Cheapest way to fix the valet key

[AlexNJ89]

My valet key has never worked since getting the car. I've put a new battery in it but no joy.

I really don't want to spend £500 just to have a spare key, so I was wondering if those key repair places were any good?

Any other suggestions would be appreciated

[LTP]

As it doesn't work, are you sure it ever has? Some one could have just bought a second-hand spare to replace a lost key.

I believe the car needs to be coded to the key for them to work.

[AlexNJ89]

LTP said:

As it doesn't work, are you sure it ever has? Some one could have just bought a second-hand spare to replace a lost key.

I believe the car needs to be coded to the key for them to work.

Ah good point. Yeah I'd have to get it repaired in hope that it's the correct key.

[Calinours]

There's 2 ways it 'works'. One is to lock the car on the button, the other is to start the car (immobiliser passive chip recognition). Does it do neither?

If so, it's likely to have never been coded to the car.

[AlexNJ89]

Calinours said:

There's 2 ways it 'works'. One is to lock the car on the button, the other is to start the car (immobiliser passive chip recognition). Does it do neither?

If so, it's likely to have never been coded to the car.

So I've just checked and the valet key does start the car. Which is excellent news.

I'm tempted to send it away to those key repair places to see what they can do

[Calinours]

AlexNJ89 said:

Calinours said:

There's 2 ways it 'works'. One is to lock the car on the button, the other is to start the car (immobiliser passive chip recognition). Does it do neither?

If so, it's likely to have never been coded to the car.

So I've just checked and the valet key does start the car. Which is excellent news.

I'm tempted to send it away to those key repair places to see what they can do

I'd first take it to a specialist to see if it a) it is broadcasting, and b) whether it can be recoded, this would be unlikely if you do not have the code, which would be a piece of printed card, sometimes laminated, about the size of a credit card, with a bar or QR code printed on it.

Even if no joy, then it's handy to now know that you can unlock the car manually with the emergency (chromed metal, looks like an actual key) key and start it with the valet key. If you don't have an emergency key, any AM dealer should be able to obtain a copy for, from memory, a couple of hundred pounds.

Edited by Calinours on Thursday 10th October 13:10

[AlexNJ89]

Calinours said:

I'd first take it to a specialist to see if it a) it is broadcasting, and b) whether it can be recoded, this would be unlikely if you do not have the code, which would be a piece of printed card, sometimes laminated, about the size of a credit card, with a bar or QR code printed on it.

Even if no joy, then it's handy to now know that you can unlock the car manually with the emergency (chromed metal, looks like an actual key) key and start it with the valet key. If you don't have an emergency key, any AM dealer should be able to obtain a copy for, from memory, a couple of hundred pounds.

Edited by Calinours on Thursday 10th October 13:10

Thanks, yep I still have the metal key.

I may even have that card in the service book. Will take a look.

Thanks

[N430]

AlexNJ89 said:

So I've just checked and the valet key does start the car. Which is excellent news.

I'm tempted to send it away to those key repair places to see what they can do

I went to change the battery on my valet key and one of the contacts had broken off the mother board so I sent it to https://phoenixbespokekeys.com/marques/bespoke-ast... and they fixed it and all works great now.

[AlexNJ89]

N430 said:

I went to change the battery on my valet key and one of the contacts had broken off the mother board so I sent it to https://phoenixbespokekeys.com/marques/bespoke-ast... and they fixed it and all works great now.

Ah I saw these guys. I will give them a try if the £30 people I've sent it to can't fix it. I have a feeling it's the rubber buttons that have broken.

[996Type]

A forum member told me of replacement buttons on here which transformed the key, easy to fit, more plastic than rubber, from eBay I think….

[AlexNJ89]

996Type said:

A forum member told me of replacement buttons on here which transformed the key, easy to fit, more plastic than rubber, from eBay I think….

Thanks. Had your key actually stopped working which made you replace them?

[996Type]

Not really, but the buttons were so gone the action wasn’t positive if that makes sense.

Worth checking the battery & contacts etc and seeing how you get on.

[N430]

AlexNJ89 said:

Ah I saw these guys. I will give them a try if the £30 people I've sent it to can't fix it. I have a feeling it's the rubber buttons that have broken.

I did the same as 996Type and replaced the buttons as you couldn’t make out the markings it was then as I tried to replace the battery the link broke. Buttons are very good.

[AlexNJ89]

Ok thanks guys, will replace the buttons if the guy can't fix it.

[996Type]

Give McGurks a quick call also and see what they suggest, they must get through a lot themselves….

[AlexNJ89]

So they £30 fix didn't work. Nor did changing the buttons.

Will have to go a more expensive route unfortunately

[LordBretSinclair]

N430 said:

I went to change the battery on my valet key and one of the contacts had broken off the mother board so I sent it to https://phoenixbespokekeys.com/marques/bespoke-ast... and they fixed it and all works great now.

These guys are really good.
I went the whole hog with my valet key - colour coded to the car, glass buttons and logo on the front.
Looks great when in the dash.

[Composer62]

LordBretSinclair said:

N430 said:

I went to change the battery on my valet key and one of the contacts had broken off the mother board so I sent it to https://phoenixbespokekeys.com/marques/bespoke-ast... and they fixed it and all works great now.

These guys are really good.
I went the whole hog with my valet key - colour coded to the car, glass buttons and logo on the front.
Looks great when in the dash.

I'd also recommend Phoenix Bespoke Keys. They sorted my valet key when the rubber buttons barely worked as they were so worn.They replaced them with buttons and it now works brilliantly.