MX5 remote eaten by dog!

dr.fuzzenstein

Before anyone worries, the dog is fine and sleeping on the couch, happy with his day's work.

We have a separate key and remote control fob for the MX5.
It's a '00 1.6 petrol (of course) with alarm and immobiliser.
The key still works, opens the doors (one at a time), starts the car, but the key fob is kaputt.
That means remote central locking and immobiliser can't be operated.
There are many places from which to buy keys online, but the details of re-programming the alarm to accept those keys are hard to come buy.
Of course I don't particularly want to go to the main dealer, since I most probably have to sell my house to be able to afford it.
The questions is:
Where is a good place to either buy a separate remote fob or a key with integrated remote? I wouldn't particularly trust some shady outfit on ebay, the new home of every scam artist and rip-off merchant on the planet.
And where is a good place to get the key programmed? Preferably in the Ennis/Limerick/Galway region, somewhere reasonably local.

Gran Hermano

Make sure the dog hasn't eaten the battery from the fob.

Cookie_Monster

Have you not seen gone in sixty seconds, just wait for him to 'pass' it

dr.fuzzenstein

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Make sure the dog hasn't eaten the battery from the fob.

Batteries all present and correct.
Or I could feed them to him, take the dog down to the car, squeeze him and see if the doors open.
Not a good solution though, dog gets violently car sick.

delly

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Not a good solution though, dog gets violently car sick.

Hmm, I'm starting to think this is more than just a random chew-fest. I think Fido knew exactly what he was doing. Sleep with one eye open...

bd2012

Try Ryan's locksmiths on William st in limerick. I haven't used them (yet) but seems to be reasonable. 061 414173.

padma

Give my man in the crescent shopping centre a shout, the lock doctor I think, go t a new key cut from him with chip the whole lot for 30 quid last year.

ants09

Why dont your try autokey on the naas road just before the red cow as got a fob from them and they cheaper then the dealers

langdang

If it's the factory standard alarm and factory standard fob then if it's reprogrammable with keyturning/door-locking sequence then go for a second hand one if you can find it.

I called around a few scrapyards for a fob for my last Honda* and reprogrammed it myself. Total investment 10euro. I noticed they didn't have many fobs, and that the last person who got a fob from a locksmith got a clean but obviously second hand fob - wondering do the locksmiths snap up fobs from the scrappies?

I had , out of interest, asked the lockdoctor guys in the crescent about fixing the broken fob I had - he said to bring in my broken fob so it looks like they will refurbish them if they are salvageable.

Factory immobiliser is most likely still working fine - that depends on a chip in the key. (unless it's a jap import with some aftermarket immobiliser)

It seems to be easy and cheap to buy replacement casings for the fobs, hard enough to get the internals for some makes/models. Are the internals properly chewed up or would it be repairable do you think?

*It was on here actually that I found the correct sequence, can't find the thread now but thanks whoever put it up!

dr.fuzzenstein

langdang wrote: »

I had , out of interest, asked the lockdoctor guys in the crescent about fixing the broken fob I had - he said to bring in my broken fob so it looks like they will refurbish them if they are salvageable.

I took the fob apart, I'm handy with that sort of thing.
Apart from the casing having a few tooth-shaped holes in it, the actual PCB is cracked and one of the switches on it has broken off.
I tried cleaning it up, re-attaching the battery, but no go.
Sadly, it's FUBAR'd and is for the bin only.
Will try the two places in Limmers, thanks guys.