Appealing to the layers in the forum...car related

[Wes]

Here's a problem my friend is having. He's got a 2001 Dodge Stratus R/T. Nice car, US only. It uses a transponder key, which he's only got one of (the car is an ex salvate car, that's all that was given). He's been to MANY US and Canadian dealerships all who say "too bad, we can't make you a copy". My friend has called Chrysler in the US and they've said to him "There's no one left to call, this is the end of the line, and we can't help you, have a good day".

For whatever their reasons, they say that cannot make a new key. I can't remember the details, but it has nothing to do with him not being the original owner or anything like that. They're tried, I've seen them (and given him numerous drives to dealers as he's left the car with them). So what we have here is Chrysler refusing to support a 3 yr old car. I'd think that a lawyer would have a field day on this one, but if he paid for a lawyer someone may help him, or change the ignition and computer to work with new keys, and after many thousands of dollars my friend gets his spare key.

What can be done here? He's going NUTS over this. He shares the car with is wife, and they're SO paranoid about this one key that they do have.

Thanks guys....

Any more info, just ask.

[Chopper]

You better give some more info. That doesnt make a whole lotta sense. If Chrsyler is making these cars, they should be able to sell replacement keys to the rightful owners. Are you sure there is no problem with the registration of ownership (US/Canada)?

You can probably go above the dealership level to corporate, who will probably be more helpful. Maybe you can ask a dealership to put in writing why they cnnot give your freind a replacement key.

What I am seeing is the "salvage" part of your post...which means the car probably has been written off by the company and it was bought "as is" (rebuilt) without any support from Chrysler because they can't officially endorse the maintenance/use of the car. not sure exactly how it was purchased.

[kenc]

IMHO your friend might have better luck asking this question on forums for Chrysler vehicles.

[wjjeeper]

Post pictures of what the key looks like.
I know for a fact that Dodge keys in the 2001 year can be copied at Home Depot and the like and work fine in the vehicle.
So unless this is a very special model that got a special chipped key he should be able to make himself a copy.

[Wes]

They lost the skim code. The skim code is the code the computer uses to match the key to the car. They say it's not in their system. They have the code to cut the shape of the key, however they don't have the skim code to program it. This has nothing to do with the fact this was a salvaged vehicle, also, it has nothing to do with the fact that it was a US vehicle, as well has nothing to do with any ownership issues relvoving around the car. They simply state that it's impossible to program a key.

The car was written off because of an accident. It was branded as rebuildable. My friend has gone to the corporate level, and they've said that they can't do it.

I'm on the phone with my friend now. :) I just talked to him about getting it in writing from a dealership, so he'll work on that.

[Wes]

BTW this isn't happening to other Dodge owners, just my friend. Everyone else says "weird" and forgets about it cause it's not happening to them. It looks like a regular dodge key, with a grey rubbery part on it. The ones with grey are transponder keys, and the ones with black are non transponder keys, and his looks just like my mom's Caravan key. My mom's is a transponder, I know cause I have a walmart copy that doesn't start the van (Well it does, and dies a moment later) and my friend DID have a copy made that wasn't programmed, and it too started the vehicle for a moment then died. He then returned the key for his $100 cause they couldn't program it.

[Chopper]

BTW this isn't happening to other Dodge owners, just my friend. Everyone else says "weird" and forgets about it cause it's not happening to them. It looks like a regular dodge key, with a grey rubbery part on it. The ones with grey are transponder keys, and the ones with black are non transponder keys, and his looks just like my mom's Caravan key. My mom's is a transponder, I know cause I have a walmart copy that doesn't start the van (Well it does, and dies a moment later) and my friend DID have a copy made that wasn't programmed, and it too started the vehicle for a moment then died. He then returned the key for his $100 cause they couldn't program it.

Man..if it's orphaned from the company because of the salvage, he may have to remove the security system (ignition kill) that needs the codes from the key. I think I knew some guys in Ottawa who could copy it and the codes but they probably are not the kind of people you wanna be giving your codes to :D

I am gonna e-mail a contact that may be able to help and will advise.

[Chopper]

INquiries are being made. Hopefully we can help, but not looking too great right now. :Qboy:

Maybe they should put a GPS keychain on the one key so you wont lose it for now. :D

[oyster]

Here's a problem my friend is having. He's got a 2001 Dodge Stratus R/T. Nice car, US only. It uses a transponder key, which he's only got one of (the car is an ex salvate car, that's all that was given). He's been to MANY US and Canadian dealerships all who say "too bad, we can't make you a copy". My friend has called Chrysler in the US and they've said to him "There's no one left to call, this is the end of the line, and we can't help you, have a good day".

For whatever their reasons, they say that cannot make a new key. I can't remember the details, but it has nothing to do with him not being the original owner or anything like that. They're tried, I've seen them (and given him numerous drives to dealers as he's left the car with them). So what we have here is Chrysler refusing to support a 3 yr old car. I'd think that a lawyer would have a field day on this one, but if he paid for a lawyer someone may help him, or change the ignition and computer to work with new keys, and after many thousands of dollars my friend gets his spare key.

What can be done here? He's going NUTS over this. He shares the car with is wife, and they're SO paranoid about this one key that they do have.

Thanks guys....

Any more info, just ask.


go see the guys at Auto Start on Dundas, east of jarvis...

they specialize in electrical issue and could bypass the ignition

[Wes]

That's what they're saying he has to do, but it has nothing to do with the Salvage. Dodge may not even know it was ever a salvage, besides the fact it was branded as rebuildable. Why would they refuse to support a 3yr old car in the first place? Is there something he can legally do about this? This is rediculous!

See what your contacts say though, please. My friend may just dump the car as he's about to loose it with this car.

PS, I was supposed to buy it but decided to stay with my 626.

[ianS]

This remind me that something happened 10+ yr ago. 1 of my friend drove us to a movie on his parent's car - Olds Delta88. After the movie, we went to the parking lot and can't remember where the car parked. After a while, we found it out on a not that familiar spot and he opened the door with his key and we sat in the car and it didn't seems right! he try to start the car with the other key (GM use 1 key for door lock & other key to start the car), it didn't turn! Then sudden a guy yaw at us said "What the hell are you guys doing on my car!"... Security came & took us half an hour to explain and call our parents.... then found out that my friends' car were on other parking lot of the south wing! So if your friend got a GM instead, he should be able to find another key very easy on the street that with the same car! :eek:

[Canuck328i]

The other option (which wouldn't be too expensive) is to have two new non-transponder keys made and permanently attach the transponder key you currently have to the column. This is a trick installers use when installing remote start systems. That way, the computer "sees" the transponder unit allowing the car to operate.

The transponder can be installed under the column cover, and you could deform the key part so it cannot be used to mechanically start the car in case a thief found it during a break in. The obvious drawback here is that the security of the transponder function is disabled, but then again Honda Civics don't have transponders. Oh wait, they are one of the most stolen cars on the road... :rolleyes:

If security was still a concern, you could install a starter kill or even a remote alarm with that function.

Mark