Old style separate key fob and key with '04 V70 question

krhodes1 · Post by **krhodes1** » 01 Jul 2021, 14:31

Hi everyone,

I did a good bit of research on here and asked some questions months ago that assured me that instead of getting another crappy switchblade key for my V70 (original fell apart, Amazon replacement shell is crap too), that I could buy one of the old-style separate key fobs and use the separate key that I also have. My car came with one regular key and one switchblade key when I bought it.

So today I went to the dealer, now that I am in Maine for the summer (the dealer near me in FL is awful). Started off in the parts department. "Sure, no problem, I know just which part to order, did lots of these back in the day", just go to the service dept. and make an appointment. So I go to service, and the service writer says "no can do". Says the parts guys is wrong. I tell him I have other people telling me they have had this done. So he makes me an appointment, and they are going to order the remote fob, but of course if it doesn't worksI will have an expensive paperweight.

Given the madness of Volvo software downloads and such, can anyone here tell me what the part numbers of the fob and the software SHOULD be for this to work? This is supposed to be the GOOD Volvo dealer here, but they are not giving me the warm fuzzies at all in the service department, and you all know how it goes with dealers and older cars - the expertise goes away. This is Maine, so in theory they probably see a decent numbers of P2's still, but I am SURE the service writer would much rather sell me a much more expensive switchblade key...

Thanks for any and all help!

BTW, I just drove the old girl from Florida to Maine with no issues at all. Not a bad way at all to drive 1800+ miles in four days.

-Kevin

leapdragon · Post by **leapdragon** » 05 Jul 2021, 19:32

I don't see why it *wouldn't* work, but what do I know.

I just made my own and finished programming it about a week and a half ago (done with VIDA 3-day subscription) for an '07 XC70. It's two separate pieces as far as the car is concerned. You program the fob/buttons part of it and you can lock/unlock doors, but even if you cut the key part of it, you can't start the car with the key until you program the key in as well, and it's a completely separate VIDA application.

So for computer purposes, they're two separate units. It's just out here in meatspace that they're glued together into one unit (I actually prefer the integrated key).

Worst comes to worst, if there's a versioning thing (i.e. the flippy kind of fob are version Y and the cars won't support the old version X fobs for some reason, you could take a new version flippy fob, rip the key out of it, then use a 3D printer or 3D pen to fill in that space so that it's just a fob w/o key, and then get a separate key cut and programmed.

But honestly I'd be surprised if it didn't work. I feel like you'd know pretty quickly, i.e. if the new fob has the wrong number of seed code digits or something in VIDA.

leapdragon · Post by **leapdragon** » 06 Jul 2021, 21:49

So, as a follow-up to my last post...

Today for entirely unrelated reasons, I was trying to rescue a fob for my older '02 XC70 that went through the laundry.

PCB was dead, cleaning contacts and trying to reflow joints didn't work.

I did happen to have on hand an eBay special orphaned, used later-model keyfob (the flippy kind). I bought this as spare casing in case I ever needed to replace the plastic on one of the keyfobs for my '07 XC70 (hey, it was $5) BUT I wondered if I could transplant the ROM from my '02 fob into it.

Surprise surprise, when I got it apart, the PCB inside the newer integrated keyfob is hilariously identical to the old separate fobs. Even though they're different shapes.

The PCB from the newer fobs is shaped like the older fobs and they've just shoved that older PCB into the middle of the new Volvo key fobs.

So—I took the PCB out of the newer, orphaned keyfob, desoldered the ROM, grabbed the ROM off of my dead '02 fob, and soldered it onto the later keyfob PCB. Then, I took that PCB from the integrated keyfob and stuck it into the '02 fob, where it fit perfectly—and which now works, with transplanted ROM.

Based on this, I'm almost certain that older separate fobs can be used with newer model cars without any problems. Just program them in. If you try it and it works, be sure to let us know.

leapdragon · Post by **leapdragon** » 07 Jul 2021, 11:51

Further, follow-up thought—if for some reason (i.e. a Volvo-imposed code exclusion based on model year?! or something silly like that) your later car *can't* be programmed with an older fob, since the PCBs are the same—just buy an older fob or fob casing on eBay (they're dirt cheap), split open your integrated keyfob, and slide the PCB from the integrated keyfob into the older fob casing. The PCBs are identical, the buttons all line up, etc.

Then and either remove the key half of the integrated fob (it slides off) and use it separately or just get a bare key made to go along with the older style fob casing into which you transplanted the PCB.

krhodes1 · Post by **krhodes1** » 12 Jul 2021, 21:08

Thanks Leapdragon, that is excellent information.

I've found enough postings on this subject on the various forums that I am VERY confident there is no problem doing it, and as I said, the parts guy (who has been at that dealer since dirt was new) says it will work. I just got the Service Advisor who didn't think it would. But they are not techs, and this is an OLD car by dealer standards at this point.

Just hoping for some pointers to give them, just in case. But hearing that the PCBs are the same is very encouraging that it will just work with no bother. Afterall, why the heck would they actually change anything else just because they changed the form factor of the key? That would be a lot of work for no good reason - but then again we know car makers do crap like that just because...

Anyway, I will know on Wednesday at 12:30.

-Kevin

krhodes1 · Post by **krhodes1** » 27 Jul 2021, 20:02

To close the loop here - as expected, the new key fob was programmed to the car with no issues at all other than the damage done to my wallet. $361 when all was said and done and the governor's share paid. Ugh, but it's nice to have a none-broken fully functional key and remote. The old switchblade is good enough for a spare. I will probably order another shell kit and try to rebuild it one more time.

-Kevin