[airics]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

I believe there was a class action suit that had VoA agreeing to provide programming instructions for third parties to program the keys. So now, you can buy a blank flip key from a third party vendor and take it to an independent locksmith to have it programmed. It's usually much less expensive doing it this way than to take it to a VW dealer.

You can buy a blank flip key from an internet vendor for much less than a dealer. Just for illustration purposes, here's a 2004 Passat flip key for $78.95:

https://www.ikeyless.com/vehicles/Vo...t/2004/1000504

i will agree that you have the key programmed, but i'm under the impression that you need the computer of the vehicle flashed also.... i had a beetle a few years back and had to have the damn thing (sorry) towed to the dealer...

[scirocco22]

Originally Posted by airics

i will agree that you have the key programmed, but i'm under the impression that you need the computer of the vehicle flashed also.... i had a beetle a few years back and had to have the damn thing (sorry) towed to the dealer...

I don't think so unless it's something new. I had the dealer make me an Audi flip key several years ago and they did it without the car being there. Maybe the newer cars have to have a brand new code for each? In my case, the immobilizer encryption on the car-side didn't change so the only thing that had to be programmed was the key.


ETA: Now that I think about it more, the car was there but I didn't see what they did with the car. I only saw them fumbling around with the keys but as I think about it some more, the transponder in the new key will have to be programmed to the immobilizer so I don't believe there is any flashing involved. I believe there is a procedure the owner can follow to do this once the key is programmed but the locksmith programming the key should have that knowledge to do it if the car is there and if the car isn't there, you can do it yourself with the proper instructions. However, the main thing here is to try to avoid the dealer's high cost for doing all this and even if the car has to be flashed, it still can be done by an independent shop or somebody with a VAG-com. Now the brand new keyless stuff is another story, I'd guess.

[Heyygirl]

You can also go to Passat World Forums. There is where I learned to program a flip key for my car about a year ago. Battery replacement skills also available. Ahhhh..so grateful for nice people on the internet!!

[yellowsnow]

Yes, the car has to be reprogrammed too. Has something to do with an antitheft device they started using in 2000. A harnesssomethingorother has to be pulled.