Two key questions

[dRem]

I just bought my 2013 Sport from a private seller. When he gave me the switchblade key, I asked for the second key, and he said there wasn't another key.

1) Did the car come with two keys? The owners manual shows a switchblade key, a regular key, and a key-code number plate.

2) Can I get a plain copy of the key made that will start the car? (i.e. is there a transponder in the key that's required to start the car?) My local mom-and-pop hardware store said it's got a transponder so a copy wouldn't work. The owners manual had no details.

 

[genericmoniker]

My car did indeed come with two keys. One switch, and one regular. I do believe there *is* a transponder in the keys, so I doubt a regular cut-key would work.

 

[utmorpheus]

Yes, both the switch and the regular have transponders. Without the other key it costs about $250 to have the dealer reprogram the car. If you have both keys you can reprogram it yourself with a new transponder key.

 

[DanR]

On my MX5, I order a key for $38 and found a sequence on how to program the guy. I don't know if it is the same for the 2, but worth investigating.

 

[jasyatz]

Here's the deal on the Mazda2 keys...I know this because I had the great misfortune of dropping and breaking the switchblade key and not realizing it until after I tried to start the car and realized the immobi portion of the switch blade was missing.

If you have 2 separate keys present, you can program a 3rd immobilizer(immobi) key blank to the car.

If you have only 1 key (immobi or switchblade) a trip to the dealer is needed to reprogram the 2nd key. You can tell me I'm wrong, but I'm not. Trust me I tried to program it a thousand different ways. ultimately ending up at the dealer with a $35 programming charge.

I then got a 2nd immobi key cut and then programmed it myself to avoid the trip to the dealer again SHOULD one of the 3 keys become lost.

My advice to all owners is to head to your local Home Depot or key shop and get another immobi key cut and programmed just in case you lose or break a key. The switchblade is made up of 2 parts. The key and holder unit, and the immobi portion on the rear of the unit. If it falls out of your hand and cracks the 2 tiny clips that hold both units together, they will fall apart..

The keys are available all over the net for cheap, but programming is a b**** and expensive at the dealer of you don't buy the keys there.

 

[dRem]

So the previous owner says they only had one key, a switchblade key. I can't imagine a 2013 car selling with only one key, but that's all I have. I want one regular key as a spare.
What's my cheapest option? I've heard the dealer charges $70 for the key and $40 to $100 for programming. I can get a blank key online for $20, cut for $5, but the dealer still needs to program it since I only have one working key. Can a locksmith program it?

 

[utmorpheus]

Most lock smiths cannot program them, the few that can charge as much as a dealer. Also what's the going rate for reprogramming? When I had my Mazda6 back in the day it cost me $240 for a single transponder key and programming at the dealer. Then I bought two more keys off ebay for $30 and programmed them myself.

 

[DrWebster]

jasyatz is correct. The thing to understand is that you're not actually programming the key to the car, you're programming the car to the key. The keys have a chip in them, and the ID on the chip (which the car reads) can't be changed. As a security precaution, Mazda makes you have two keys already in order to program a third (otherwise a valet, etc could make a copy of your key). You need to use a special computer program to interface with the car's ECU to get it to learn the ID of the immobilizer chip in the new key. So unfortunately, locksmiths aren't able to program new keys.

As for the flip key, it splits into two parts, the keyblade portion (with the Mazda logo) and the remote. The immobilizer chip is inside the key portion, inside the housing behind the Mazda logo.

 

[flatlander937]

I went through programming new keys for a Mazda3 at work today(key cylinder and both keys replaced due to attempted theft, cylinder jacked up). The reason it is such a pain in the ass:

You scan the PCM and request the following info:

VIN number
PCM part #
Serial #
PCM "out code"
HEC(hybrid electric cluster) "out code"


Then you get on Mazda's website and put that info in. The out codes are goofy 6 digit codes ex: DR234J

You then get the "in codes" from Mazda's dealer network. These are 4 digit numbers IIRC. There is one for the PCM and one for HEC.

You input these in THEN the scan tool will allow you to program the keys to the car following the prompts to insert keys etc etc.


Basically get a 3rd key when you get a chance because its a clusterfuck.

 

[WuCheng]

My mazda also came with 2 keys. So i use one for myself and keep the other as a spare, both keys are switchblades and there is no "master key" so both keys have the same components in a sense. Now most cars if not all cars up to a certain year should include both keys, and also if the manual says there is then either he has lost it , doesnt want to give it to you for some stupid reason or just doesnt have it.

For the second question you should be able to get another key from a mazda dealer, mechanic or online if you are really lucky however you should be careful about online. As for the other options , you do need to do a bit of digging to find out whether they can do that service for you
hope this helps
WuCheng

 

[DanR]

As the previous owner, where did I say had only one key. I said I order a key and was able to go through a sequence and program the spare key. I did in fact have both keys. The MX5 comes with 2 switchblade keys whereas the 2 comes with one switchblade key and one regular chipped key. Obviously someone read something into my reply that was not there. I have no doubt Jeff's (jasyatz) reply is correct and Tony always provides useful information, but then he works at a dealer.