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Lost a car key

15K views 27 replies 12 participants last post by  javage  
#1 ·
Hello to all.
My wife lost a remote key for car unlocking. We own a Suzuki Ignis 2021. We also have a spare key which is a regular key without remote opening.

What are our options?
1. Removing codes from the car still opens the car manually with the same key?
2. Changing the lock costs 450eur which is too much

Any other solutions?
 
#2 ·
Go see a dealer and price a new remote. Check your insurance as well, some policies cover lost remotes. No need to change locks.
 
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#3 ·
In the Uk a Suzuki replacement remote is almost £350 including blade cutting and programming. Alternatively a locksmith can supply a remote and clone the immobiliser chip which is in the head of the spare key - around £120. Some owners have a key insurance policy (around £20/ yr) and most car policies cover lost keys but you'll have to pay an excess and it will be classed as a claim at renewal - so may not be cost effective making a claim.

Key insurance is worth having at a modest cost - covers keys for all cars you own + house keys.
 
#6 ·
Did ask about replacement keys or locks - different things with different prices - when the new key is programmed to the immobilizer, the first step is to wipe the existing keys, so you need all the keys that you have present so they can be reprogrammed. At the end of the process the immobilizer will only recognize the keys that were programmed after the wipe.

How so? Theoretically if someone finds the keys even if i change the remote, they can open the door manually? Or not?
If someone finds the key AND knows where the car is, yes, they can unlock the door manually, they won't be able to start the car. What's the probability the person finding the key knows where the car is?

Your options are ...

a) Pay what the dealer wants to change the lock(s) - this should come with two keys, you'll probably need to pay separately to have the keys programmed to the immobilizer.
b) Purchase a new remote key & have the dealer program the key(s) to the immobilizer, and accept that there is a risk of someone finding the missing key and knowing where the car is.
c) Have a locksmith clone the remaining key, and accept that there is a risk of someone finding the missing key and knowing where the car is.
d) Drive the car with the one remaining key, accept that there is a risk of someone finding the missing key and knowing where the car is, accept that you may lose the only key.

When considering the options please bear in mind that anyone can come along with a rock, smash the window and open the car, no key required, or a tow truck and take the entire car, again, no key required.

One last thing - did you buy the car new? If not, does the previous owner still have a key that will unlock and/or start the car?
 
#8 ·
Do what I did when I wanted a second remote fob and key for a car. Some mobile locksmiths may be able to help you out. If there are large smash repair places near you, ask them who they use for the difficult cars and contact them to ask if they can do it or not, as it might be a better price considering Dealers are Stealers. In the case of Suzuki, you may not get lucky, as Suzuki employs very complex proprietary security coding for their remotes. Cloning the key only might be the only thing that can be done away from an authorised Suzuki workshop.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Is your Ignis alarmed? Ignis models in the UK come with an alarm though many owners are unaware. If you choose a remedy where keys are reprogrammed and someone uses the lost key to unlock the car door - the alarm will sound and can only be silenced by inserting the correct key in the ignition. Most thieves would make a quick exit when the key fails to start the car.

Personally I wouldn't consider any scenario where the locks are changed. The lockset + labour would be over £1000 - far in excess of the close 2nd solution ie Suzuki replacement remote + reprogram all keys

Have you still got the little numbered tag that came with the keys originally? If so the new key can be cut from the tag number.
 
#10 ·
Is your Ignis alarmed? Ignis models in the UK come with an alarm though many owners are unaware. If you choose a remedy where keys are reprogrammed and someone uses the lost key to unlock the car door - the alarm will sound and can only be silenced by inserting the correct key in the ignition. Most thieves would make a quick exit when the key fails to start the car.
Its not alarmed, dealership here in Serbia didbt offered it here even with most expensive package. There is a red light blinking when the car is turned off but thats some fake alarm :))

Personally I wouldn't consider any scenario where the locks are changed. The lockset + labour would be over £1000 - far in excess of the close 2nd solution ie Suzuki replacement remote + reprogram all keys
Lol me too but my wife is persistent about changing locks completely. Im not that worried that someone will steal the car

Have you still got the little numbered tag that came with the keys originally? If so the new key can be cut from the tag number.
I do have that actually, its attached on my spare key.
 
#13 ·
I recently purchased a vehicle that reported 8 keys registered, but only 2 keys provided.

Having the right equipment, I erased ALL keys/fobs, reprogrammed the 2 keys and fobs in hand, later programmed an additional 2 keys and fobs purchased via Amazon for $28.00 total for the sets.

Time invested 20 min each sequence.
 
#19 ·
I like my Ignis but I'm not at all worried its going to be pinched. Over 90% of car thefts are done without keys or breaking windows and the number of keyless cars is growing. If you look at the list of most stolen cars Suzuki don't even come in the top thirty, theres better easier more desirable cars to pinch. If you leave something on show in your car youre just asking for a break in. Unless you drop the keys by the car or have ID on the keyring - the chance of someone finding keys and going on the prowl to find the car is pretty low. If it did happen then it's not the end of the world because thats why yo have insurance. I'd be quite happy to get a locksmith to clone a new key for me. I know programming the immobiliser is a Suzuki job but can anyone tell me how to go about programming the central locking or is this also a Suzuki job??
 
#20 ·
Just to let you guys know about the end result. Went to suzuki dealership, they removed the key with the remote from system, decoded the reserve key (which doesnt have the remote) and that cost me 40eur. So pretty cheap solution.
Now if someone finds the key i lost, remote wont work, they could get in the car but they cannot start it. So overall im pleased with the solution.
For 170eur i will get the new key with the remote in a few months or so.
 
#26 ·
Just to let you guys know about the end result. Went to suzuki dealership, they removed the key with the remote from system, decoded the reserve key (which doesnt have the remote) and that cost me 40eur. So pretty cheap solution.
Now if someone finds the key i lost, remote wont work, they could get in the car but they cannot start it. So overall im pleased with the solution.
For 170eur i will get the new key with the remote in a few months or so.
e170 is cheap👏
 
#23 ·
I wondered why the 170Euro quoted was so cheap. It transpires that the original remote key has been superseded and the new part (37145-62R11) is a much more acceptable £78 in the UK. With key cutting and programming - this would be around 170Euro. Infact the genuine key is available from non-Suzuki sources for around £62 including cutting to tag code.
 
#27 ·
BUT if that physical key relies on a transponder chip to start the engine, erasing keys will mean the key will not start the car until it is re-programmed to the vehicle. If your spare mechanical key has the transponder chip i.e., it starts the engine now a locksmith can often cut a blade into a new shell and program the remote to match. Some used remotes are locked to another VIN and cannot be re-paired; others can be reprogrammed. A locksmith can test without you paying dealer fees. Replacing cylinders guarantees strangers can’t use old keys, but it’s more invasive and often costly. Consider only if you suspect theft or irreparable locks.
 
#28 ·
BUT if that physical key relies on a transponder chip to start the engine, erasing keys will mean the key will not start the car until it is re-programmed to the vehicle. If your spare mechanical key has the transponder chip, i.e., it starts the engine now a locksmith can often cut a blade into a new shell and program the remote to match. Some used remotes are locked to another VIN and cannot be re-paired; others can be reprogrammed. A sleutelmaker near me can test them without you paying dealer fees. Replacing cylinders guarantees strangers can’t use old keys, but it’s more invasive and often costly. Consider only if you suspect theft or irreparable locks.
If spare key starts the car, you can simply get a replacement remote or transfer the transponder into a new remote shell, which is much cheaper than replacing the lock. If the spare doesn’t start the car, you’ll need a new transponder key programmed or cloned by a locksmith. Either way, replacing the entire lock isn’t necessary. A reputable automotive locksmith can cut keys, clone transponders, and program a new remote at a fraction of the €450 dealer cost.