Sorry to be a nuisance on my first posting. Wife's Fabia would not start and Green Cross man said it was probably the chip in the key which had suddenly gone kaput. We only have 1 key but still have the the long clear plastic skoda identity tag with 3 sets of numbers on different stickers. What is the best, safest, fastest and cheapest way to get replacement keys please - and can the 1 we have be re-programmed or is it better replaced? Thanks

Sorry to be a nuisance on my first posting. Wife's Fabia would not start and Green Cross man said it was probably the chip in the key which had suddenly gone kaput. We only have 1 key but still have the the long clear plastic skoda identity tag with 3 sets of numbers on different stickers. What is the best, safest, fastest and cheapest way to get replacement keys please - and can the 1 we have be re-programmed or is it better replaced? Thanks

IMO get a new key and have them both coded to the car. If the old key won't code, it's possible to get a new key/transponder part if it's a 3-button key. The casing separates into "lock/unlock alarm" and "key imobiliser transponder"

halves.

With the numbers you have it should be possible to order a pre-cut key from the dealers. Then get the transponder coded to the imobiliser. Might be worth doing a bit of research and price checking.

J.

How old is the car. I believe that it's possible to enter the immobiliser code into the dash panel via the buttons on it. It'll over ride the immobiliser and allow you start the car for 45 minutes, which means that you'll be able to drive it to the dealer.

Chips in keys dont just stop working unless they get damaged, which is very, very rare.

My advice is take your key to a good locksmith and have him read the chip. If his machine can read it, the car should be able to read it.

If he can read it, It would suggest a problem with the car.

A Locksmith can cut a new key from your existing key. If he's an auto locksmith, he can extract the pin code and programe the key in using his diognostic machine. Cheaper than the dealer.

As an example, I charge £80/90 for this. Different area's, different prices.

Good Luck

Edited 20 October, 201114 yr by ponsaloti

Chips in keys dont just stop working unless they get damaged, which is very, very rare.

My advice is take your key to a good locksmith and have him read the chip. If his machine can read it, the car should be able to read it.

If he can read it, It would suggest a problem with the car.

A Locksmith can cut a new key from your existing key. If he's an auto locksmith, he can extract the pin code and programe the key in using his diognostic machine. Cheaper than the dealer.

As an example, I charge £80/90 for this. Different area's, different prices.

Good Luck

Chips do stop working all the time, along with the capacitors, resistors and aerial that support it and the solder that joins it all together.

Especially with lead free solder.

The chips in these car keys are not soldered to anything. They are a carbon block or glass tube.

I have been cutting/cloning/programing on average, 3 carkeys per day for the last 6 or 7 years.

In this time I have only come across 2 damaged chips. Both were ford glass chips that the customer had tried to remove from the keys.

Stand alone chips very, very, very rarely if ever, just stop working in vehicle keys.

These keyfobs comments are v.interesting; I had trouble last week with mine(2011 Fabia estate). After having the bonnet up to add screenwash, both of our family keyfobs failed to lock/unlock... Alarm even went off the second time and I had to prise open the fob, remove battery and replace to stop it. (RAC half way over to help when the keyfob started working again). Wondered if I'd shaken something loose on closing the bonnet? Also, must confess I've failed to locate the OBD II socket - any hints welcomed!

All skoda's Ive added keys too so far, OBD has been above the pedals.

May be disguised with a blck cover slotted over the plug.