Melbourne VIC · at the vehicle
Transponder Key Programming
Almost every car sold in Australia this century carries an immobiliser: a chip in the key answers a challenge from the car, and without the right answer the engine will not start no matter how well the key is cut. Programming is the process of introducing a new chip to that system.
+61-3-9007-2696What this covers
- Programming new transponder keys to the vehicle
- Adding a spare to an existing set
- Deleting lost or stolen keys from memory
- Diagnosing a key the car has stopped recognising
- Immobiliser faults that look like a dead key
- Programming done at the vehicle
Before you call
Have the make, model and year ready, and know roughly where the car is. Those three things decide what equipment the van needs on board, and getting them on the phone is the difference between one visit and two.
You will also be asked to prove the vehicle is yours — photo ID and registration papers, or the car registered in your name. There is no version of this work where that step is skipped.
Transponder Key Programming
Tell us the make, model and year and where the car is parked.
Transponder Programming — questions
My key turns but the car will not start. Is that the transponder?
It often is — the key is cut correctly and the car simply is not accepting the chip. It can also be a battery, a starter or an immobiliser fault, which is why we diagnose before replacing anything. Replacing a key that was never the problem helps nobody.
Can you program a key I bought online?
Sometimes. Aftermarket blanks vary enormously in quality and some cannot be programmed at all. We will tell you honestly whether the one in your hand is usable before charging you to find out.
Will programming a new key erase my existing ones?
Only if you want it to, or if the vehicle's own procedure requires it — a few makes insist that all keys are re-taught together. If yours is one of them, you will be told before we begin, and you should have every key you own with you.