Originally Posted by scottster77

oempartsdirect.. best service! good price.. smart key is about $114 and the blade key is about $4.. and shipping fed ex is about $10.. i think.. so bringing the total to $128... from what i can remember.. the key looks freaking awesome... look through the smart key thread for the part number.. i really don't have it off hand...

DO NOT PURCHASE USED KEYS ON EBAY... DEALERS WILL NOT REPROGRAM'
EVEN IF SELLER ON EBAY SAY THEY CAN.. DEALERS WON'T! or CAN'T...
WATCH OUT FOR SHADY EBAYERS!

Originally Posted by scottster77

oempartsdirect.. best service! good price.. smart key is about $114 and the blade key is about $4.. and shipping fed ex is about $10.. i think.. so bringing the total to $128... from what i can remember.. the key looks freaking awesome... look through the smart key thread for the part number.. i really don't have it off hand...

DO NOT PURCHASE USED KEYS ON EBAY... DEALERS WILL NOT REPROGRAM'
EVEN IF SELLER ON EBAY SAY THEY CAN.. DEALERS WON'T! or CAN'T...
WATCH OUT FOR SHADY EBAYERS!

Originally Posted by Moviela

I was curious to see if a key could be reprogrammed. I did a teardown and cost analysis. It costs about $ 8. to buy the components. The RF and infrared comunications systems used standard parts, but were rather elegant in their execution. The induction power supply was particularly well done. The company that makes the main processor was not sharing the details of the IC for security reasons. That was my invitation to x-ray the chip to see what was going on inside. There is a simple but effective barrier to reprogramming the processor. The memory is a small scratchpad that is programed once by fusable links. The first time you put the data in the chip, a current is passed through selected links vaporizing the wire. There is no way to "repair" the link. Once the key is programmed, it wil fit only one EIS (Electronic Ignition System), and only if the EIS has been programmed to accept the key. If you lose a key the EIS can be told to ignore that key.

My advice is to buy a new key from a forum sponsor. You will need to supply proof of ownership, and have the new key added to the EIS in your car.