Hey Guys,


I brought a SX a few months ago; it only came with one key.

I went into Mitsi (paceway) today and they want $460 for another key. It appears the blank is around $260 but they want to charge $200 for cutting and "programming"

The $200 for cutting and setup seems a bit of a rip off considering there could not be more than 1 hours labour involved.


I am sure i read somewhere here about syncing new keys to the 380 using the MFD or ON/OFF combinations of the key? but i can not find the thread because the search on this site does not like three letter criteria's (key/fob etc).

surely i could get a blank, then get it cut at a local lock smith, then sync it to the car myself and save over $150?



Thanks,
Craig.

Try some automotive locksmiths. I had one cut here (SA by a mobile locksmith that came to my house) for either $240 or $260 - fully supplied. Cheapest price from a dealer was $350.
It was actually a dealer that gave me the number of the mobile locksmith. Maybe try calling a few more dealers as the price does vary between them also, and maybe one of them doesn't do cutting themselves but can point you at a mobile locksmith.
There's 3 different elements that have to be duplicated or programmed - the shape of the key itself, the transponder chip in the key, and the keyless entry remote. The transponder is the one that's most difficult to duplicate from the research I did.

Syncing a remote is fairly straight-forward but it does involve shorting a couple of pins out on a connector under the steering column. Was just easier for me to get the new key done.

Thanks Minotaur,


I wouldnt have a problem paying an extra $100 ontop of the key price, but double that is plain daylight robbery.

I think i will do some ringing around tomorrow.


I did some very broad searching, found these threads which seem useful.

Remote Control (http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71959)
Key Battery (http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75277)
380 Key (http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69398)
380 Key Disassembly (http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72319)

I sell the keys for rrp$265 , but Car club $230.00, if you buy 2 at a time I can do them for $210.00

but the cut can be done by your local key cut place for $22 or so , but if you have lost your keys it can be around $65 for cutting

then there is a coding fee as its mechanics time which is usually $60

$460 is a crazy price

When search fails, you can try google and put in your search term like this:

380 key site:www.aussiemagna.com/forums
Then it will search just the AMC forums for your query.

Pretty sure that the key shaft and casing is avail on US Ebay and is not much over $30 bucks, I can then supply the guts of the remote section for $50 and so you will be up to $80. Get the key blank cut and then programme and you are still at half the price

You could check the old theread at

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69398&p=1402809&highlight=#post1402809

for some more info and costs

You could check the old theread at

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69398&p=1402809&highlight=#post1402809

for some more info and costs

Cheers Terry,

Got that in my second post of this thread.


If i wasnt so impatient i would have taken madmagna's offer of buying a Galant key via ebay and getting the guts from a 380 then get it reprogrammed.

I ended up ringing around a few more dealers.

Got the key for $260, cutting was $30 with a test key included and programming was $55. Still expensive but far, far better than Paceway.

Thats the second time i've had a ridiculous quote (first was just a service) from them, maybe i shouldnt try for number three.

Pretty sure that the key shaft and casing is avail on US Ebay and is not much over $30 bucks, I can then supply the guts of the remote section for $50 and so you will be up to $80. Get the key blank cut and then programme and you are still at half the price

From the research I did, the Galant key doesn't have the transponder chip embedded so it wouldn't be able to start a 380 even if it was cut properly.

From the research I did, the Galant key doesn't have the transponder chip embedded so it wouldn't be able to start a 380 even if it was cut properly.
I can attest to that. I bought one and it had no transponder but looked effectively exactly the same as the Oz key. Bugger!! MAJOR BUGGER!!

Hey matey do you still have that fob? I'll take it off your hands at the right price, one of my keys has broken the plastic out where the ring goes through.

I can attest to that. I bought one and it had no transponder but looked effectively exactly the same as the Oz key. Bugger!! MAJOR BUGGER!!

Does the 380 remote section fit into the US key though, if so then it is just a matter of getting a new or used remote and putting that into the key casing

For the first time ever today one of the wrecks arrived with 3 keys, think I will do a lock and ecu change on my 380 so I dont have to frig around lol

Does the 380 remote section fit into the US key though, if so then it is just a matter of getting a new or used remote and putting that into the key casing

For the first time ever today one of the wrecks arrived with 3 keys, think I will do a lock and ecu change on my 380 so I dont have to frig around lol

Good point! Matey can you check this too please if you still have it?

Will have a look . not sure where I put it . I have scavenged the guts of it for parts.
Hey matey do you still have that fob? I'll take it off your hands at the right price, one of my keys has broken the plastic out where the ring goes through.

That will not work, Mal as the transponder is actually integrated into the plastic part of the key that is attached to the shaft and NOT part of the remote set up. You can still have a key that will open the car but it wont start it. The guts of the US keys are the same as the 380, at least on the one that I bought they were. I am afraid what you are suggesting will be useless if you need to start the car. Bit of a bugger that. I thought I had found "great treasure" when I got my US key but alas I was mistaken... and the hunt goes on. Still only have one key with a transponder

Pretty sure that the key shaft and casing is avail on US Ebay and is not much over $30 bucks, I can then supply the guts of the remote section for $50 and so you will be up to $80. Get the key blank cut and then programme and you are still at half the price

Fooz I found that key and it is the whole assembly. I also thought that the same thing may happen to me so it may be prudent for me to hang on it just in case as I only have the one key. Sorry mate

That will not work, Mal as the transponder is actually integrated into the plastic part of the key that is attached to the shaft and NOT part of the remote set up. You can still have a key that will open the car but it wont start it. The guts of the US keys are the same as the 380, at least on the one that I bought they were. I am afraid what you are suggesting will be useless if you need to start the car. Bit of a bugger that. I thought I had found "great treasure" when I got my US key but alas I was mistaken... and the hunt goes on. Still only have one key with a transponder

That is very strange, I just went out to one of the many 380's I have here, took the remote section out, car would not start, held the remote near the transponder ring, car starts. Put remote from another car into that key, car no start, put the remote from the proper car back into the key, car starts so with this I can tell you that the transponder is NOT in the key, it is in the remote itself......

um i was gonna say this the other day but i believe. (not really confirmed) that the transponder from factory is locked to the specific car the key comes with and cannot be recoded to a new car. however if you take a key from a 'mitsu spares parts' then you can recode it to as many cars you like. someone else can confirm. but im pretty sure thats how it worked.

If they are anything like hte third gen TH onwards, regardless if you use a replacement key or a new key, once coded to a car can not be coded to another, have tried before

But back to this, if the key is locked to the car, then with or without the remote installed it would start the car, it does not so this can only mean that the transponder chip is in the remote unit and not in the key unit

That is very strange, I just went out to one of the many 380's I have here, took the remote section out, car would not start, held the remote near the transponder ring, car starts. Put remote from another car into that key, car no start, put the remote from the proper car back into the key, car starts so with this I can tell you that the transponder is NOT in the key, it is in the remote itself......After reading your reply (and in an attempt to prove that black is white and get myself killed at the next zebra crossing*** Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) I tried what you did, utterly convinced that the car would start and lo and behold it didn't, QED lol.:bowdown::bowdown: So I acknowledge your superior knowledge here and defer. Now you did say you had the remote guts with the transponder didn't you? Have you had them programmed before?

Lol. Although have tested in the past i went out and tested this on all 7this 380's i have to make sure was consistent and was same all cars lol

I have about 6 spare keys at the moment from various wrecks where i have not made up ecu packs. Last one i programmed i simply used a scan tool. There is a thread somewhere about how to manually programme the remote, given how the transponder is in the remote i would assume that this will also programme that too but then again assumption is the mother of all ****ups lol

OK I have just been on the phone to several Mitsi dealers, most of which couldn't answer empirically the question about reprogramming the remote....but one did "You cannot reprogramme the code on the key once it has been programmed in". So Mr Mitsi has screwed us yet again! the hunt goes on

Why would you need to reprogram the imbedded code in the key? It's just a matter of programming it into the car.

Not sure if there is a procedure like Mal has mentioned above but I can certainly do it with my MUT III

but you can only have one code per car, correct? I have 2 different keys

Can't say but I would imagine all the keys have an imbedded code & they are learned into the car. It probably can only learn so many keys so if you were at capacity you would probably need to delete one & add another.

I haven't played with that part of the MUT III yet as I haven't needed to but have seen it in the menus.

I remember reading that they need all the keys when programming a new one, because they all get erased from the ECU memory.

I also don't understand how the key can be locked to an individual car. Surely the car learns the key's identity, not the other way around?

When I was looking I spoke to a key cutter that did the transponder keys - he advised that the actual transponder code was duplicated to the new key. So I think that there's only one transponder code per car, but multiple remote codes can be "learned."

Ok, have done some playing around with these

The keys I have here, I am able to get into the programme mode, can clear keys so car will not start, can then programme original key back in but can not programme another key into the car. Have confirmed that the transponder is in the remote section and the transponder has nothing to do with the key. How?

SImply grabbed another barrel from another car with its key, tried to start car, nothing, grabbed the correct remote for that car and put it int he new key, car starts fine. Tried to reprogramme new key with its proper remote, will not programme in

So inconclusion these must be like the TH - W where once a key has been programmed into one BEM system, it can never be programmed into another BEM thus I am assuming that when you programme a new key, not only does the immob system learn the transponder code, the key itself must also be locked somehow in so far as the chip goes, is like the transponder is programmed with the BEM code and the BEM is given the key code

Ok, have done some playing around with these

The keys I have here, I am able to get into the programme mode, can clear keys so car will not start, can then programme original key back in but can not programme another key into the car. Have confirmed that the transponder is in the remote section and the transponder has nothing to do with the key. How?

SImply grabbed another barrel from another car with its key, tried to start car, nothing, grabbed the correct remote for that car and put it int he new key, car starts fine. Tried to reprogramme new key with its proper remote, will not programme in

So inconclusion these must be like the TH - W where once a key has been programmed into one BEM system, it can never be programmed into another BEM thus I am assuming that when you programme a new key, not only does the immob system learn the transponder code, the key itself must also be locked somehow in so far as the chip goes, is like the transponder is programmed with the BEM code and the BEM is given the key code

Mal this is as i was saying before. you'll find that the keys from mitsi spare part behave differently than the ones that came with the car i think. the parts one you SHOULD be able to reprogram to a new car. whereas the ones that came from the factory are locked to the car they came with.

Have a pair here which were from spare parts, tried them today in a different car, still no go. Have also tried this in the past with H onwards magna's, once programmed into one car, they can not be set into another car for some reason. This is one of the areas I am a little grey on with these but then again seems very few at Mits really know how the system works either lol

Just to bring up an old thread - Does anyone have any recommendations for a replacement complete key from anywhere in Adelaide?

Got quoted nearly $400 from the local dealer, so that makes the 4 hour trip to Adelaide worth it

I went via a mobile locksmith that Portside Mitsubishi referred me to. I think it cost about $250 for an extra key, transponder and coding to the car.
You might be able to arrange to meet the guy somewhere local unless he's prepared to drive out to you?

I got quoted $170 from Mr Minit, way north of brisvegas and that was cut and coded. There couldn't be much difference in price between states, surely?

I went via a mobile locksmith that Portside Mitsubishi referred me to. I think it cost about $250 for an extra key, transponder and coding to the car.
You might be able to arrange to meet the guy somewhere local unless he's prepared to drive out to you?


I got quoted $170 from Mr Minit, way north of brisvegas and that was cut and coded. There couldn't be much difference in price between states, surely?

Do they keys unlock and start the car?
I've heard that some keys that are programmed quite cheap only either lock the car or start the car, not both.
If that was the price for a complete key that had 100% of the functionality of an OEM coded one then i'll probably get a spare made up too

gotta admit i haven't got one yet - i spend so much time at work i haven't had time. I can't see the point in selling a key that would only open the car and not start it though. I reckon if that's true the coding wasn't done properly.

It's easy for a key to unlock the car as the key blade is the only thing needed to do this, same with actually turning the ignition over. A correctly cut key without the transponder will crank the engine but it will never start. You need the cut key AND transponder to start the engine.

Local Mr Minit explained the process to me:
a) Copy the key blade.
b) Take the key out to the car, along with his magic coder box.
c) Check the key for physical functionality.
d) Put a code in the key, try to start the car. If no go, put in another transponder code until the car starts.
Trial-and-error for the transponder code he said, apparently there is a limited range to choose from.

Some may be able to clone the transponder code off your own key to the new key, depends on the equipment they have.

The mobile locksmith I used paired both keys back in to the car. I got my 380 second-hand and it only came with 1 key, so I was a bit worried about the old (missing) key still being able to start the car. He wiped the stored keys and added in my original and the new one. Obviously I can't prevent the old key opening the door as the blade is correct but at least the remote doesn't work and it won't start the car now.

The mobile locksmith I used paired both keys back in to the car. I got my 380 second-hand and it only came with 1 key, so I was a bit worried about the old (missing) key still being able to start the car. He wiped the stored keys and added in my original and the new one. Obviously I can't prevent the old key opening the door as the blade is correct but at least the remote doesn't work and it won't start the car now.

Don't happen to remember who they were do you?

Local Mr Minit explained the process to me:
a) Copy the key blade.
b) Take the key out to the car, along with his magic coder box.
c) Check the key for physical functionality.
d) Put a code in the key, try to start the car. If no go, put in another transponder code until the car starts.
Trial-and-error for the transponder code he said, apparently there is a limited range to choose from.

Some may be able to clone the transponder code off your own key to the new key, depends on the equipment they have.

Yep, that's what the local guy up here said to me. I asked him how they were coded and he said "the boss goes down to the car with the key after it's been cut and programs it next to the car".

It's easy for a key to unlock the car as the key blade is the only thing needed to do this, same with actually turning the ignition over. A correctly cut key without the transponder will crank the engine but it will never start. You need the cut key AND transponder to start the engine.

Sorry, I meant unlock by the remote unlock function.
Does it do that also?