O/T VW Polo lost car keys - any advise for a cheapish recommendation to replace please?

[Chris Pontprennau Blues]

Thanks in advance

[Vindec]

As you mention keys (plural) presumably you have none at all. That being the case, if the car needs a programmable key, as most do, and you have lost the original you are looking at a huge amount of money as the ECU might also need to be replaced. It's not just the key it is the immobiliser as well. This might be a job only a main dealer can do and, as you know, they charge a packet.

[xsnaggle]

As you mention keys (plural) presumably you have none at all. That being the case, if the car needs a programmable key, as most do, and you have lost the original you are looking at a huge amount of money as the ECU might also need to be replaced. It's not just the key it is the immobiliser as well. This might be a job only a main dealer can do and, as you know, they charge a packet.

Cheery chappie aint ya?

[Vindec]

Just to confirm my "cheery chappie diagnosis this is a video of the difficulties a member of the trade is having dealing with a car with no keys. It's a Peugeot car but your VW is likely to suffer from the same problems. Let us know how you get on. I hope I'm wrong but I stand by original post despite the previous post who thinks your dilemma is funny. It isn't. Isn't Jimmy the Jock in the trade? Perhaps he knows somebody who can help but obviously the person will have to come to where the car is parked. Are you sure you have lost both keys?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVzv...vagerebuildsuk

[Chris Pontprennau Blues]

Whats really odd is that my son has a second VW Polo key, but that only opens the door and not start the ignition for some reason

[Vindec]

Whats really odd is that my son has a second VW Polo key, but that only opens the door and not start the ignition for some reason

It's the immobiliser. Keys have to be paired with the car. You can get any locksmith to provide you with a key to open a door but it won't be paired. You could try ringing around a few mobile locksmiths and see what they say. The World may have moved on since I confronted this problem many years ago.

[Maxim]

Thanks in advance

You can a new key cut and programmed to the ecu.Any decent auto locksmith will sort it.

[xsnaggle]

Just to confirm my "cheery chappie diagnosis this is a video of the difficulties a member of the trade is having dealing with a car with no keys. It's a Peugeot car but your VW is likely to suffer from the same problems. Let us know how you get on. I hope I'm wrong but I stand by original post despite the previous post who thinks your dilemma is funny. It isn't. Isn't Jimmy the Jock in the trade? Perhaps he knows somebody who can help but obviously the person will have to come to where the car is parked. Are you sure you have lost both keys?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVzv...vagerebuildsuk

I wasn't commenting on his dilemma I was commenting on your pessimistic post.

[Chris Pontprennau Blues]

Just to confirm my "cheery chappie diagnosis this is a video of the difficulties a member of the trade is having dealing with a car with no keys. It's a Peugeot car but your VW is likely to suffer from the same problems. Let us know how you get on. I hope I'm wrong but I stand by original post despite the previous post who thinks your dilemma is funny. It isn't. Isn't Jimmy the Jock in the trade? Perhaps he knows somebody who can help but obviously the person will have to come to where the car is parked. Are you sure you have lost both keys?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVzv...vagerebuildsuk

Hi Vindec, as predicted VW wanted £170 and a 10 day wait and you had to tow the car to garage, a local locksmith (Keys for cars) quoted £80 and another locksmith £150 - the good news is the keys have been found

[PhyllisStant]

Half a tennis ball or a screwdriver should do it

[chris lee]

As you mention keys (plural) presumably you have none at all. That being the case, if the car needs a programmable key, as most do, and you have lost the original you are looking at a huge amount of money as the ECU might also need to be replaced. It's not just the key it is the immobiliser as well. This might be a job only a main dealer can do and, as you know, they charge a packet.

wow, it is much easier than that!

I know a guy from one of the car forums, who makes up programable keys for BMW's which are coded to the car for £90 and he does not need the original/spare key, he just plugs in some software on a laptop, think it is called Icarly.

[Vindec]

wow, it is much easier than that!

I know a guy from one of the car forums, who makes up programable keys for BMW's which are coded to the car for £90 and he does not need the original/spare key, he just plugs in some software on a laptop, think it is called Icarly.

I suggest you read 2 posts up.

[chris lee]

I suggest you read 2 posts up.

He quoted prices from £80 (£170 for replacement from main dealer) which is in line with my contact that does it for £90.
the original post you suggested he will need his 'ECU replaced from the main dealer for huge amounts of money'. We both know the costs of replacing an entire ECU unit are is upwards of £1000+

[Vindec]

He quoted prices from £80 (£170 for replacement from main dealer) which is in line with my contact that does it for £90.
the original post you suggested he will need his 'ECU replaced from the main dealer for huge amounts of money'. We both know the costs of replacing an entire ECU unit are is upwards of £1000+

You may recall I linked an earlier post to a You Tube video which related to the difficulties a tradesman was having in dealing with a car with no keys. An auto locksmith was used to no avail so he had to employ a specialist to deal with the ECU/key compatibility. One of the suggestions in the comments on that video was to get a scrap ECU with a key set which would have been a cheaper option than buying a new ECU which, as you say, would cost over £1000 for most cars.

[Dublinblue]

the good news is the keys have been found

Congratulations. Suggest you get another ignition key cut so's you are not caught short the next time...