Hi, when I bought my car 10 days ago, it only had 1 key, the dealer has now sent a second key to my home. I understand that I need to get this new key programmed, do I need to get this done at a dealer or is there some way to do this myself?

Thanks.

Ian.

Have you tried it, if it was the 2nd one supplied with the car but miss-laid at handover it should just work, there used to be a procedure in the manual but I do not have a MK3

Did try it yes, but it is defi

nately a brand new key as it was sealed in the original packaging.

What did they expect you to do with it exactly? It will be need programming by a dealer to work.

Hi, yes they did tell me this, I was just wondering if it was possible to do it myself in any way. They put a full tank of fuel in the car to compensate for the price of programming the key.

Unless you can find someone with VAG Commander/Tacho or something similar is dealer job.

with renaults you could do this at home, i had a little proggie that would tell you the sequence of buttons you needed using the vin number, you just put ignition on and pressed certain buttons to enter the code but im sure things have moved on a little now

My yeti required a replacement key and I was able to program it myself with the car. Give the dealer a ring as I'm sure they can give you the process of it's something you can do yourself.

My yeti required a replacement key and I was able to program it myself with the car. Give the dealer a ring as I'm sure they can give you the process of it's something you can do yourself.

Never heard of being able to program a key to the immobiliser unit without the security codes which Skoda hold.

Curious to know how this was done.

Similar situation to me, car delivered with one key. Dealer had to program it (different dealer to the one I got the car from). They also needed the car in the garage with the key and said it could take a couple of hours as it's done over the internet apparently.

 

Cost me £45 (which I got refunded).

I am an Auto Locksmith and there are currently no machines on the market that can program the MK3 Octavia keys. Dealer level tool required. VAG Tacho, AVDI won't do either.

There is no manual procedure either. Some cars still use manual procedure for programming the remote part of the key, but not the transponder / Immobiliser part.  Also be careful trying to start your car with a key that is not programmed - the car may see it as an attempt to be stolen and the ECU can lockout. Easy fix, but inconvenient. 

I am an Auto Locksmith and there are currently no machines on the market that can program the MK3 Octavia keys. Dealer level tool required. VAG Tacho, AVDI won't do either.

There is no manual procedure either. Some cars still use manual procedure for programming the remote part of the key, but not the transponder / Immobiliser part.  Also be careful trying to start your car with a key that is not programmed - the car may see it as an attempt to be stolen and the ECU can lockout. Easy fix, but inconvenient.

Thanks for confirming what I thought.

Never heard of being able to program a key to the immobiliser unit without the security codes which Skoda hold.

Curious to know how this was done.

 

Technology sometimes takes several steps backwards.

 

My 1991 Ford Orion had a built in programming function for new keys.  It's a long time ago and I can't remember the specifics but it involved putting the key in the ignition and then using the stereo buttons to program the key.

You would hope security technology has taken massive leaps forward since a 1990s Onion.

It has come on an awful lot, which has pros and cons. Pros are - its harder to steal your car, cons are - its something else to go wrong. Immobiliser Tech didn't start until 1996, and funnily enough many of the upgrades, progress and improvements since then have been in an effort to stay ahead of the after-market locksmiths. Dealer keys are not cheap, and much of that market is kept from the dealers by locksmiths.

In near future all diagnostics, key programming and so many other things, will be done in the cloud. There will be no OBD, the car will be hooked up to the cloud and dealers will thereby be able to corner the market on anything that needs to be done to the car. You won't be able to change a wiper without the dealer.

They will spin it that this is a step forward, extra protection for you, extra level of service. For example, they will highlight that if you lock your keys in the car, they will be able to unlock your car remotely. But do you think they will provide this service free of charge? Do you think it will even be a reasonable price, seeing as you will have no other option? 

So as much as security has come on, its about to go to another level in the next generation or 2 of cars. Tesla is already nearly there. They have OBD sockets as required by law, but that is only reason they are there, and by all accounts they connect to practically nothing. 

In my last job at JLR we were working on wireless telediagnosis. We could even download a engine ECU program to the car whilst it was in use.

Am I reading that right? The dealer gave you a tank of fuel (about 45 quid?) in place of you getting a second key???

I would take it back to the dealer & get them to program it.

 

Also it raises the question "who has the 2nd" key...

This key will always have the correct mechanical code so can be used to open your doors & at the moment there's nothing stopping someone turning up at your house & driving your car away with an authorised key.

 

It can be removed from the immobilizer key list but then you have to trust that your dealer has actually "deleted" all the keys & added your keys again instead of just adding a third key.

What kind of garage did it come from?

 

I know problems with the "missing" key are probably unlikely but I would be asking the dealer to replace all of the mechanical locks for new ones & provide 2 new programmed keys.

My first car, a Cortina Mk4 allowed me to use any item remotely resembling a key to open the door and start the ignition. It's only form of security came from being cunningly disguised as a Cortina, during a time and location where every other car on the roads was a Cortina.

 

Modern keys are far more secure but equally far more painful and costly to replace.

Hi,

Thanks for all the info,

I am booked it to have the key programmed at my nearest dealer, which is Autosales Burnwood near Cannock.

 

Good point above re "Who has the second key" I will certainly contact the dealer who sold the car regarding this.

Seems sensible to speak to them at least.

 

ExSeat, The dealer gave me a tank of fuel to cover the cost of programming the key, they also sent an unprogrammed replacement key through the post.

Edited 10 July, 20169 yr by stanian

On a new generation key even the remote is paired during a full immobiliser adaption, it's all one procedure for any immobiliser related replacement parts using ODIS and the central server which updates the relevant info accordingly.

As with previous systems once an adaption has taken place it removes the key from the vehicles memory, the only draw back is the mechanical locking mechanism in the drivers door can still be used but the alarm will sound and the car will not start.

On a new generation key even the remote is paired during a full immobiliser adaption, it's all one procedure for any immobiliser related replacement parts using ODIS and the central server which updates the relevant info accordingly.

As with previous systems once an adaption has taken place it removes the key from the vehicles memory, the only draw back is the mechanical locking mechanism in the drivers door can still be used but the alarm will sound and the car will not start.

 

ahh, so you are saying that to program e.g. a 3rd key, requires all 3 keys to be present for the operation?

It will automatically delete all keys from the ECU and then program the 3 keys from scratch...

 

This is a much better idea than with my previous car where it was possible just to program an additional key without removing the others.

ahh, so you are saying that to program e.g. a 3rd key, requires all 3 keys to be present for the operation?

It will automatically delete all keys from the ECU and then program the 3 keys from scratch...

This is a much better idea than with my previous car where it was possible just to program an additional key without removing the others.

Yes that is 100% correct ☺