My son lost the key to the Golf....

[Spoddy]

I think there is a member on here,, soccergk or something like that,who is in the states and sells keys.. ill look up the link for you.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/member.php?u=2309

and his shop-

http://www.keysforvw.com/products.html

hope this helps!

Thanks for the tip. I contacted soccergk (he is a she ) but unfortunately only supplies US keys which must be a different frequency.

[Jmac]

Jimmymac here !! Just in the middle of a poor running A4 B6 with a Multitronic issue but hey ive viewed this thread and ill be back in an hour to fill you in, i done the course on the MK5 before i departed and know a fair bit about them. Only thing i will say is in response to the frequency. Keys can look the same but wont work if the frequency is different. This is stamped on the inside of the key in hertz. This is the number you want to match. Im afraid VAG com is out of the question other wise i wouldnt need to work!!!!!!! unfortunately at this stage the vehicle has to plugged in online with the VW mainframe computer to recode. Anyway will give you a better idea later.
CHeers

[gregozedobe]

VW keys/remotes are a pain in the a$$ !

There are actually 3 functional components to a VW "remote" key:

1 The remote part (the bit with the electic buttons and a battery). This locks and unlocks the vehicle from outside. As has been stated, these can be purchased off ebay (a lot cheaper than from VW) but must be the correct model and frequency. A new one can be coded by the owner as long as you have another (working) remote and key (instructions should be in your owner's manual).

2 The key (blade) - the metal bit with a "ski-run" carved into it that you insert into your locks to lock/unlock or ignition to start the car. Can be cut by some few locksmiths, and if you have the number on the little plastic tab that came with your car when it was new it has the number on it to make life easier for them. Again, easily (and cheaply) available off ebay.

3 The immobiliser transponder (or RFID). On my VW (T5 Transporter) it looks like a small grain of rice with electronics inside it, located next to the blade (others can look like a very small rectangle of plastic). These are MUCH harder to buy, I did find one source, but they no longer sell them. These need to be coded to your vehicle (along with all other keys) by a VW dealer's computer hooked up to VW head office (Germany). Without this chip and VW's programming your engine will start but won't run for more than 2 seconds or so, and the immobiliser warning light will illuminate. I haven't looked for these recently, but this component is where most people come unstuck when trying to source replacement keys off ebay (they either get the wrong one or can't find one at all). I'm not sure, but have a suspicion that on recent VWs the transponder is "locked" on to a particular vehicle when it is coded for the first time.

A (slightly) cheaper option is to get a plain key (ie 2 and 3 without 1 remote) from VW. It cost me around $200 vs the $480 they wanted for a full remote key.

I did eventually manage to get a complete (working) remote from ebay, but it was a lot of mucking around and I still had to get my local VW dealer to program the transponder (I don't think VagCom can do it for the latest models - someone pls correct me if I'm wrong)

Hope that helps. The moral of the story is: DO NOT LOSE YOUR KEY/S !

Greg C

[SoVeReIgN]

$400 ~ $500 for a key from VW. :\

[Jmac]

gregoze mate Vag com not authorised to do coding on this level of security. The old days were 4 pin then 7 (code cracker brought you back to 4) then you could do it. Original key had the strip with your code but not anymore must be done on line via the mainframe. To be technicla now there must be a way of using a scope or scanner of some sort to scramble the info being sent between the dash cluster( where the immob is) and the engine ecu which recieves the start command. Now there must be info being swapped on one of the can bus lines!!!!!!!! One of these days hey!!! Anyway like i said earlier i will consult the technical info and give you it from the horses mouth but you guys are right your are royally stuffed by the loss!
CHeers

[GermanwithaVdub]

thought i just might add... as a word of caution... i think the cost of not getting a spare and losing your second key would definitely outweigh the cost of getting a spare now while you have the chance... im guessing youd be up **** creek if you then had no keys.

on a brighter side your son is now forever in your debt

its rather unfair that you have to pay so much for something that costs vw a few measly dollars.

one question - would these keys be a lot cheaper in germany/the uk? if it was a huge difference i'm sure i could organise something with one of my brothers over there to get one sent over... just a thought

GL

[Spoddy]

one question - would these keys be a lot cheaper in Germany/the UK? if it was a huge difference I'm sure i could organise something with one of my brothers over there to get one sent over... just a thought

GL

A great idea! Does anyone know what frequency range Australia is allocated for the remotes? We will need an answer for that to make sure they are available for sale in Germany or the UK.

BTW I saw your comment in the election area about the power alternatives - I agree and there is one more we shouldn't forget - we are surrounded by water with tides and waves.... heaps of power in that too.

[Transporter]

My understanding of it is that you teach the car to recognise the new key and not the other way round. In theory, any other mk5 key of the correct part number can be matched to the car. That is the simple part and I reckon you could do that with VAG-COM.

The hard part is the immobilisation, for this the dealer hooks the car to the internet and downloads a code from VW which allows them to access the engine ECU and program the ECU.

In days gone by you could get the dealer to give you the code and do the job with VAG-COM. They seem to have cottoned onto the money they could make and don't do that anywhere in the world AFAIK.

I had to pay mates rates to get a spare key for a MK4 in the UK and with only a key and no remote it cost me 80 quid.

I hope your key shows up cos I reckon you are looking at the thick end of 500.

Gavin

Yes you're right as long as you have one key working you're able to do it (code it)with vag-com.

[Spoddy]

Yes you're right as long as you have one key working you're able to do it (code it)with vag-com.

Pity you live in Adelaide....

So can a replacement key be recoded for the immobiliser via vag-com if you have the other key (which I do)? There has been yes and no through this thread so it would be good to know for sure if GermanwithaVdub was to get one for me from Germany or the UK. Who has vag-com here in Sydney willing to do it for me?

[Jmac]

The frequency is on the inside of the key in hertz just split it and the hertz reading is there. The VAG COM Question- i only ever done them with 1551 or 5051 not Vag com. SO is this possible? ITs news for me and Good news i might add!!!
Cheers
ps Germanwithadub Great idea about key mate!! and yeah your suspicions are right but ive been pushed for time this weekend with Audis in surgery

[Spoddy]

The frequency is on the inside of the key in hertz just split it and the hertz reading is there.

I'm now scared stiff of breaking the only one I have left.... How do you split it, what tool do you use and where do you split it... I'm not a mechanic I am an accountant....

[gpk_gti]

use a coin to pry it open....what area do you work/live in????? pm me,try and work out how I can help you.

[Golf Loon]

This is an interesting thread.

I have had to get a Mk3 Vr6 key recodeded at Barloworld, Mascot.
They dont cut keys on site, so I had to give them the vin number and buy a key $80.

Then i had to drive to a locksmith and get him to cut the key so that I could take it back to VW to be coded.

$120 later I was out of there.

This mission was heaps more complex, as the car had no key, the owner having lost the spare whilst swimming? I had to tow it to VW and smash the window and take the door lock out so the locksmith could make a key.

Yours would be worse, being a newer car. I`d just pay the robbers and be able to sleep. I`d also find out how much for 2 spare keys. It may not be double.

Get your son a bus pass

[h100vw]

The frequency is on the inside of the key in hertz just split it and the hertz reading is there. The VAG COM Question- i only ever done them with 1551 or 5051 not Vag com. SO is this possible? ITs news for me and Good news i might add!!!
Cheers
ps Germanwithadub Great idea about key mate!! and yeah your suspicions are right but ive been pushed for time this weekend with Audis in surgery

VAG-COM has all the capability of 1551 etc and then some. Uses all the same comms but has a much better user interface. No need to remember codes for stuff, all the buttons have real names.

You should look at it for sure.

Gavin

[Jmac]

Mate ive had it for over 3 years, i think ive thrown you buddy. Yeah i was just interseted about the KWP2000 coding if poss with the key if you still hav an original im still sure you cant program the immob but you can program the radio remote i think some people are getting confused here. so lets clear it up.
Can i start the ball rolling??
1) if you have an original RADIO transmitter you can program another but if you need to program the immob transponder part of the key you need the online connection.
2) The old keys around the MK3 you could do with vag com as you were given a 4 pin code ( or 7pin which you key generate to a 4) or if you have a good lcksmith with an automotive program he can suck out the code and recode the new key.
3) Mk4 onwards you are stuffed and more so MK 5 which has a high level of software.
4)Mk5 immobiliser adaption can only be done via the online connection at VW. You also cannot mix and match key brands Valeo,Huf etc or SKoda,Audi and VW like the way you could on the Gen3.You also cannot swap engine ecu as the info is burned for that vehicle, it also has an eeprom watchdog.

Correct me if im wrong
Cheers