Hi everyone,
I need some help understanding what’s going on with my keys because the logic completely escapes me. Long story short (and don’t bully me, I know I’m a mess)…
First, I lost my Activity Key and later ran over my main fob. When I lost the Activity Key, I bought a replacement on eBay and planned to have it programmed but never did. About a year later, I crushed my fob. Luckily, I was able to start the car by placing the damaged chip (no casing) in the center console.
Eventually, I purchased a new fob and also brought in the eBay Activity Key. The dealer warned me there was no guarantee the Activity Key would work since I didn’t buy it from them, and I’d still have to pay even if programming failed. I accepted.
They told me they programmed both successfully (and the invoice says so). But when I got home and tried setting up the app:
When I called, they just said: “Sorry, that was the risk.”
Here’s the new discovery: the Activity Key cannot unlock the car at all. But if I unlock the car first with the fob, then place the Activity Key in the center console, I can actually drive. So it seems it was programmed for the immobilizer (start/drive) but not for locking/unlocking.
My questions are:
Thanks in advance — I just want to understand what’s happening here.
I need some help understanding what’s going on with my keys because the logic completely escapes me. Long story short (and don’t bully me, I know I’m a mess)…
First, I lost my Activity Key and later ran over my main fob. When I lost the Activity Key, I bought a replacement on eBay and planned to have it programmed but never did. About a year later, I crushed my fob. Luckily, I was able to start the car by placing the damaged chip (no casing) in the center console.
Eventually, I purchased a new fob and also brought in the eBay Activity Key. The dealer warned me there was no guarantee the Activity Key would work since I didn’t buy it from them, and I’d still have to pay even if programming failed. I accepted.
They told me they programmed both successfully (and the invoice says so). But when I got home and tried setting up the app:
- Only one key showed as connected (“Connected key to profile – Key 1”).
- The digital key and remote functions failed with the error: “All keys are needed – make sure all 2 keys are present in the vehicle and try again.”
- I tried everything (both keys in console, cup holder, outside, etc.), but it never worked.
When I called, they just said: “Sorry, that was the risk.”
Here’s the new discovery: the Activity Key cannot unlock the car at all. But if I unlock the car first with the fob, then place the Activity Key in the center console, I can actually drive. So it seems it was programmed for the immobilizer (start/drive) but not for locking/unlocking.
My questions are:
- Is it possible they only programmed it partially (immobilizer but not locking)?
- Could the old keys still be registered in the system, causing the digital key setup to fail?
- Before I go back and risk another $100 “no guarantee” attempt, is there a way to confirm whether the Activity Key can be fully recognized or if it’s just limited because it came from eBay?
Thanks in advance — I just want to understand what’s happening here.
