key fob replacement

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,549
Thanks Cat and bless you.
Found the cable. Boot open. Charger on. Showing 4 fully charged.
Strange spasmodic sounds behind the dash. Park brake indicator came on. Got the old key out. Tried the new key. Lit up and immediately closed down. Good key now jammed. Strange micro seat movement as if trying to ho Comfort on shut down.

Oh dear. Not going at all well. Same for getting the good key out.

Sounds like a loose connection as well. Possibly faulty ignition switch has been known to do some strange things.

Mine used to do almost exactly this though. The negative terminal on the battery was (I think) the culprit. I think I had it happen about three times. I disconnected the battery (which I'd do now anyway), tightened up the thumb release on the negative terminal and connected it back up. After that it never happened again. Theory was that there was enough resistance to allow the ignition on current, but as soon as you try to pull starting current, the voltage drops to basically zero and all the toys get thrown.

Certainly worth a try.

C
 

montravia

Member
Messages
1,618
Sounds exactly so Cat.
Raining and getting dark. I'll manually close her up tonight and fiddle with her bits tomorrow. Certainly sounds like a poor connection.
Just threw me. Double systems failure: key then brown out.
Very many thanks.
Flowers and chocolates or booze when I see you?
Robin
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,549
Sounds exactly so Cat.
Raining and getting dark. I'll manually close her up tonight and fiddle with her bits tomorrow. Certainly sounds like a poor connection.
Just threw me. Double systems failure: key then brown out.
Very many thanks.
Flowers and chocolates or booze when I see you?
Robin

Booze, and a go when she's running ;)

C
 

montravia

Member
Messages
1,618
Well, that was an expensive mistake:-
Dick Lovett Swindon no longer has Maserati diagnostic, so referred to Grey Paul Birmingham
Key ordered and troll up there to have it programmed when arrived:-
Key £290
Labour 1 hour: £135 (yeah, I know)
+ vat
£510
Ching.

Even if I'd followed advice and used acetone to remove the transponder, the replacement cases are more than flimsy, doesn't remain closed along the seam, and probably wouldn't last long.
Probably worth living with the old **** key, or saving up.
I've a spare (carp) shell. Not sure that I'm irresponsible enough to pass it on
 
Last edited:

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,512
I have still not had the confidence to try and swap mine over, old one is fine apart from the metal bit to attach to a key ring has kind since been broken.

after your experience, I will continue to live with it
 

montravia

Member
Messages
1,618
I have still not had the confidence to try and swap mine over, old one is fine apart from the metal bit to attach to a key ring has kind since been broken.

after your experience, I will continue to live with it
I'd probably only suggest doing it if
a) The logo covering the securing screw succumbs sufficiently by heat or solvent not to destroy either the badge or original case
b) the transponder relieves itself by due application of solvent: - acetone as suggested, or perhaps xylene (but that would need a benign test to see if it attacks the case); requiring negligible force to remove it
 

montravia

Member
Messages
1,618
Don't let me put you off if you're key is easier to dismantle and the transponder extracted. I damaged my transponder. I've a spare shell if anyone wants it but the quality is fragile compared to the original 20200807_151439.jpg
 

Doctor Houx

Member
Messages
791
I have still not had the confidence to try and swap mine over, old one is fine apart from the metal bit to attach to a key ring has kind since been broken.

after your experience, I will continue to live with it
This was the case with one of my keys so I ordered the cheap shell off eBay that came with the metal keyring attachment and just took that out and swapped it over onto the OEM key. Worked a treat for about £12! 73803
 

ecarca

Junior Member
Messages
320
I went through the ordeal tonight. It's not as bad as it looks. If you have watched a couple of YouTube videos about it and read a forum thread or two, it's in fact quite easy. I would say it takes an hour to an hour and a half, 90 to 95% being the retrieval of the transponder.

In my case, the change was dual purpose: the buttons were starting to fall apart, and I was getting bothered with the worn looks.

Removing the logo is pretty easy with a hair dryer, provided you heat up enough, and use a very thin screwdriver to lift it up (think about your watch strap screwdriver ;) ), then a cutter.

For the transponder, I used a soldering iron, far enough from the transponder, to make a rough cut to remove the transponder; with the help of pliers as well. Then I used a file to grind my piece to a format that would fit next to the transponder receptacle. I almost filed the transponder as well, so take your time there. The key works perfectly well and look decent, not sure if it will last but now that the transponder is mobile I can change to a new key fob in 5 minutes if necessary. I reused all the original internals, including battery holder and screws, as well as the key mechanism and the spring, I only changed the button because it was worn. So it's a mix of old and new but looks great.
 

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CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,549
I went through the ordeal tonight. It's not as bad as it looks. If you have watched a couple of YouTube videos about it and read a forum thread or two, it's in fact quite easy. I would say it takes an hour to an hour and a half, 90 to 95% being the retrieval of the transponder.

In my case, the change was dual purpose: the buttons were starting to fall apart, and I was getting bothered with the worn looks.

Removing the logo is pretty easy with a hair dryer, provided you heat up enough, and use a very thin screwdriver to lift it up (think about your watch strap screwdriver ;) ), then a cutter.

For the transponder, I used a soldering iron, far enough from the transponder, to make a rough cut to remove the transponder; with the help of pliers as well. Then I used a file to grind my piece to a format that would fit next to the transponder receptacle. I almost filed the transponder as well, so take your time there. The key works perfectly well and look decent, not sure if it will last but now that the transponder is mobile I can change to a new key fob in 5 minutes if necessary. I reused all the original internals, including battery holder and screws, as well as the key mechanism and the spring, I only changed the button because it was worn. So it's a mix of old and new but looks great.

Well batted!

C