OBD ? where to start ?
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I also hold high opinions about the quality of KNOWLEDGE of this forum... ( monetary gifts optional / beer OK ) I am an OF who lost the LAST ignition working key... end of story. My "friend" mentioned $4000 "computer" THEY (?) use to solve the missing key problem ... This "computer" connect to the vehicle via OBD hardware, EVERY car is E/W. Would it be too high of a goal to learn everything I always wanted to know HOW to use (PROGRAM !) OBD to "program the responder ignition key " AND is (currently ?) a guarded secret limited to " only need to know " dealership etc. " " there must be a pony here somewhere ..." How about starting with "OBD specification " ? Cheers
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I also hold high opinions about the quality of KNOWLEDGE of this forum... ( monetary gifts optional / beer OK ) I am an OF who lost the LAST ignition working key... end of story. My "friend" mentioned $4000 "computer" THEY (?) use to solve the missing key problem ... This "computer" connect to the vehicle via OBD hardware, EVERY car is E/W. Would it be too high of a goal to learn everything I always wanted to know HOW to use (PROGRAM !) OBD to "program the responder ignition key " AND is (currently ?) a guarded secret limited to " only need to know " dealership etc. " " there must be a pony here somewhere ..." How about starting with "OBD specification " ? Cheers
Well, I know a (very) little about this which could provide an idea towards the next step. This is not the solution you are looking for but it may provide insight as to possibility or not. Here's my experience. I had an old Chevy Equinox which we had lost the extra fob and key for. Dealer wanted $300 for new key. Along comes Amazon, years later (after only having one key for a long time) which sells the extra uncut keys which contain the programmable part of the key. I went to Lowes and they cut the key for FREE. Wow! I then went to the car and put the original key (I know you don't have this) in, turned to accessory or something, then tapped the gas pedal four times then take out original. After that I put the new cut key (as yet unprogrammed) into the ignition and followed some similar ritual (turned to accessory & then pumped gas pedal 4 times) and voila! The new key was programmed. Now, what I learned was that it was programmed from the old key sitting there. The old key apparently had to be "in range" to the new one when you do this. But think about how simple that was (took about 5 minutes) and the Dealer, of course wanted $300. So terrible. Anyways, maybe this tells you something more about whether or not what you're thinking is possible. It may at least give you some ideas. I'm sorry I don't have more to help you with. Good luck!
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I also hold high opinions about the quality of KNOWLEDGE of this forum... ( monetary gifts optional / beer OK ) I am an OF who lost the LAST ignition working key... end of story. My "friend" mentioned $4000 "computer" THEY (?) use to solve the missing key problem ... This "computer" connect to the vehicle via OBD hardware, EVERY car is E/W. Would it be too high of a goal to learn everything I always wanted to know HOW to use (PROGRAM !) OBD to "program the responder ignition key " AND is (currently ?) a guarded secret limited to " only need to know " dealership etc. " " there must be a pony here somewhere ..." How about starting with "OBD specification " ? Cheers
I recently watched a video where a mechanic hooked up a laptop and could diagnose cold-starting issues. (no signal to the coils when air temperature is below 20F degrees) The guy does a great job diagnosing the problem. Anyhow, he replaced the ECU and had to reprogram the keys. I just looked it back up. Dealer Couldn't fix it...for 5 YEARS!! (Nissan No-Start when COLD) - YouTube[^]
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse "Hope is contagious"
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I also hold high opinions about the quality of KNOWLEDGE of this forum... ( monetary gifts optional / beer OK ) I am an OF who lost the LAST ignition working key... end of story. My "friend" mentioned $4000 "computer" THEY (?) use to solve the missing key problem ... This "computer" connect to the vehicle via OBD hardware, EVERY car is E/W. Would it be too high of a goal to learn everything I always wanted to know HOW to use (PROGRAM !) OBD to "program the responder ignition key " AND is (currently ?) a guarded secret limited to " only need to know " dealership etc. " " there must be a pony here somewhere ..." How about starting with "OBD specification " ? Cheers
I doubt you're going to be able to reprogram your key id using the OBD port or car thieves would have a relatively easy way to launder stolen vehicles that have fancy sensor keys like yours. The OBD port is primarily for diagnostics, but can also be used on some ECUs to remap fuel tables and such. Different ECU vendors have proprietary commands in them but the odds of having one that could fix your key situation are slim to none, even if you did have software that could interface with the closely guarded proprietary command system in the ECU. Edit: What I mean to say is your key id is almost certainly e-fused into the ECU's firmware and can't be changed physically without replacing the whole unit.
Check out my IoT graphics library here: https://honeythecodewitch.com/gfx And my IoT UI/User Experience library here: https://honeythecodewitch.com/uix
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I also hold high opinions about the quality of KNOWLEDGE of this forum... ( monetary gifts optional / beer OK ) I am an OF who lost the LAST ignition working key... end of story. My "friend" mentioned $4000 "computer" THEY (?) use to solve the missing key problem ... This "computer" connect to the vehicle via OBD hardware, EVERY car is E/W. Would it be too high of a goal to learn everything I always wanted to know HOW to use (PROGRAM !) OBD to "program the responder ignition key " AND is (currently ?) a guarded secret limited to " only need to know " dealership etc. " " there must be a pony here somewhere ..." How about starting with "OBD specification " ? Cheers
UK/EU based reply. It's also angled towards older cars. There are plenty of services that can make a new key for a car whether you have the original or not (I had to have a new one done a year or so ago). It's usually a bloke with an van, a key cutting machine and an electronic device to do the key programming. It can't be that expensive to get setup since whilst it's not cheap to get a new key made, nor does the guy turn up with gold teeth and a highly customised Mercedes van (it'll be an old beat-up van and he'll look like he buys too many lottery scratch cards in the hope of getting rich some day). Search Google for
car key programming machineand see what turns up. I'm guessing your friends $4000 "computer" is a professional version one of these. There are cheap consumer versions available but I'd have no idea about the reliability. It's a fairly precarious thing to do at the best of times. No-one will guarantee you success since they see random inexplicable failures, even with the same model/year that worked with another customer yesterday. --> Whether you can replicate that with off the shelf hardware and some code is an interesting question. See below for what ChatGPT thinks. Some bits sound easy and then the other bits sound ... challenging. If we're talking newer cars with more modern security measures then that will make it an order of magnitude more difficult. IIRC the versions used by dealerships reprogram the immobiliser code that the car will recognise as well as program the keys, which is why they always want to change all the locks on the car as well as give you a new key (whereas the guy in the van only creates a new key that matches the existing immobiliser codes). I'm guessing the stated reason is for security (so that the old keys won't work anymore) and that the unstated reason is that it's a lot more profitable. OBD specs require the OBD to output certain information and third party devices that conform to the spec. can access that information. However it's only basic info, usually only that required by regulations. The OEM uses the same OBD connection to access a lot more information (much more) and somewhere in there you will find the immobiliser codes, so not only would you need a key programming device you'd also need access to the device the OEM uses to connect to the OBD - unless you have a friend in a dealership then getting access to one of these is like getting access to the system used by the bank to lock its vaults. --> Personally, I wo -
I recently watched a video where a mechanic hooked up a laptop and could diagnose cold-starting issues. (no signal to the coils when air temperature is below 20F degrees) The guy does a great job diagnosing the problem. Anyhow, he replaced the ECU and had to reprogram the keys. I just looked it back up. Dealer Couldn't fix it...for 5 YEARS!! (Nissan No-Start when COLD) - YouTube[^]
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse "Hope is contagious"
Great video - thanks! I'm looking into the same product he is using for my new car. For every car I've ever owned, I purchased the shop manual; not the trash sold by Chilton or Haynes, but the real manual used by the dealer. Lately the manuals have been on CDs rather than printed, but the cost has been about the same, around $250US. This latest car, a Nissan Rogue, is a problem, as they no longer will sell the manual but will only allow me to subscribe to an online version of it. I wouldn't mind that but they now want to charge me almost $1000 a year to access it!:mad: This Alldata solution is about $60 a year, and is a far better product from what I can see.
Will Rogers never met me.
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Great video - thanks! I'm looking into the same product he is using for my new car. For every car I've ever owned, I purchased the shop manual; not the trash sold by Chilton or Haynes, but the real manual used by the dealer. Lately the manuals have been on CDs rather than printed, but the cost has been about the same, around $250US. This latest car, a Nissan Rogue, is a problem, as they no longer will sell the manual but will only allow me to subscribe to an online version of it. I wouldn't mind that but they now want to charge me almost $1000 a year to access it!:mad: This Alldata solution is about $60 a year, and is a far better product from what I can see.
Will Rogers never met me.
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UK/EU based reply. It's also angled towards older cars. There are plenty of services that can make a new key for a car whether you have the original or not (I had to have a new one done a year or so ago). It's usually a bloke with an van, a key cutting machine and an electronic device to do the key programming. It can't be that expensive to get setup since whilst it's not cheap to get a new key made, nor does the guy turn up with gold teeth and a highly customised Mercedes van (it'll be an old beat-up van and he'll look like he buys too many lottery scratch cards in the hope of getting rich some day). Search Google for
car key programming machineand see what turns up. I'm guessing your friends $4000 "computer" is a professional version one of these. There are cheap consumer versions available but I'd have no idea about the reliability. It's a fairly precarious thing to do at the best of times. No-one will guarantee you success since they see random inexplicable failures, even with the same model/year that worked with another customer yesterday. --> Whether you can replicate that with off the shelf hardware and some code is an interesting question. See below for what ChatGPT thinks. Some bits sound easy and then the other bits sound ... challenging. If we're talking newer cars with more modern security measures then that will make it an order of magnitude more difficult. IIRC the versions used by dealerships reprogram the immobiliser code that the car will recognise as well as program the keys, which is why they always want to change all the locks on the car as well as give you a new key (whereas the guy in the van only creates a new key that matches the existing immobiliser codes). I'm guessing the stated reason is for security (so that the old keys won't work anymore) and that the unstated reason is that it's a lot more profitable. OBD specs require the OBD to output certain information and third party devices that conform to the spec. can access that information. However it's only basic info, usually only that required by regulations. The OEM uses the same OBD connection to access a lot more information (much more) and somewhere in there you will find the immobiliser codes, so not only would you need a key programming device you'd also need access to the device the OEM uses to connect to the OBD - unless you have a friend in a dealership then getting access to one of these is like getting access to the system used by the bank to lock its vaults. --> Personally, I woHere is the latest
2. When lost all keys or only have the deputy key, we need to do it initialize:
2.1.Hold down the LED button on the equipment, and insert it into the OBD, and release the button after the sound of "di" twice,the device enter into the state of search vehicles in this time. :
2.2..Push the start-button twice. After 7 seconds the vehicle will connect the devices successfully, and the equipment will send off a sound of "di" with 4-5 times, 4 sounds mean that the system is the 4th period, 5 sounds mean that the system is the 5th period; after 5 secondsPlease note the highlighted part SOLD at wally's for less the $20 ! Will not ask , buy one and if it does not do the job...I am out of $20...
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...did not catch the brand of the "computer " used nor if it was connected using the OBD plug...
Salvatore, I don't think the brand of computer is going to matter - they're all about the same, excepting performance figures. On the inside, they all look the same to the software. I think this system must come with some sort of hardware, simply because an OBD connector doesn't match anything on any computer. Unfortunately, having totaled my car two weeks ago on a patch of black ice (yeah, here in Arizona - go figure) I now have a 2024 vehicle, and the current version of the product does not cover a car this new. When it does, I'll buy it, and I'll report on it here, if that interests you.
Will Rogers never met me.
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UK/EU based reply. It's also angled towards older cars. There are plenty of services that can make a new key for a car whether you have the original or not (I had to have a new one done a year or so ago). It's usually a bloke with an van, a key cutting machine and an electronic device to do the key programming. It can't be that expensive to get setup since whilst it's not cheap to get a new key made, nor does the guy turn up with gold teeth and a highly customised Mercedes van (it'll be an old beat-up van and he'll look like he buys too many lottery scratch cards in the hope of getting rich some day). Search Google for
car key programming machineand see what turns up. I'm guessing your friends $4000 "computer" is a professional version one of these. There are cheap consumer versions available but I'd have no idea about the reliability. It's a fairly precarious thing to do at the best of times. No-one will guarantee you success since they see random inexplicable failures, even with the same model/year that worked with another customer yesterday. --> Whether you can replicate that with off the shelf hardware and some code is an interesting question. See below for what ChatGPT thinks. Some bits sound easy and then the other bits sound ... challenging. If we're talking newer cars with more modern security measures then that will make it an order of magnitude more difficult. IIRC the versions used by dealerships reprogram the immobiliser code that the car will recognise as well as program the keys, which is why they always want to change all the locks on the car as well as give you a new key (whereas the guy in the van only creates a new key that matches the existing immobiliser codes). I'm guessing the stated reason is for security (so that the old keys won't work anymore) and that the unstated reason is that it's a lot more profitable. OBD specs require the OBD to output certain information and third party devices that conform to the spec. can access that information. However it's only basic info, usually only that required by regulations. The OEM uses the same OBD connection to access a lot more information (much more) and somewhere in there you will find the immobiliser codes, so not only would you need a key programming device you'd also need access to the device the OEM uses to connect to the OBD - unless you have a friend in a dealership then getting access to one of these is like getting access to the system used by the bank to lock its vaults. --> Personally, I woThanks, I am surprised I actually got responses. And no, I was not looking for swapping "me too " stories. BUT since that is OK , here is my short version. On initial call to dealer I got " you have to tow the car here..." - no price was offered for "service" , not even estimate... So far I called TWO locksmith outfits and ask I have lost my last IGNITION key, can you help? Yes, they both quoted $ 140, made an appointment and DID NOT SHOW or bother to call... Loosing keys must be very contagious or $140 is not worth the short drive... This OBD is a standard, hence it has to have some specification somewhere. It is used as diagnostic tool AND there are variety of hardware on the market to PROGRAM the system. This would be a good use for my idle RPi Zero.. It has Bluetooth interface and I have a Bluetooth enabled "MiniOBD"... PS I have a "female OBD adapter" on order... My 30 gauge wire wrapping tool did not fit over the "male" pins... Now all I have to do is finish my Bluetooth software and adapt it to the OBD...
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I also hold high opinions about the quality of KNOWLEDGE of this forum... ( monetary gifts optional / beer OK ) I am an OF who lost the LAST ignition working key... end of story. My "friend" mentioned $4000 "computer" THEY (?) use to solve the missing key problem ... This "computer" connect to the vehicle via OBD hardware, EVERY car is E/W. Would it be too high of a goal to learn everything I always wanted to know HOW to use (PROGRAM !) OBD to "program the responder ignition key " AND is (currently ?) a guarded secret limited to " only need to know " dealership etc. " " there must be a pony here somewhere ..." How about starting with "OBD specification " ? Cheers
IDK... but at some point me personally? I'm probably going to try to figure out a way of totally replacing the starter and any other bits so I don't have any usability thwarting electronics integrated. It's just too much $ for too little. If they wanted $300 for that key like that it would make me want to park in their showroom from high speed.