idea why?

It could be worse.

Lose the red key to a Fiat Punto and it'll cost you £800 !!!!

It requires a new ECU to be fitted as well as a new key.

I have no idea why?

Many cars are like that in other markets. Only the owner's key (red) can be used to program new keys.

If you use valet parking, you don't want the valet to program in his own key and remote.

If you lose the red key, you can still use the other keys but you are already one key down, you can't enable any more and you can't disable the lost red key.