Recoding a Renault Key

[CampDavid]

Sorry if this is covered elsewhere but I really couldn't find it.

Bought a lovely 2004 Megane at auction yesterday as a stop gap while we work out what we want to do car wise, the only issue is that it only has one key.

They are the key card type efforts, just wondering if anyone has much of an idea on here? Can I just buy another from a breaker and recode it, do I have to go to a dealer? It's a nice car but I'm worried about what happens if the key we have goes missing/breaks

Ta

CD

[MrGman]

I had exactly the same when i bought a megane, renault want about £140 for the key and to have it coded.
I have read that renault won't recode a key that they haven't supplied but this was only on the net so it might be worth asking in your local dealers.

[16v_paddy]

A friend of mine managed to lose both key cards for his megane 225 but was able to get a local locksmith type company to sort out a replacement card and code it to the car for roughly half the price a renault dealer wanted iirc.

I doubt Renault would want just £140 to sort yours out as I know they want well over £160 to replace & code a replacement key for my Mk1 clio

[Mr Jenks]

Dont buy a card from a breakers or ebay, you cant recode it. Dealer will be around £140 to supply and code new one, some locksmiths can do them cheaper, worth an ask.

[renoriggerz]

hi all.happy new year.

keycard coding : the fact is that a renault dealer cannot code a second hand key is because the equipment that is required to code the key reads the chassis no. that is inprinted electronically in the key by renault at the factory. when you order a new key from the dealer it comes with the chassis coded in the key so the equipment can match it to the vehicle and allow to be coded.

you can however purchase key cards from specialist car key companies as they are blank and they can code them in with their kit.
in my experience they are as good but only £20-30 pounds cheaper

hope this helps

[Atex31]

Hi,

Regarding Renault key cards, they are available now through most automotive locksmiths in the UK, the key cards vary depending on the model, £95 to £110 plus vat, the programming charge is usually around £30 plus vat. It usually takes about 10 days to order a key through Renault as renoriggerz quite rightly said, Renault program the chassis number to the key card so when it arrives at the dealers, it can only be programmed to the intended vehicle by Renault, they cannot program a blank or secondhand key card with their equipment.

The blank key cards can be kept on the shelf by the locksmith, this means that you can have a new key card programmed to your car in about 5 minutes (it used to have a 10 minute wait on completion, now it's only 2 minutes).

There is some more detailed information available here:

http://www.autotechnix.co.uk/Renault-key-cards-inf...

Hope this helps


New Renault Key Card Website:
http://www.carkeysouthampton.co.uk/renault-key-car...

Edited by Atex31 on Sunday 27th July 23:03

[burriana]

On another tangent - does anyone have the same advice for a 2000 Clio please?

Louise's will not disarm on either key, so I'm guessing it is not the key that is at fault. They will unlock the doors but when you turn the ignition, the immobiliser light in the middle of the dash light cluster just blinks rapidly and the engine just spins over.

I am very loathed to tow it down to Renault Harrogate as a) Louise would be very nervous about doing it and b) I assume that they will just want to stick a new immobiliser system in at a cost of about £500.

Has anyone had any experience of "Remote Key ltd". For £87 they can apparently send a bypass unit that knocks out the immobiliser altogether (once I find a UV light so I can read the supplementary key number that is!) This then plugs into the socket underneath the ashtray unit.

Hope someone can help and apologies for the slight deviation

[JimGTxx]

you don't usually NEED a UV light, you will see it well enough when you pop it open.
the only non-renault alternative is to get the little program and put your details in it, which will give you the 4 digit bypass code (which is what Remote Key Ltd will be after).
With this, you can bypass the immobiliser with a button, but it is a pain in the arse to do everytime you get into the car.
Other than that, you can get the ECU 'virginised' which effectively disables the immobiliser, but that is about the same price as a new key (I got quoted £158 two weeks ago).

http://renaulthelp.110mb.com/

[burriana]

Thanks for the reply. I would gladly pay £158 to get it working again but I fear that Evans Halshaw will simply opt for the new immobiliser route!

There is a number in nomal view inside the keybut apparently it should be 8 digits starting with an E. This number is 12 digits, not starting with an E!

[Atex31]

Hi Burriana,

I used to regularly deal with Ian at Remote Key, he is a top bloke and always really helpful if you can get hold of him on their very busy phone line, I have purchased several Renault bypass units from him and they do work brilliantly. It would also be worth looking for an Auto Electrician in your area who can deal with a Renault Clio with electrical issues, I would offer my services but I am down in Southampton, we deal with all the Renault electrical breakdowns that The AA, The RAC and all the local garages can throw at us, it seems like nobody else wants to touch them!

Kind regards

Atex31

http://www.autotechnix.co.uk/Renault-Key-cards(209...

New Renault Key Card Website:
http://www.carkeysouthampton.co.uk/renault-key-car...

Edited by Atex31 on Sunday 27th July 23:05

[Mr Jenks]

Most immobiliser problems on the Clio II are caused by the key. Cheapest way round is order non remote key from local dealer for less than £20, ordered to number from your existing key. This is a chip type transponder key, it will not need coding, open it up carefully and remove the transponder chip. The chip can then be fitted in your existing key which works the central locking as well.

[burriana]

But surely if it was the key, then the spare key would work?

I have tried a local auto-electrician and he just said it was main dealer job, so not really much help. Does anyone know if there is a Yorkshire Clio club or similar?

Thanks for all the help so far

[Mr Jenks]

burriana said:

But surely if it was the key, then the spare key would work?

Thanks for all the help so far

Have seen so many where both keys are faulty, you normally only find out that the spare doesn't work about 10 minutes after the first one has packed up. A dealer should be able to tell with normal diagnostic kit and a known good key from another car, it really isn't difficult. You're too far away from me though!

[Atex31]

Hi Burriana,

Have you managed to resolve your Clio problem? I also forgot to say that a decent locksmith can test or clone a pre 2001 Clio key for a lot less than a new key. I have a link to a national locksmith database so you should be able to find a locksmith near to your postcode if that's ok with the moderator.

http://www.autotechnix.co.uk/Auto-Locksmiths-Datab...

Kind regards

Atex31 (Alan @ Autotechnix).


http://www.autotechnix.co.uk/Renault-Key-cards(209...


New website for Renault Cards in Southampton:
http://www.carkeysouthampton.co.uk/renault-key-car...

Edited by Atex31 on Sunday 27th July 23:02

[boss1234]

my mate had his renault key repaired by a company called computabench i dont know their address
but they were fast and cheap about £20 and two days ,do a google search for computabench theres also a diy fix somewhere on the internet
i think the trick is to split the key apart and solder something internally

[Kerie]

Unfortunately, almost every person reading this thread already has a Renault, quite possibly with a bad key card / fob.

If you are one of the lucky ones to be reading this before buying such a car, here is a little advice .........................

DON'T

The key cards are flimsy and badly designed and WILL break.

My first replacement card cost £160 for the card and programming.

My second replacement I bought from Ebay which cost £22 and £50 for the programming.

So you CAN buy the blank keys from Ebay, it just depends on how "safe" the seller is as to whether or not it can be coded.

But, in my opinion, I think that these key cards are far too expensive and terribly designed for me to buy another car with one.

[renorti]

can,t recode renault key cards.they are single state. plenty of locksmiths do have the key coder,should get new key about £80-£100 coded to your car.