Sentry Key System...

[Decaguy]

1062962

New guy here - been searching and not able to find what I am looking for. Bought a pristine 99 Sahara with 71000 km (44000 mi) and the problem is this: I only received one key for the jeep and here in Canada, to get that other key made is 55 dollars :-O for the blank key (unprogrammed) and for a nominal fee (another $25-30) they will reprogram the key for me. In the owners manual it says how to reprogram keys but I need two seperate keys already programmed to do it. Does the parts dept have me over a barrel or is there a way to reprogram a key with just one original key... If anyone knows anything about this, I would certainly be appreciative! By the way, I love the jeep. :-D
Thanks in advance,
Decaguy

edited by: Decaguy, Apr 01, 2003 - 09:26 PM[addsig]

 

[Tug-n-pull]

1062989

Welcome to the board new jeep dude in canada eh? Sounds like the stealer I mean dealer has you over a barrel. Just another reason I am glad to have an older Jeep. Hope you can get a dal some where. By the way what is a program key! lol Tug[addsig]

 

[LGR]

1062993

transponder keys are no fun, they are really hard to figure out the code or to program them you are better off buyin one from the dealer. but for the record. transponder was optional in wranglers so the person might not even have it in there, the key will look the same. best bet is..pay like 2 bucks and have a copy made on a normal key..if it works.. cool beans. if not ya know its transponder..i'm sure i can get you the key blank, unprogrammed for alot less. i'ma take a look at my ilco key series book. i'll let ya know[addsig]

 

[Decaguy]

1063048

LGR - Thanks for the offer but that is what I tried first - $5 sounded better than $55! It works in the door and will start the ignition for 2-3 seconds and then it shuts down and will not run! So I had the blank transponder key made and was hoping to be able to program it myself. Me thinks it won't work though so... What is another 30 bucks right? Wait - that money was for beer! The tradgedy of it all!!! If any one has any other great ideas, send'em my way!
Decaguy[addsig]

 

[judge09]

1063058

They want to charge you for reprogramming the key that is entirely BS. Try a different dealer. I had to get another key programmed for my 99 Grand Cherokee and they gave me the key and programmed it for free. Go to a "5 star" dealership. They are hell bent on service and wont screw you for peanuts because they want you to come back to them to get your next JEEP. Just B$tch enough and they will do it.

edited by: judge09, Apr 02, 2003 - 11:36 AM[addsig]

 

[jps4jeep]

1063085

With jeeps, as well as any chrysler, if the plastic around the key is black then you do not have a coded key, if it is grey then you do have a coded key. Those codes really aren't all that difficult to understand, all it is, when the ignition is turned on, instead of the fuel pump just turning on, the BCM sends an electrical signal to the key cylinder, the key itself has a small resistor inside the plastic, it applies the correct amount of reisitance to the signal, and returns that signal to the BCM, allowing the fuel pump to be activated. If it is the incorrect amount of resistance, the fuel pump is not turned on. I don't know if anyone remember the old chevy keys with the exposed "chip" in the metal part of the key, well this is similar, in those old chevy's, if you used a multimeter, you could get the ohm's of resistance from the key, and there were two wires under the dash one white, one yellow. Cut and spice in a resistor with the same ohm value and you could start the car regardless of the key "chip" or not. This is what we use to have to do to remote start a vehicle before they came out with all these bypass moduals.[addsig]

 

[LGR]

1063126

yeah the old keys was "VATS" for the record. they was just a resistor built in the key bow. About the new ones I'm pretty sure they have a thing that will pick up your code and then you can program it in the key. Yeah, i'd try a differnt dealership..say..where ya located? I'm sure we have one of them things in our shop.[addsig]

 

[Decaguy]

1063134

Well here is the story... I managed to find a dealer that would do it for free but they were 70km (about 50 miles) away. I thought to myself "what a great opporunity to go for a drive in my new jeep!" I loaded up the dog, drove to the dealership and 5 minutes after getting there, left with a newly programmed key and a new place to buy all of my parts. :-D Small town dealers get my vote! Thanks for all of your help on the board and if I can help someone else I will try to do the same as you guys did for me. Thanks again!
Decaguy [addsig]