This week, while I was in Motown of all places, a woman told me a story about how expensive it was to replace (or was it repair?) her car key fob. You know what I mean, it’s one of those “keyless entry remote control car key fobs” that has buttons to lock your car doors, unlock them, and open your trunk. It also has a button that makes it super easy to accidentally set off your car alarm. (Gotta love that button which would be useful in an emergency. But more often, thankfully, it simply enables me to practice resolving a Tech Frustration while under pressure.)
Within minutes of returning home from my trip, my husband said, “Remember how we’d lost one of the key fobs to my car? Look what I got on Amazon for $16.00!” Then he tossed me a new key fob that looked exactly like the original. See for yourself. Apparently there are a number of companies that will replace key fobs for way less than your local car dealer will charge you. My husband paid $10.00 for the new fob and $6.00 for shipping. He received it pretty fast (4 days), and after it arrived all he needed to do was some quick “programming” which required him to follow short written instructions while sitting in the driver’s seat of the car. It’s working like a charm. If you’re looking for a new fob for your car, simply search for “wireless key fob” at Amazon.com. Make sure that you have the fob part number which is listed on the back of your original fob and match it with the product description listed on Amazon.com. Want to see one? Here’s an example. Key point: Sometimes it’s easier than you think to unlock a Tech Frustration ;) Has technology ever frustrated you? If so, tell us your story on the Tech Frustrations web site. Subscribe or unsubscribe to this blog.
21 Comments
Timothy Limer
9/30/2016 11:31:14 am
This was not an option for me. I had 1 key (with a chip in it). I wanted two. To program a new key in my 2006 Ford Fusion you have to have two keys. So I had to go to a dealer and pay $150 for the second key. They then advised me that I should get a 3rd key from the internet and program it so I'd always have two. Crazy, right?
Kathy Calder Haselmaier
9/30/2016 11:49:28 am
Yes, Tim, crazy! (BTW, I was just at Michigan Tech. They're working hard to get the computer science program into a "Top 100" listing. Exciting times.)
Timothy Limer
10/2/2016 02:40:21 pm
Very cool. I hope they manage it. My daughter is double majoring in CS and Psychology at SUNY Brockport. She's hoping for an internship with Google this summer. 9/30/2016 11:48:37 am
After getting this all resolved (finding the fob, programming it, etc.) I realized how long I've gone just ASSUMING that a replacement would be expensive. I didn't even consider the scenario where it would be possible to get a replacement affordably.
Kathy Haselmaier
9/30/2016 11:50:40 am
Maybe you were bored because your wife was out of town ;) 9/30/2016 11:52:44 am
Well - I was bored at other times while you were gone. But while I was researching and ordering the fob it was during the Broncos/Bengals game. I most definitely was not bored then. :-)
rich maroncelli
3/13/2017 09:25:39 am
How about sharing the URL for the KeyFob complany you found on Amazon. There are alot of them out there. not sure which to pick. 3/13/2017 06:21:58 pm
Hi Rich. There is a link to an example site in the blog. A number of the words are hyperlinked including, "Here's an example" near the very end of the article.
Jim Haselmaier
3/13/2017 06:22:26 pm
Rich: I found the most critical thing was to be sure you have from the old fob the manufacturer's part number. On Amazon's site the new fob(s) will list which original part numbers the new one replaces. Just be sure you're buying a replacement for the original part number. I didn't keep track of the actual brand of the new one I bought.
Dave Garrels
10/4/2016 08:30:54 am
Two things 1) you guys crack me up and 2) I need a 2nd key fob and was looking at Amazon... glad this confirms that going this route works.
Kathy Haselmaier
10/4/2016 10:43:08 am
Thanks for your note, Dave :) It's nice to hear from you!
West Peterson
12/16/2016 01:21:02 pm
What if your car used to have fobs, but the person you bought it from lost them both? I know I could probably Google this answer, but I just wanted to see my question in your blog. :-) 12/16/2016 05:25:03 pm
Hi West! For our car (GMC Acadia), we bought the fob and paired it with the car after it arrived. We never used the other fob in the process. Hopefully this is helpful. (We did use the part number from the other fob to be sure we were ordering the right one, but I'm guessing you could get that info some other way.) Merry Christmas!
West Peterson
12/16/2016 06:28:51 pm
I'll check it out. Like Jim, I assumed it would be hundreds of dollars, but perhaps I can get it done for much cheaper. I'll let you know 1/13/2018 02:26:32 am
Car key remote fobs are truly convenient thing which is invented .At one time, it was usually assumed that physically placing a car key into the car lock was the only way to unlock a car door. But now a days with the advent of remote key less entry, drivers can now open their car doors with a push of a button. But if you lost your key fob then you can visit to a good dealer,and they will provide a new key in affordable price. 2/28/2018 03:09:08 am
With remote keys you can start the car by simply pushing the button and in case you lost keys not only the dealer but you can also get the new car key from near by auto locksmith also. 3/21/2018 12:21:11 pm
I like that you mentioned that there are businesses out there that will replace your missing car key remote for less than dealerships. My brother recently lost his car key remote and would like to replace it. Thanks for your tips on finding affordable key fob replacements.
Kathy Haselmaier
3/21/2018 12:58:28 pm
You're welcome, Bethany. Good luck to your brother! 6/18/2018 05:57:13 am
Getting $10 for the new fob is very cheap it's good that you have it at so cheap rate. 6/19/2018 02:18:04 am
These are the most convenient things invented because it has reduced the stress of taking bunch of keys with you. Leave a Reply. |
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