spare keys- advantage to unique/dealer programmed keys or not?

Post by **mrbrian200** » 02 Feb 2016, 11:03

Had to drive in/stay in Chicago for the week. On my list is "get a spare key made". Is there any specific advantage to getting a unique key/fob programmed to the car at a dealer as opposed to cloning the existing master I have?
I sort of glanced through the owners manual I didn't see anything regarding automatic seat/mirror positioning/radio presets etc? I can go to any dealer (6 of them I believe in the area) or a locksmith in Chicago Ridge says they've successfully cloned key/fobs for this year range Volvo.

I know if I have it done at a Volvo dealer it's likely to be upwards of $400 or more but I haven't called any of them for a quote. If I go the dealer route I'm leaning toward Autobarn as it's owned by a dealer "group" with other makes/high volume sales their service department is less likely to be under financial pressure to float the business.

Post by **scot850** » 02 Feb 2016, 11:48

Main advantage of OE dealer supplied unit is it has a lifetime warranty if they supply and programme it. Most others you are on your own. there is a guy here that can programme the transponder chip for you, but you need to buy a Vida/Dice unit (about $100 US) to be able to so this. I have recently posted here about this as 1 of our transponder chips is failing. I have ordered 2 replacement 'key/transponder' portions from China for $20 incl. shipping. I will then transfer the key I have and have both transponders programmed either here (I have a Vida/Dice) or may take it to the local dealer with whom I have a good relationship. Not sure of cost yet.

Neil.

Post by **phils94850** » 02 Feb 2016, 14:05

I need a spare key and fob as well..

Post by **mrbrian200** » 02 Feb 2016, 15:05

Ok. Lifetime warranty.. but if one does fail can all dealers be trusted to honor that warranty? I would imagine failed key transponders don't necessarily leave you stranded right outside the door of your trusty preferred dealer that handled/programmed that key...

..if that really is the only advantage..

Though it's a near certainty sooner or later I will get a dice+vida, the affordable ones (around $100) are of varying quality. Being a computer tech I would be comfortable with diagnostic work (where it's basically just sending command/response requests and reading a data stream). I would be hesitant to do programming/software updates with a Chinese knockoff unit though. Bit flips from "iffy" not quite perfectly functioning devices can wreak havoc with systems in the computer arena. Server boards utilize high end disk drives, MIL spec components and ECC memory to help combat this. There's no telling how many "generations" that hacked version of VIDA has been through by the time we get it. Bit flips generally start accruing in the running programs/OS over time and is one (of several) reasons a periodic reboot is considered good practice. SSD and thumb drives are notorious for this as well FYI. And since cars are basically computers with wheels attached... I saw Volvo has issued a TSB warning owners about the "fake" units. They weren't specific about the circumstances when they were seeing issues but I'd almost bet this is the problem when people try to program/update their cars, as "technically corrupt" data passed to the car will sometimes pass CRC checks and still get installed.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 02 Feb 2016, 15:10

phils94850 wrote:I need a spare key and fob as well..

I think I'm lucky living within a short drive to a major city (at least 5 Volvo dealers, no less than 3 smith shops that can handle it. Most people probably don't have more than one or two options and are at the mercy of those they deal with that know you have nowhere else to go.

Post by **vtl** » 02 Feb 2016, 15:29

That's interesting, the locksmith claims he clones Megamos Crypto, is that true?

Post by **abscate** » 02 Feb 2016, 17:02

A 2000 model car is now 17 model years old. I wouldn't value a lifetime warranty on parts very much

Post by **JRL** » 02 Feb 2016, 17:39

YOU NEED TO BUY SOFTWARE
VIDA does you NOTHING unless you bought a 3 day subscription which allows you to purchase software
You can't "clone" your key

Post by **vtl** » 02 Feb 2016, 19:59

JRL wrote:You can't "clone" your key

Looks like you can: https://www.usenix.org/system/files/con ... lement.pdf It mentions programmer and software, which is able to clone ID48.

Post by **doublebug** » 02 Feb 2016, 23:17

You need to have special ID48 chip that can have it's ID programmed to be able to clone existing keys.
Having programmed keys at a dealer just makes backup of you keys data at the Volvo servers.
So in a case you've lost information about keys dealer can restore them. But sometimes you need to buy new CEM to be able to do that.