Anyone ever swap keyfob shells

[Dirtyylicous]

My keyfob is beat up and has seen better days.

I found a shell on ebay, its the plastic shell with a blank blade, I would like to swap the internals and the blade from my key I have now.
Has anyone ever done this? Was it easy or are any special tools involved?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Folding-Flip...3b4a09&vxp=mtr

Thanks

[mec]

Last time I swapped fobs I got an ftd

Fob transmitted disease

[Dirtyylicous]

If I do this I will make sure to use protection

[keithandstef]

I've wanted to do this as well. Looks like there are some really tiny torx screws to remove in the battery compartment. True? Not much on YouTube or other threads about this surprisingly. Not that I could find at least.

[B7OrangeA4]

I did it and took about 20 mins after playing with the spring in the blade,and moving the immobilizer over. there's two different two size torx screws one is a t5 and the other two are t4 I believe.

[Dirtyylicous]

I did it and took about 20 mins after playing with the spring in the blade,and moving the immobilizer over. there's two different two size torx screws one is a t5 and the other two are t4 I believe.

Awesome! So it's pretty much just struggling with the blade and the rest is pretty simple?

[IISAINTS]

Don't do it! Take it from me with both my personal experience and my professional opinion/knowledge(I'm a VW and Audi technician) you can't do it. You need a key that is made to your vin. The key is given a special code from the dealer that works ONLY with YOUR immobilizer system.

It's a long explanation how it works exactly (I can post it if you want) but if that key doesn't have the proper code it will put your car in to safe mode. At this point you can only start it a few more times with a improper key before it locks your car completely. Then you have to go to the dealer. So if you try this, only do it with one key to be careful.

I tried this on my personal key, cause I got a brand new key that was never programmed to a car at my dealership, with the same part number ect as my key. So I took it apart, took the new shell ect and rebuilt my key. Then I found out it ruined my programming for that key and I couldn't use it. Went to work, pulled out a scan tool and tried to program it. Kept getting a error everytime. So now I'm down to one key till I decide to not be lazy and program the key(went back to my old parts) again.lol

So take it from me, don't do it. Change the battery plate, spring, metal trim, panic button the blade button and you will feel like you have a new key.

That's my two cents

If you happen to have success let me know! I would be more than happy to really get a new key without buying a new key. Even being a employee doesn't make that key any easier I afford. Haha

[keithandstef]

Don't do it! Take it from me with both my personal experience and my professional opinion/knowledge(I'm a VW and Audi technician) you can't do it. You need a key that is made to your vin. The key is given a special code from the dealer that works ONLY with YOUR immobilizer system.

It's a long explanation how it works exactly (I can post it if you want) but if that key doesn't have the proper code it will put your car in to safe mode. At this point you can only start it a few more times with a improper key before it locks your car completely. Then you have to go to the dealer. So if you try this, only do it with one key to be careful.

I tried this on my personal key, cause I got a brand new key that was never programmed to a car at my dealership, with the same part number ect as my key. So I took it apart, took the new shell ect and rebuilt my key. Then I found out it ruined my programming for that key and I couldn't use it. Went to work, pulled out a scan tool and tried to program it. Kept getting a error everytime. So now I'm down to one key till I decide to not be lazy and program the key(went back to my old parts) again.lol

So take it from me, don't do it. Change the battery plate, spring, metal trim, panic button the blade button and you will feel like you have a new key.

That's my two cents

If you happen to have success let me know! I would be more than happy to really get a new key without buying a new key. Even being a employee doesn't make that key any easier I afford. Haha

I haven't opened my blank one up just yet, but I don't get it. Why can't I transfer the metal key AND the computer chip and everything to the new housing. My issue is that all my old keys plastic looks like crap. So can't I take all the "brains" out of my old one as well as the metal key itself and put it in the blank plastic housing??

[kegobeer]

Don't do it! Take it from me with both my personal experience and my professional opinion/knowledge(I'm a VW and Audi technician) you can't do it. You need a key that is made to your vin. The key is given a special code from the dealer that works ONLY with YOUR immobilizer system.

It's a long explanation how it works exactly (I can post it if you want) but if that key doesn't have the proper code it will put your car in to safe mode. At this point you can only start it a few more times with a improper key before it locks your car completely. Then you have to go to the dealer. So if you try this, only do it with one key to be careful.

I tried this on my personal key, cause I got a brand new key that was never programmed to a car at my dealership, with the same part number ect as my key. So I took it apart, took the new shell ect and rebuilt my key. Then I found out it ruined my programming for that key and I couldn't use it. Went to work, pulled out a scan tool and tried to program it. Kept getting a error everytime. So now I'm down to one key till I decide to not be lazy and program the key(went back to my old parts) again.lol

So take it from me, don't do it. Change the battery plate, spring, metal trim, panic button the blade button and you will feel like you have a new key.

That's my two cents

If you happen to have success let me know! I would be more than happy to really get a new key without buying a new key. Even being a employee doesn't make that key any easier I afford. Haha

He's not getting a new key, he's transferring the entire key from the plastic case to a new plastic case: open old key case, remove all parts, open new key case, remove blank key, install all key parts, close new key case. There is no reason that won't work.

[IISAINTS]

He's not getting a new key, he's transferring the entire key from the plastic case to a new plastic case: open old key case, remove all parts, open new key case, remove blank key, install all key parts, close new key case. There is no reason that won't work.

There is actually every reason why it won't work. I understand what he is trying to do. But it won't work. It's not the actual board inside that has the code. There is actually a clear crystal/piece of plastic (it's the clear part that lights up red when you push the buttons)that is made for that specific key, for that specific car, for that specific vin.

I obviously can't stop anyone from trying. But I'm just saying it won't work.

Here is how it exactly works...

The key(made to your vin) is embedded with a specific code and a specific algorithm. When you put your key in and turn it the remote sends a signal with that code and algorithm to your ECM, your ECM has it's own algorithm and code. They do the math, if the outcome is the same for both the key and ECM, the info is then sent via can bus to your immobilizer and gauge cluster. They both repeat the process and once that outcome matches your car is then allowed to start. If your key doesn't have the crystal that helps this while process transpire than it will fail. It's one of the many ways it makes it hard for our cars to be stolen.

It's also why when you get a new gauge cluster you need new keys.
Also depending on the immobilizer system you have, 1, 2, or 3 will bring more difficultly.
And it's another reason why you can't access the immobilizer systems to do any adaptations with vag com.
So ultimately you will end up going to the dealer to get it programmed anyways.
But if you replace the parts that I said to replace you avoid lots of headache and money spending.
Just keep the buttons and back.

I have even had a customer do it to his key and it wouldn't program either.

I just hope to help you avoid the annoyance I went through, but save you money as well

[Dirtyylicous]

That sucks to hear...

Audisk03 said he did it to his key and it worked no problem, I just don't wanna make the attempt and I'm sol. As beat up as my keyfob is there's no way I'm paying dealer prices for a new one

[keithandstef]

Thanks IISaints. So it's not as simple as taking the computer chip and swapping it to a new plastic housing. I won't tempt fate, much as I want to.

[B7OrangeA4]

That sucks to hear...

Audisk03 said he did it to his key and it worked no problem, I just don't wanna make the attempt and I'm sol. As beat up as my keyfob is there's no way I'm paying dealer prices for a new one

I did it in October and have yet to have any problems. I bought a used fob on eBay for like $20z I swapped everything over the blade, the board, and immobilizer

[Dirtyylicous]

I did it in October and have yet to have any problems. I bought a used fob on eBay for like $20z I swapped everything over the blade, the board, and immobilizer

Fuck it, I'm gonna give it a shot

If I have any questions do you mind If I shoot you a pm?

[B7OrangeA4]

Fuck it, I'm gonna give it a shot

If I have any questions do you mind If I shoot you a pm?

Yea just be careful after you take the screws out because the spring will shoot out. Work on the donor key first so you get a better idea of what you re working with. It took me a little while to get the spring to the right tension to flip the blade out, you ll need an eyeglass flathead screwdriver to pop open the housing for the immobilizer and you ll need to wiggle the immobilizer a bit to get out. There's a b6 to b7 key fob DIY on here I got most of my info from.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...Fob-for-B6-DIY

[Dirtyylicous]

Thanks alot!

[Rody_C]

There is actually every reason why it won't work. I understand what he is trying to do. But it won't work. It's not the actual board inside that has the code. There is actually a clear crystal/piece of plastic (it's the clear part that lights up red when you push the buttons)that is made for that specific key, for that specific car, for that specific vin.

I obviously can't stop anyone from trying. But I'm just saying it won't work.

Here is how it exactly works...

The key(made to your vin) is embedded with a specific code and a specific algorithm. When you put your key in and turn it the remote sends a signal with that code and algorithm to your ECM, your ECM has it's own algorithm and code. They do the math, if the outcome is the same for both the key and ECM, the info is then sent via can bus to your immobilizer and gauge cluster. They both repeat the process and once that outcome matches your car is then allowed to start. If your key doesn't have the crystal that helps this while process transpire than it will fail. It's one of the many ways it makes it hard for our cars to be stolen.

It's also why when you get a new gauge cluster you need new keys.
Also depending on the immobilizer system you have, 1, 2, or 3 will bring more difficultly.
And it's another reason why you can't access the immobilizer systems to do any adaptations with vag com.
So ultimately you will end up going to the dealer to get it programmed anyways.
But if you replace the parts that I said to replace you avoid lots of headache and money spending.
Just keep the buttons and back.

I have even had a customer do it to his key and it wouldn't program either.

I just hope to help you avoid the annoyance I went through, but save you money as well

Hi, is this true?, i bought a new key shell in ebay, and i want move all internal, thanks

[Okedokey]

It is perfectly fine to do. It was one of the first things I did. Cheap ebay replacement looked great, transferred all the internals, removed the small audi logo and epoxy it on the new one. Worked fine, still does.

[mtroxel]

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There is actually every reason why it won't work. I understand what he is trying to do. But it won't work. It's not the actual board inside that has the code. There is actually a clear crystal/piece of plastic (it's the clear part that lights up red when you push the buttons)that is made for that specific key, for that specific car, for that specific vin.

The red light is just an LED on the board. If he brings the board, the immobilizer chip and the actual key, all he's left behind is the plastic.

Check this DIY

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...Fob-for-B6-DIY

[Rody_C]

Thaks a lot guys for the fast reply