Posted by Matthew Yu on Thu, Jan 21, 2010 @ 06:52 PM
Typically in the past when you needed an extra copy of your vehicle's key you would go to any hardware store and have them cut a copy for you. Yet just having the regular key entry into your vehicle did nothing to protect your vehicle from theft. Older theft deterrent systems such as car alarms are installed in your vehicles to attempt to discourage theft of the vehicle itself, the property inside, or both. As criminals become more advanced in car theft so did the automakers in developing the immobilizer. An immobilizer is located in the instrument cluster using a chip in your key with an antenna. If the immobilizer system is faulty or not programmed the car will shut off after two seconds, the anti-theft light on the dashboard will flash, or some later generations may also have a beeping noise paired with the anti-theft light flashing.
In VW, when buying or programming a new key, you must use a key that corresponds to the same immobilizer generation and keyless entry type and sync it to the immobilizer. The key has three separate parts that are included in one which are the keyless entry remote, the metal flip key, and the immobilizer chip. Each key must be correct to the car for the remote to work properly. You not only need to program the keyless entry you also have to program the immobilizer or else the immobilizer will shut off the engine. The immobilizer only allows your programmed key to lets the engine start it has nothing to do with unlocking the doors, the alarm, or the starter itself. If your key and immobilizer are programmed correctly and your car is not functioning in the manner it should then you must troubleshoot other reasons why the car won't start.
Before you can programming a new key you must first identify which generation of immobilizer has been installed in your vehicle. Depending on the variation in build dates and remote compatibility VW has four generations immobilizers to distinguish from:
- Immo 1: no immobilizer,vehicles before 1999 were not equipped on cars sold in the US; you can swap keys, ECU's, and instrument clusters without any special programming.
- Immo 2: found on mk4 (Generation 4) cars, you need Secret Key Code (SKC) to use a new key or instrument cluster, but you can still swap ECU's. There is an emergency drive function that will let you drive to the dealership or mechanic for them to fix but you must know the SKC code. You can buy a used key and it will work if you reprogram the immobilizer chip using the SKC.
- Immo 3: found on mk4 cars, you need SKC to use a new key, instrument cluster, or ECU. You cannot use used keys from another car since the immobilizer chip can only be set once per car.
- Immo 4: found on mk5 (Generation 5) cars, you need SKC to use a new key, instrument cluster, or ECU. You cannot use used keys from another car since the immobilizer chip can only be set once per car.
Once you have identified which generation of immobilizer your vehicle has then you can purchase the correct key to be programmed. This procedure which only factory level scan tools could previously do has been developed for the AUTOBOSS V30 / PC Max. Below are the instructions with screenshots from the AUTOBOSS scan tool:
1) Go to your VW software and select "Expert Functions"
2) Select "Read PIN (III IMMO from Engine)"; once the code is displayed remember to write it down for reference
3) Then go back to your main menu and select "Common"
4) Choose "25-Immobilizer" and select "11-Login Procedure"
5) Enter in the code we previously retrieved and it will unlock your module for your to process factory level changes in your vehicle"
6) Now we can begin programming the new keys. Gather ALL the remotes you would like to match. Insert one key in the ignition and turn it ON.
7) Select "46 - Cent. Conv." or "35 - Cent. Locking" (whichever is applicable to the car, as found here)
8) Then "Adaptation - 10" and enter channel "01" (May be channel "21" in some Audi models).
9) Read or OK ;This will display the number of currently stored remotes in "Stored Value".
10) Enter your total number of keys up to a maximum of 4(including any existing keys) in "New Value"
11) Select "Test" and verify that the number in "Test Value" is correct.
12) Save; then press and hold (for at least one second) the UNLOCK button on the fob, at which time it will be learned. If you're programming more than one fob press and hold the UNLOCK button on the second fob for one second, press and hold the UNLOCK button on the third fob for one second, etc. You have a total of 15 seconds to do them all.
The car may give you some sort of acknowledgement as each key is learned (lights flash, horn beep, etc.) and you have completed programming of a new key!