Deactivating a key chip

Is there a way to deactivate a key chip so I won’t have to spend $70 to duplicate the key. I’m the mother of a 3yr old and 15 mo., I own a 2001 car with car seats on either side in back. There’s a lot of wear on this car, so theft is not a concern for us. We just had VIM #s etched on the windows (in case this is any extra deterrant). We have two keys only. One of these days when I’m going to pick up the car to get kids from daycare I’m going to realize I left my keys at home or work. It can happen to the best of us. Someone suggested I tape the key with the chip near the ignition and make a duplicate (without chip) for $4.00. We didn’t try that. I’m wondering if there’s another “easy” way without incurring any costs to do it. Or at least half the cost of making a duplicate.

Any ideas?

Want to avoid a horrible, no good, very bad day.

Thanks

Wait… so you’re not afraid that you’ll lock your keys in your car, you’re afraid you’ll leave them somewhere else entirely? Most people -who are afraid of locking themselves out- make the $4.00 (that sounds expensive) copy and keep that in their purse or wallet so that they can get in to the car and gain access to their fully-capable ignition key. This is not your concern? I’m a little confused…

Have you tried a automotive locksmith instead of the dealer? Most of these keys just have a resister in them, not a computer chip. There are about 20 different resister values (keys) and a good locksmith will have them all. Priced less than $70…

The tape method’s the way I’ve always done it (well, actually the glue method), though sometimes you have to take the dash or steering column apart a little to find the sweet spot. Plus that way you always have a hidden key for emergencies. Depending on the make of car, Caddyman may also be right about the locksmith.

The idea would be to leave an extra set of keys (car and home) with our daycare. This way, if I get to daycare and realize I left my keys at home/office (which is unlikely but I can’t say 100% sure it won’t happen one day), all I’ll need to do is ask daycare for the extra set and off I go. If for any reason I didn’t have my keys when I got to daycare it would be very very bad. I can’t call a taxi to get us home since both my kids need to be in a carseat. And to go and retrieve any keys left behind could take more than an hour to get keys and get back to daycare. Not to mention I have only 10 min. to spare when I get to daycare before they close. If you pay $4.00 to make a dupe without the chip, it will get you into the car but will not start the car. To make a dupe with the chip to start the car can cost $70.

I tried several locksmiths. They all told me the same thing. There is a device inside the key that speaks to the ignition. To make a dupe will cost around $70. $60 was the best deal.

Thanks. I wondered if this would work. Once you got the key w/chip in place, I guess you didn’t have any problems with the dupe (w/o chip)?

By the way, you used glue? Any glue? Why not tape?

Uh, exactly how is it you get to the daycare without your keys? Do you park your car there and walk to work from the daycare? Or what? I really don’t understand this problem.

My husband drops the car off when he drives the kids “to” daycare and then takes a train to work. I take a train to the car when I “pickup” the kids.

Caddyman is a bit out of date. The first systems used resistors, but for the past 10 years or so it’s using RFID or similar technology. It still shouldn’t cost $70 per key, but they sort of have you over a barrel on that front.

Yep, your best bet is to leave the original key in the car, and just get a plain copy made that will open the door. Then the key is always in the car. Or tape just the chip part near the ignition switch as others have suggested. I think I’d just tape the original key into the ignition, then keep a couple spare non-chip keys in your purse.

Right! (that was a big dah). Sometimes the obvious stares you in the face. Yes, your exactly right. Just leave the original in the car (anywhere!) and get the $4.00 dupe made to open the door. It’s not even necessary to tape the key near the ignition.

Thanks!

If you ever hear of a place anywhere in the US you can get one of these keys made under $60 do post here. I heard some locksmiths, and i think even the dealers for that matter, will charge you up to $125 for some of the newer cars coming out today. Anyway, I wouldn’t even want to spend $30 (what a rip off).