Just wondering if any of the resident electronics gurus have posted anything here related to this topic.

I have ONE remote for my 2006 Dodge Caravan but would like another to have on hand. I'm getting quotes from $100 up to $367 for this.

The $100 quotes are not necessarily reliable and could go up significantly at point of sale.

If only I could copy the programming from the chip in the existing remote over to the chip in a replacement.....isn't that all the dealer is doing? I guess that's extremely over simplified.

 

Have you checked your owners manual to see if the procedure will work with one remote?

IIRC, the manual for my 2013 Explorer that I can't program unless I have 2 fobs. Otherwise, I have to go to the dealer and they charge around $150 for the service; plus the price of the fob.

I bought a second key with integrated fob for my 2000 BMW and the dealer programmed it for free, and were able to do it in the car. Just had to have all fobs available for the programming session.

For my 2003 Explorer, I was able to program with a single fob, but had to reprogram all at the same time.

 

My car requires two.....I only have one unfortunately.

There's an outfit in Colorado that sells a comprehensive Key Fob programming solution for about $1600 and I'm almost inclined to buy it rather than go through a dealer. About 10 keys made and it'll pay for itself. I have two vehicles that need duplicates so I could already use 4 keys and that would bring it down to only 6 more keys made to break even.

Not to mention with it in hand, I could make keys for friends & neighbors at a reduced cost and recoup the investment that way.

Mulling it over.

 

There are many key fob third party units out there. Google automotive locksmithing software and you will see a lot of cloning tools on the market. Find one that best suits the caravan. Sometimes all you need is the key fob and you can do it without softwate. Depends on the vehicle.

 

Check the internet. I just did three, 2007 F-150 fobs today. Super easy for that series (effectively all Fords of that era). If the procedure is similar (i.e., on/off x8) be sure to reprogram the fob in the ignition that is used to enter program mode too.

Individual result may vary.

John

 

My car requires two.....I only have one unfortunately.

There's an outfit in Colorado that sells a comprehensive Key Fob programming solution for about $1600 and I'm almost inclined to buy it rather than go through a dealer. About 10 keys made and it'll pay for itself. I have two vehicles that need duplicates so I could already use 4 keys and that would bring it down to only 6 more keys made to break even.

Not to mention with it in hand, I could make keys for friends & neighbors at a reduced cost and recoup the investment that way.

Mulling it over.

Are you certain that you can't program the key fob from the car? https://northcoastkeyless.com/2006-...ss-entry-remote-fob-programming-instructions/

In which case, you do, of course need another key fob, but can program it yourself. I have had to do this several times when replacing batteries and when some car service was done and they didn't reprogram it at the dealer.

Edit: Ahh I see this on the page :You will need at least two (2) working remote head or transponder keys in order to perform this procedure yourself without the help of a Professional. Is that what you mean?

 

Edit: Ahh I see this on the page :You will need at least two (2) working remote head or transponder keys in order to perform this procedure yourself without the help of a Professional. Is that what you mean?

Precisely

I only have one.

 

Here's a procedure for using just one key with a later model Caravan: https://www.justanswer.com/dodge/4v9to-dodge-grand-caravan-sxt-bought-2010-grand-caravan.html It may be worth a try.

The alarm disable step is searchable.

 

There is almost always a workaround. This device is advertised as being able to program the 2006 Caravan key: http://www.buyobd2.com/wholesale/new-sbb-key-programmer-v33.html

 

It is not that simple. Most programs have a defence against copying and the problem here is the coding of the signal. A signal is sent, but it is coded.

There are workarounds true, but it might not be building it or copying it yourself.

As for the dealer, he is just a dealer, he has no knowledge of electronics. But he can give you a discount for "our people", a discount for long term customer, a discount for new customer and etc. As long as he wants to. If you can buy 1 from a second hand shop, site or China it is also possible. These technologies are stolen and sold by the chinese some time ago.

 

Here's a procedure for using just one key with a later model Caravan: https://www.justanswer.com/dodge/4v9to-dodge-grand-caravan-sxt-bought-2010-grand-caravan.html It may be worth a try.

The alarm disable step is searchable.

I was thinking along the same lines in my first response (i.e., there has to be a way) and started to look elsewhere since it is pretty darn difficult to believe that it can't be done. So, I read through the link in your post. If you read the interaction with another reader, however, he could not get the instructions to work and was finally asked about the key fob he bought and it was looked up: The conversations ends with:

Dodge Mechanic: Eric

Hi,

Ok, I finally found the information on this fob. It requires you to have 2 working fobs to program it at home. Otherwise you need to either have a gm dealership program it or a locksmith. most locksmiths have the factory programming software now. it would cost about about $35 or so from a locksmith and about $80 from a dealership

@luminosity This suggests two points that might be of interest to you. 1) Some fobs might be DIY programmable without having two programmed fobs to begin with and 2) Locksmiths may come in handy for this.

On that last point, I have been going to a particular Hardware store for any lock issue I have had over a period of many years. The older fellow I always talk to knows more about locks than anyone I have ever met. I distinctly remember there being a sign up where he said "I don't program automotive keys". I asked him about that as I had recently programmed my car key, as I mentioned. He told me that some could not be done that way (like your case) and that he used to do it for people all the time but he got tired of so many people coming in for just that reason!

 

The Dodge Caravan is not made by GM. Of course, that doesn't mean a GM dealership can't program it, but why did that blogger specify GM for a Dodge? Also, my point was that the instructions were for a later model Dodge and might not work with an earlier model; however, it costs nothing to try.

Probably all of us agree there is a lot of garbage on the Internet, on YouTube, and particularly in blog responses. As an example, I am currently in the process of changing spark plugs in a 2007, Ford F-150 pick-up. That is the one with the 5.4 L V8 "Modular" engine and was the subject of a big class-action lawsuit. Some of the YouTube examples are clearly outlandish -- like using an impact wrench. So far, I have just followed Ford's TSB and have been OK. My only problem is to find a very tiny person (<100#) who can reach that #4 sparkplug. The others plugs, by comparison, are like working with the engine on a stand [/exaggeration].

 

Probably all of us agree there is a lot of garbage on the Internet, on YouTube, and particularly in blog responses.

I don't believe that for a minute! My stereo sounds sooooo much better now that the Monster oxygen free cables are on it, And it will sound even better when I change all of the caps to "free range organic" versions.

 

I have the same van I can buy the FOB for 20 have it programmed at locksmith up the street for 60
or buy one of theirs for 120 for the hole deal .
The dealer wanted 365. They use a programmer the guy said came from ebay for a little over 600.

The dealers are robbing people. I checked 3 of them.

You can do it yourself if you have 2 FOB's I don't so I went the locksmith a friend told me about them.
Now For locksmiths I called 5 and there price was about the same they where in the car unlocking business 275 was the best.

Funny tho the locksmith that my friend told me about mainly cut keys key locks for houses and will do FOB's if you can bring the car there
well I couldn't start the van so we was talking and they called a guy that comes to you they new and would do it for you
I gave him my FOB's and he programmed it I ask him what do I owe he said if I paid him cash it be $50 I gave $60.

Oh and the dealer wanted me to tow my van to them that would of been $365 plus $175 I about got me programmer and try Myself I'm glade I ask my friend about this he saved me big time.

 

Key-less entry systems use a rolling code (or sometimes called a hopping code) is used in keyless entry systems to prevent replay attacks, where an eavesdropper records the transmission and replays it at a later time to cause the receiver to 'unlock'. Such systems are typical in garage door openers and key-less car entry systems.

My wife drives a nice clean little 1999 Chevy Tahoe and when we bought it it only had a single key fob. I just went to Auto Zone and gave them $40 and bought a Tech-Smart key fob. I placed the truck in the "learn" mode and the truck learned the key fob. The only problem I had was during 1999 GM used two different versions and on her Tahoe there were two different methods to get the truck in the learn mode. Her truck was the early version.

The idea is the vehicle learns the key fob and not the other way around. While a key fob can be reprogrammed I figured at $40 why bother? The truck learned the new key fob which duplicated the OEM part and all of this took about 10 min including reading up on how to do it. Anyway, the vehicle learns the fob and not the other way around. You just need an OEM compatible key-fob. I figured for $40 it beat going to a GM dealership or screwing with a locksmith. I know Tech-Smart makes key fobs for GM and Ford but there are others out there from our little friends in China.You can also find buckets of them in automotive junk yards.

Ron

 

2000 era Chevy. FOB's programmed by radio. I think a max of 4. When you start the programmimg process, all previous FOBs are erased.

2000 ERA Toyota, Don;t know about the FOBs. The transponder key can be programmed in vehicle. Dealer cut the key on their blank for $18.00. It takes about 20 minutes to program in the vehicle. You must have a Master key (The one that opens the trunk and glove compartment) to program a Master or a slave key.

Programming involves the Master key, the slave key and the "brake pedal" as the "keyboard" and the "security light" as the "terminal", Depress brake x times etc.

 

Key-less entry systems use a rolling code (or sometimes called a hopping code) is used in keyless entry systems to prevent replay attacks, where an eavesdropper records the transmission and replays it at a later time to cause the receiver to 'unlock'. Such systems are typical in garage door openers and key-less car entry systems.

My wife drives a nice clean little 1999 Chevy Tahoe and when we bought it it only had a single key fob. I just went to Auto Zone and gave them $40 and bought a Tech-Smart key fob. I placed the truck in the "learn" mode and the truck learned the key fob. The only problem I had was during 1999 GM used two different versions and on her Tahoe there were two different methods to get the truck in the learn mode. Her truck was the early version.

The idea is the vehicle learns the key fob and not the other way around. While a key fob can be reprogrammed I figured at $40 why bother? The truck learned the new key fob which duplicated the OEM part and all of this took about 10 min including reading up on how to do it. Anyway, the vehicle learns the fob and not the other way around. You just need an OEM compatible key-fob. I figured for $40 it beat going to a GM dealership or screwing with a locksmith. I know Tech-Smart makes key fobs for GM and Ford but there are others out there from our little friends in China.You can also find buckets of them in automotive junk yards.

Ron

Mine is a 2006. MUCH different. Your process will not work on vehicles after 2001.

 

There is, apparently, a method to jumper the RKE module to enable programming - see https://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=262585 and http://www.prowleronline.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/004320.html so that you can program the fobs without having two programmed fobs to begin with.

I did not find (or look too hard) for credible instructions for your model and I don't endorse this approach - I just bring it up because it bugs me to not know what this so-called scan tool that only dealers and locksmiths have is doing.

 

There are tons of aftermarket key programmers out there that everyone can purchase. You can Google key programmer or locksmithing tools and find lots of them such as ZedFul and SKP900. Some of them are inexpensive and some are very expensive. Want a good sideline. Do this for a living. Good money in automotive locksmithing.