Smart Key

[grasmo]

I really dislike the "smart key. "I have spare keys hidden all over my truck,but they are home depot variety and they will start the truck for about 3 seconds and then the truck cuts off. I like that the remote lock is built in but hate that my other spares won't allow the engine to stay operational. I dropped my key today in a parking lot and thought oh no it might have broken. What a pain in the rear that would be ... to have no way to get home because of a stupid key!

I'm sure it has a transponder of some sorts inside to prevent theft. I really wish it would run on your run of the mill key.

 

[CEly]

I'm not fond of the smart key either. I keep a "dumb key" in my wallet and another smart key hidden inside my truck. Sure, the alarm goes off if you don't use the remote to unlock it, but at least I can get in, then use the xtra in the truck to get me home. I find that the buttons on the remote are WAY to easy to accidentally activate while the keys are in my jeans. I,ve left work on numerous occasions and found my truck locked. I never lock it at my shop because it's just 10' outside my office window in plain sight 10 hrs. a day. Just a week ago, I sat down at the dinner table and the **** alarm went off in the garage!! I don't think it would take a rocket scientist to recess the buttons, or better yet, a pivoting or sliding cover.

 

[dlmetzger]

You can get a replacement transponder key on ebay (~ $20, w/ shipping). The key will not remotely unlock to truck, but it will start and run the truck. You can program it yourself if you read the owners manual. It will still need to be cut, but any locksmith can do that for a few dollars. Some may even sell the keys, but may be pricey. See the following link:



eBay Motors: 2006 2007 2008 06 07 08 DODGE RAM TRUCK TRANSPONDER KEY (item 180254675035 end time Jun-23-08 09:09:51 PDT)

 

[AllianceDiesel]

I heard of people putting a chiped key inside the shroud around the steering colum and using a regular key because the anit-theft module will see the key inside the steering column and let you start the vehicle.

 

[BobTaylor]

If you lock the truck with the manual push button (not the one that locks all doors) you can open it with the smaller transponder key. Of course, you are not arming the alarm system, but no one seems to pay attention to a car alarm going off anyway.

 

[HBarlow]

I heard of people putting a chiped key inside the shroud around the steering colum and using a regular key because the anit-theft module will see the key inside the steering column and let you start the vehicle.

Your idea of putting the key inside the shroud may work, I haven't tried it or seen it done. I did try taping one to the outside of the shroud on my '06 Ram and using a plain key. My idea failed.

 

[dlmetzger]

I heard of people putting a chiped key inside the shroud around the steering colum and using a regular key because the anit-theft module will see the key inside the steering column and let you start the vehicle.

Why would you use another key? The transponder key is the size of a regular key. Taping it to the steering column and then using another key (w/out a transponder) is unnecessary. See photo.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

How much is a key with the intergrated key fob, how much is the grey chipped key, and how much is the key from wal-mart, its all about saving money those keys are expensive, all the skim module needs to see is that key and it will run the vehicle just fine.

 

[dlmetzger]

Here's the site for one of the key vendors: http://aftermarket. strattec.com/pdf/keys/AS9912_07_07.pdf



Late model Dodge Rams:

Blank key w/out transponder Vendor P/N: 692346



Blank key w/ transponder Vendor P/N: 692352



I can't find an online retailer that sells these keys (they only sell to locksmiths). However, they can be found on ebay as I posted earlier. Also, the transponder key will unlock the vehicle w/out sounding the alarm as well as starting/running the engine.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Don't know much about anything but I can probably give you an incentive to get an extra chipped key. I recently lost one of the two keys that came with the truck. Had to take the truck in to dealer for new key as you can't program the chipped key unless you have two working keys. It will cost you an hour of labor for the dealer to program a new key. This was the key with the integral remote entry/etc buttons for which they charged me $135. 00 plus $85. 00 for programming and tax, total bill, $231. 14, ouch. bg I would add that I also do not care for the smart keys, May stop some auto thefts but still don't like them. bg

 

[AllianceDiesel]

you can program your own keys if you read the owners manual, all you need is one key that works and the new key that is cut.

 

[grasmo]

You know when dealers do this type of stuff it really does justify people not wanting to allow a dealer to do anything to their trucks.

 

[HBarlow]

Why would you use another key? The transponder key is the size of a regular key. Taping it to the steering column and then using another key (w/out a transponder) is unnecessary. See photo.

Because, as CEly posted above, the head of the OEM key is a little bulky in a pocket and the lock or alarm buttons can be pressed inadvertently. Also, as B. G. Smith posted, if you lose an OEM key they are expensive to replace.

 

[TKeeler]

you can program your own keys if you read the owners manual, all you need is one key that works and the new key that is cut.

My owners manual says it takes two programmed working keys to program the third one... some trucks must be different.

 

[B.G. Smith]

you can program your own keys if you read the owners manual, all you need is one key that works and the new key that is cut.

My truck is an 06. May be different from all the rest. I went out and read the manual one more time, on page14 it reads, " You must have two valid keys" to program a new key. bg

 

[starkmr]

Why would you use another key? The transponder key is the size of a regular key. Taping it to the steering column and then using another key (w/out a transponder) is unnecessary. See photo.

Those keys are very different in size. The transponder key is nearly twice as thick as the regular one and is just huge in the pocket. I hate the damned thing! #@$%! Plus it's expensive to replace.

 

[BobTaylor]

Why would you use another key? The transponder key is the size of a regular key. Taping it to the steering column and then using another key (w/out a transponder) is unnecessary. See photo.

I also wonder why you think that the two keys are the same size. Even though both are too darned big, the grey key is 3" long, 1 3/8" wide and about 3/8" deep. The regular key is 3 5/8" long, 1½" wide, and ½" thick. The grey key is a pain in the pants pocket but the black transponder is ridiculous.

 

[dlmetzger]

Having the Dodge remote key in my pocket is much larger than the after market transponder key. I also agree that the after market transponder key is larger than a regular key but still palatable compared to the Dodge remote key. It's just a matter of what you'll tolerate at this point. As annoying as it is (given its size), I still use the Dodge transponder key because I like the remote feature.

 

[BHaden]

My truck is an 06. May be different from all the rest. I went out and read the manual one more time, on page14 it reads, " You must have two valid keys" to program a new key. bg

FWIW; I noticed an Ace Hardware store here in San Diego that advertises smart key duplicating for $49. 95. I haven't tried it yet but I need to; I lost one of mine. Last week I accidentally left the one I have in the jeans I wear at work and they went off to the laundry company. Apparently they found them before they were washed, but both keys (the other is a Mustang smart key) were bent and the Dodge had a big gouge in the face. They both still work fine.