lost remote key

ansatzjp

Member
:
Mazda5 Sport Auto
My wife lost her remote key fob today. A quick search here reveals that it's prohibitively expensive--$90 something would cover all the programming cost (key + remote programming) or just the key programming? As to the actual key fob, I plan to buy it from ebay. Thanks for any input.
 
Ouch when I bought my 5 the salesperson warned me that theyre about $300 total to replace, each. So the $90 is just for the programming. Look harder :)
 
And you just know the programming involves about five minutes and a "specialized" usb based com device that in realitiy does not cost $90.00 itself. Kind of like (acccording to my dealer) the $230.00 set of "specialized" oil filter removal tools that the dealership uses to remove the filter cartridge, but the guys at Autozone will sell to you for $3.50. Any time they can bend you over, they will.
 
The wrench set does cost ~ $200

Some key programs do take an hour. SO if that's what the shop rate is...
 
I found it!!!

Benfolio said:
The wrench set does cost ~ $200

Some key programs do take an hour. SO if that's what the shop rate is...

I think i read on another forum.. there is a way to buy a key.. and program it yourself.. i know this can be done on the mazda 3... check the mazda 3 forums.. i think its doable... from what I remember all keys have to be "synched" togther to one code... there is a trick out there... if i can find the trick, ill post it..

Ok guys.. this is from some guy that programmed his mazda 3.. cant confirm it will work on the 5.. (my guess is that it will)..same damn platform, same plant in japan...his post is bleow

Luckily my last car was a Ford Focus with the same transponder key system, Ford I guess has a slightly better opinion of their customers so they provide instructions for key programming in the owners manual (which I retained in PDF format). I decided to take the risk and attempt to use the Focus key programming instructions to program new keys for the 3.

First I needed a compatible transponder key blank cut physically to match my car's ignition & door locks. My local locksmith doesn't carry the blanks so I had to go to the dealer. The guy at the parts desk warned me that they needed to be programmed but when I told him I was going to program it myself he was like "ok". 5 minutes and $23.38 later I had a new key physically cut to match my existing keys. I tested the key in the ignition and verified that while it would turn the ignition cylinder it would not engage the starter, it also unlocked & locked the drivers door so I know it's cut correctly.

Now to program the transponder, I have the Focus manual page in hand, here is the basic how-to.

Items needed:
1. 2 pre-programmed transponder keys.
2. 1 new transponder key

The timing is critical to this procedure, please read through the entire procedure before attempting.
Procedure:
1. Insert one of the pre-programmed transponder keys and turn the ignition to "on", leave on for at least one second (I wait until the red key symbol in the instrument cluster extiinguishes), remove the key from the ignition.
2. Within 5 seconds insert the second pre-programmed key and urn the ignition to "on" for at least one second but no more than 5 seconds (use the key symbol for this as well) then remove the second key.
3. within 10 seconds insert the new key in the ignition and turn the ignition to "on", if you are successful the red key symbol will illuminate then extinguish after about a second.

If you are not successful the red key symbol will flash repeatedly to indicate that you have inserted an invalid key. Remove the key, wait a minute and try it again, it took me a few times to get it perfect and I had done it before.

To see the applicable pages from the Focus owners manual see
this page

The new key cost me less than $25, the dealer even physically cut the new key for free.

I STRONGLY suggest that EVERYONE go out and get at least one spare key made & prorgammed for their 3. If you lose one of your two original keys and don't have a spare you won't be able to make any new keys (as you need to prorgammend keys to program more) and will need to go to the dealer and have them re-program the ECU.

Good luck!!!
 
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Thanks for the info, traffikboy, but the problem with that solution is that I don't have "2 pre-programmed transponder keys." Does this work with only one transponder as well?
 
ansatzjp said:
Thanks for the info, traffikboy, but the problem with that solution is that I don't have "2 pre-programmed transponder keys." Does this work with only one transponder as well?

It should work with only one.. following those steps.. the code gets recognized by the first key... and any new keys afterwards would "take on" that code as well...
 
traffikboy said:
It should work with only one.. following those steps.. the code gets recognized by the first key... and any new keys afterwards would "take on" that code as well...

If it works with only one, then it would be just hilarious.
 
forgive my stupidity, but why wouldnt it work??? i thought this guy already has one key, and he has to buy another key.. meaning he has to synch up 2 keys... (the old one with the new one)
 
Benfolio said:
The wrench set does cost ~ $200

Some key programs do take an hour. SO if that's what the shop rate is...
Benfolio, I am not questioning the cost, I know full well that is what Mazda charges for the wrenches. What I am saying is that Mazda, not the dealer, is gouging on this deal. The key is probably produced for between 5 and 10 bucks in China, yet we get charged $200.00. That is where my gripe lies. Sorry about the confussion.
 
I bought a spare transponder key from onlinemazdaparts.com when my wife lost hers.

I beleive it was around $180, and the local Mazda dealer charged me $90 to program it.

What do ya do?
 
Are you still missing your remote key fob? I happended to see one for a MP5 on Amazon today for $45 and most of them seem to be less than $80.
 
MD5 said:
I bought a spare transponder key from onlinemazdaparts.com when my wife lost hers.

I beleive it was around $180, and the local Mazda dealer charged me $90 to program it.

What do ya do?

Hey ansatzjp, all, sorry, no time to really read in detail, but Would this TSB intructions save the $90 programming?

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/miata/pdf/09-035-06-1631.pdf

Please note that the link says Miata, but the document details Mazda5 as well.
 
if he lost one of those remote keys then he's screwed and has to get the dealer to program a new key.... you NEED both ORIGINAL factory keys to program additional keys yourself, otherwise it can't be done DIY!
 
Key found

As luck had it, we found the missing key. It was found on the other side of the Pacific (at my in-laws' house) , though. Since I had purchased a blank keyfob off ebay, I will try the programming by myself. Thanks!
 
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