My car came with 3 keys, one of which featured metal, shiny ends and became the main one, and two more in a full black plastic enclosure.

I noticed that even before the 2 year mark the "premium" one with the metal bits has got a few marks on its plastic body and even more weird, considering I have always kept it in a separate little pouch and hardly ever take it out of it (it's got KESSY), the little Skoda logo on it seems to have become discoloured even with its minimal exposure 

So I was wondering about replacing the fob with a brand new one, the full plastic body + metal end bits

My question is can the key be safely transplanted to a new case/fob and if so any idea of the OEM part numbers without dropping by the dealership?


 

I'm sure @SashaGrace did this

Hi @newbie69 

I did this mod recently to get a 2nd key fob as the main one.

I've bought one from aliexpress for few quids and all is fine!  

 

Left = Before / Right = After:

 

I just took the logo from one of the 2 original plastic key fobs. The one from Ali was for a VW model indeed... 

 

47 minutes ago, Bap33 said:

Hi @newbie69 

I did this mod recently to get a 2nd key fob as the main one.

I've bought one from aliexpress for few quids and all is fine!  

 

Left = Before / Right = After:

 

I just took the logo from one of the 2 original plastic key fobs. The one from Ali was for a VW model indeed... 

 

Did you buy the full fob or just the metal ends? I remembed I had seen somewhere the metal bits can be individually replaced?

And for the logo you took it off and then glued it back?

Hi,

 

I only bought the key fob housing. There was no electronic board in it. I had to retrieve the electronic part, battery and 'key blade' (sorry I don't find how to translate properly, hope you can catch what I mean) from my original plactic key fob.

 

You got it for the logo. You need to warm it gently to ease the removal. But you rather have to retrieve it once the original shell is empty to avoid potential damage on the electronic board components due to overheat exposure.  

8 hours ago, Bap33 said:

Hi,

 

I only bought the key fob housing. There was no electronic board in it. I had to retrieve the electronic part, battery and 'key blade' (sorry I don't find how to translate properly, hope you can catch what I mean) from my original plactic key fob.

 

You got it for the logo. You need to warm it gently to ease the removal. But you rather have to retrieve it once the original shell is empty to avoid potential damage on the electronic board components due to overheat exposure.  

Yes of-course I didn't mean the actual "key" (the electronic board), but like, if you only bought the metal bits and attached them to your old case instead of the plastic ones or a full case, clear now.

So then, how did you remove the internal rubber-like housing, the one that holds the battery, from the bottom plastic part of the key fob? I tried briefly yesterday but i was stuck at that point.

I popped the bottom cover, undid the Torx screw that keeps the bottom metal bit in place and took that out, but from that point on I was unsure how to remove either the top metal bit (no screws visible) or the internal housing... so i let it be before i collected more information.

I can't find any Youtube videos showing the process on these particular design keys either, mostly on the previous ones with the flipping blade design.

Hi @newbie69

I think my memory starts getting weak... 

Reading your comment, I did not recognize what I faced to make this mod. Sorry I've made a mistake.

Now it comes back correctly to my mind. I only swapped both ends. I replaced the top and bottom plastic parts only with corresponding metallic parts. I kept the housing from the original key. For instance, the knobs side and the battery cover come from the original key.

 

Sorry again if I misled you! 

Edited 28 April, 20215 yr by Bap33

50 minutes ago, Bap33 said:

Hi @newbie69

I think my memory starts getting weak... 

Reading your comment, I did not recognize what I faced to make this mod. Sorry I've made a mistake.

Now it comes back correctly to my mind. I only swapped both ends. I replaced the top and bottom plastic parts only with corresponding metallic parts. I kept the housing from the original key. For instance, the knobs side and the battery cover come from the original key.

 

Sorry again if I misled you! 

Ah, I see, too bad I was expecting some disassembly tips when I saw your reply 

Only joking of-course! Not a problem.

On 26/04/2021 at 21:59, Bap33 said:

Hi @newbie69 

I did this mod recently to get a 2nd key fob as the main one.

I've bought one from aliexpress for few quids and all is fine!  

 

Left = Before / Right = After:

 

I just took the logo from one of the 2 original plastic key fobs. The one from Ali was for a VW model indeed... 

 

Ali link please? 

@AlVal 

Probably the exact one I used, but here are 2 examples:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001025573812.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.5d7c218dBWifuX&algo_pvid=a2378752-3de7-43d3-a136-f9dea4db57ef&algo_expid=a2378752-3de7-43d3-a136-f9dea4db57ef-28&btsid=2100bb5116206003209535762e5206&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000440191322.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.1b6f3d77cmHetv&algo_pvid=8461d661-c034-41a4-b22b-8e1271319619&algo_expid=8461d661-c034-41a4-b22b-8e1271319619-5&btsid=0b0a187b16206004585054558ecfd3&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

 

Thanks @Bap33, I've just ordered a shell, when it arrives I'll likely use this as the main, and then transfer the original to my wife's key.

I'm still after a way to remove the PCB from the plastic body. Haven't tried hard really, just opened it quickly the other day and thought of letting it aside until I have a solid approach so if anyone can share some tips at some point i'd be great.

@Bap33  so you bought the full shell (plastic body + metal bits) but only replaced the bits, did I get that right?

11 hours ago, newbie69 said:

[...]

@Bap33  so you bought the full shell (plastic body + metal bits) but only replaced the bits, did I get that right?

Yes, that's it. Just used the 'ali' one as a "donor". Grabbed the upper and lower metallic parts to install them on the OEM key fob.

Mine arrived today, but the top part of the original key I cannot figure out how to remove, it appears bonded to the core part of the key, either that or how do you retrieve the electronic part of the key?

Never mind, whilst it is bonded, a bit of prising with a flat head screwdriver soon released it. Just need to heat up the small Skoda badge to transfer it.

 

hi mate this is interesting, dont you damage the plastic when you prise it with a screwdriver.

9 minutes ago, paddywack1878 said:

hi mate this is interesting, don't you damage the plastic when you prize it with a screwdriver.

On the original plastic cover you're removing, I found if you heat it gently with a hair dryer, and gently prize it comes apart without stressing the plastic. I'd even suggest using a plastic prize tool instead of a metal driver to further reduce the risk. I guess it all depends on how precious you are of the original plastic elements that you're replacing.

 

The integral part of the key doesn't risk damage, just the plastic hood that you're replacing.

21 hours ago, Hdsn555 said:

On the original plastic cover you're removing, I found if you heat it gently with a hair dryer, and gently prize it comes apart without stressing the plastic. I'd even suggest using a plastic prize tool instead of a metal driver to further reduce the risk. I guess it all depends on how precious you are of the original plastic elements that you're replacing.

 

The integral part of the key doesn't risk damage, just the plastic hood that you're replacing.

i found some great videos on youtube of how you take the cover off to get at the battery, but there is none on taking the metal parts off, i found a tiny screw on one end but i dont have anything what will fit, and i have about 30 screwdrivers but none that type or size.

4 minutes ago, paddywack1878 said:

i found some great videos on youtube of how you take the cover off to get at the battery, but there is none on taking the metal parts off, i found a tiny screw on one end but i dont have anything what will fit, and i have about 30 screwdrivers but none that type or size.

I used a small torx screwdriver to undo the screw at the bottom, in terms of the top, I was 'upgrading' a secondary key (my wifes) from plastic to metal. So was swapping the plastic parts from the genuine key, and adding the metal parts from the donor key. I'd imagine prizing off the top part of the key would be a lot easier when its metal, as you don't risk stressing the plastic. 

Edited 20 May, 20215 yr by Hdsn555

thanks for the info but i dont think i will pe heating up and prizing my keys, risk and reward thing, take car mate.

1 minute ago, paddywack1878 said:

thanks for the info but i dont think i will pe heating up and prizing my keys, risk and reward thing, take car mate.

No problem, if its any consolation, I only used a hair dryer (not a heat gun) so not too hot, and for prizing, a used the smallest of drivers, so wasn't able to apply much pivotal force.

I must admit to an inability to understand the need for this thread, fascinating though it is. These are Kessy keys, so they will either be in your pocket (possibly in a pouch as per newbie69) or on the mantlepiece when you get home - either way, you'll never see any scratches. In Hdsn555's case the scratches are probably caused by all the other keys attached to it, and any replacement will soon get just as scratched in the same way.

 

I keep mine in a rigid plastic case so that it doesn't get squashed and open the boot every time I bend over or crouch down for something. This means that I can't see if it's scratched, or attach other keys to it anyway.

 

I'm just worrying that I might be missing some critical issue here.

 

No offense intended to anyone - just wondering.

2 minutes ago, ArisaigDavid said:

I must admit to an inability to understand the need for this thread, fascinating though it is. These are Kessy keys, so they will either be in your pocket (possibly in a pouch as per newbie69) or on the mantlepiece when you get home - either way, you'll never see any scratches. In Hdsn555's case the scratches are probably caused by all the other keys attached to it, and any replacement will soon get just as scratched in the same way.

 

I keep mine in a rigid plastic case so that it doesn't get squashed and open the boot every time I bend over or crouch down for something. This means that I can't see if it's scratched, or attach other keys to it anyway.

 

I'm just worrying that I might be missing some critical issue here.

 

No offense intended to anyone - just wondering.

 

Haha, no offence taken here. My original key was scratched/marred when I picked it up, as the car had done 40k, and was an ex-lease. So I'm not overly concerned about it being scratched. I like the look, feel and weight of the metal key, and mine only came with one like that. The other 2 keys were in the standard plastic. For the cost of just over a fiver, I decided I'd take a punt to see if could add the same metal trim to my wives key, which I've been able to do successfully.