jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've been driving since 1960, and I always had lots of keys for my cars. At $0.25 or $0.50 per key, I could keep several around the house. Now, a key or a key fob can cost $350 or more. That rules out the extras. Yesterday, my neighbor asked me to drive him into town because he couldn't find either key fob. He has a Honda, so the price would probably be $350, the same as my Fit. He can't even have the dealer give him a fob that will work with his car because the key/fob has to be programmed together.

I think this is a ridiculous situation. Why not have a fail-safe? The fob should contain a key that would not only unlock the door, but also start the car. Honda has a key inside the fob, but all it can do is open the door.

The situation with my neighbor is what made me decide to get my son some key locators.

Somewhat related: When I was a kid, my family had a 1958 Olds, and so did my friend's family. Both cars used identical keys. I was walking along the sidewalk in a nearby town, and I saw a GM key on the ground. I picked it up and brought it home. That key could start my family's car and also my friend's. So much for security.

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

Key locators are great at finding; keys, tv remote, phones, etc. I got mine at ...of course... Amazon for 19.00 bucks!
Jegoteer-key-finder is the company's name.

Burtzy Loc: Bronx N.Y. & Simi Valley, CA

Both of my cars have fobs and they are a problem on occasion. But both also have smart keys in them that do all the things the fob can do. Also, I bought a fob for my Genesis from Amazon that was an aftermarket one for about a quarter of the price of the dealer one. It also had to be programmed by a locksmith but still cost way less than the dealer price. Some of the newest cars will also start with your cell phone.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Years ago my brother and I had to go to California. We rented a car, Chevrolet sedan, and somehow the key got left in the trunk. One of the group I was with had a GM vehicle at home and wouldn’t you know it, it work.
Saved a lot of money not having to use a locksmith or call the rental company.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There doesn't seem to be a perfect key locator, so I bought two different sets for about $25 each.  Each one comes with six "chips."  One set has two remotes to find the item.  The other has one remote.    With both sets, you push a colored button on the remote, and the corresponding colored chip will beep.  The trouble with these is needing a remote.

I'm going to look for one that uses the phone, instead.  The problem with these is that they cost about $25 for one chip.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Another resource: https://tomskey.com/?wickedsource=google&wickedid=CjwKCAjwzuqgBhAcEiwAdj5dRsb4UUsxMcF4Z0T8Gu60UIToOsfwBEE8zVI1wqoj1ueWKYQIOkuXZxoCBkoQAvD_BwE&wickedid=564139370310&wcid=14457754703&wv=4&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=14457754703&utm_conten

JimmyT Sends

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks. Key, only - not fob for the Fit.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I buy my aftermarket Dodge key fobs online for $50 and as long as I have two coded fobs I can program the new one myself. That is as long as the key limit has not been filled then Its back to the dealer and to have the new one coded @ $75

Jazztrader

When I got my car, I went to the hardware store, invested a $1.75 (in 2018 dollars) to have them copy the fob, or ignition key as I thought of it. Then I put the extra key fob inside the car. The hardware store key copy opens the door, then I can grab the fob to start the car.

The imagination can come up with some different ways to hide the fob inside the car, at least to the extent that it isn't easily found in the sixty seconds that a thief would prefer in order to steal the car. This doesn't solve the problem of finding the lost fob, which one will often find later, having been laid down somewhere around the house or garage. However, with the hardware key copy in my wallet, unless I lose the wallet and original fob at the same time, I'm able to drive the car and look for the original fob later.

Of course there are also new cars that don't have a physical lock on the outside of the door. Can't solve that one with my method. Also, women with big handbags might have to come up with their own method. :-)

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Jerry the "Chipped key" can be cut and programed at most ACE hardware stores, I know for most American cars, all you need is one key!!
The Fob keys: require two programmed fobs to be able to program "Aftermarket" Fob, as long as your car has not reached the limit of fobs programed. This is what happened with my 2018 Grand Caravan, which required a trip to a Dodge dealer @ $75 to reset the limit .
I now Carry two fobs one in each pocket (I have locked the car with the "key" in the ignition car not running, and it was a real S.O.B to get into, but I did it without any damage to the car.
If I wish to leave the car running, I get out lock the doors and restart the car with the remote, it runs for 15 mins and shuts off.

agillot

50 s and 60s cars [ MB ] had 4 different keys , ignition , doors , glove box , trunk . The 5th key was optional , locking gas cap .

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

What make cars did you have ? All my cars 1940s up to 1980s had two keys One for the ignition and one for everything else. unless someone screwed with the other locks, like replacing them!!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I tried Bob's Keys, and they expect to have Honda Fit fobs in a few months.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Personally, I believe the integration of all these electronic gizmos into our automobiles sets us up for some major, and costly to repair, failures.

Stan

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

What was your first clue?