Transponder keys

[Symmo]

Hello, I'me new here. Just bought a 99 Polo estate with only 1 key, I need 2 keys.
A dealer charges £100+ for a new key & programming.
Is there a cheaper way?
I am also interested in adding remote locking. These kits come with 2 remote keys. The new remote key needs a transponder fitted. Anyone know where I can get a couple of transponders from? VW only do the whole key.
Cheers for any help.

[SteveB]

You can get the transpoder keys from eBay. You'd need to get it cut somewhere then take it to VW for coding. Unless you can find anybody with a VAG-COM [plugs into the car to check faults and change some settings] which would mean it probably could be done for free. Anyone else knows any more on this? I'm just about to attempt this myself when my key comes, purchased it on eBay last night.

[Symmo]

I have looked on Ebay, but can't find any transponders without keys. Ebay is where I am getting the remote kit.
An alternative is to buy the whole key, get it programmed, then cut it open to remove the transponder and then put it in the remote key.
Does your supplier have any more keys?
Is it the key that gets programmed, or is it the car.
I thought the transponder was a passive device which just contained a number and that the car has to be programmed to work with that number.
Please let me know how you get on with your key.

[SteveB]

I went for this one, Clicky!, read the bit on there about how it works. The key needs to be coded to the car's ECU. The coding is only used to start the engine, it wont effect the unlocking/locking regardless of remote or not.

My dad knows a man that knows a man [lol] that might be able to look up how its done for my car. I'll post up when I find out what he says. There was a suggestion that if the transponder is close to the other original key/ignition barrel when the car is started that it might pick up the coding. I'm not too sure about this but I'll give it a try before paying VW.

I also know a girl who has just started at a VW dealer so I'll ask her to get in with the techies and ask about it.

[SteveB]

Just re-read that yours is a 99 model so I expect this key Clicky!, will be the one yours needs.

[chillout972]

hi i've got the same problem got two brand new flick out keys and they have to be coded
the main dealer want 80 £ a key they can go jump of a cliff for that
i have found out that a VAG-COM could do it but i may need to find out my vechiles SKC code in order to code the new keys which only the main dealer have
is there another way to code my keys i dont want to pay the main dealer 80 £ a key
i may try using thr vag-com but if it doesn;t work i may have to go to the main dealer and cough up
help would be appreciated

[SteveB]

Got my key in the post today. I expect it'll be saturday before I get it cut now. I'm not sure if the new key can be split in 2 like the original VW one. When it's cut I will try the original keys transponder against the metal part of the new key and see if it starts the car.

[SteveB]

Just remembered this topic. I got my key cut the other week at the nearest Timpsons. I asked about prices, he said if they supplied the blank it was £30 cut and coded. It cost me £8 to have my blank key cut, I asked if they could do the coding also. He said they can do it. I didn't see him do any coding type of thing and it only took a few minutes before the guy was finished. The key worked first time when I tried it. I doubled checked the immobiliser was working be removing the transponder from my old key [I'm not sure if the new one splits and clips back together like the original VW one], the engine started then almost instantly stopped. So my immobiliser works fine. It might be a possibility that the transponder codes itself the first time its used but I wouldn't have thought so.

All in all I spend £9.99 + £2 P&P on the key and £8
Total £19.99 so I'm happy

[polokaj]

your car must be before 98 then cos after that vw started fitting the keys with an alternating algorithm, which does need to be done from a vw garage.

[SteveB]

Yeah mines the model before the sligh 'facelift' of new electrics, clocks and key type. I think mines August 1997, its an R reg.

[Symmo]

I think VW changed the way it works in about 98. I took my VW key to a key cutter, they tried it in their transponder reader but couldn't do anything with it. They told me that VW haven't released the codes for them to program new keys.
I am still not sure if the key gets programmed or the car, or maybe both?