A question about having a key made

[Houston]

My local hardware store (ACE) recently got in key blanks that fit the Vibe. She said it was a Toyota blank, the same as ours. She said it would get me in the door, but to absolutely NOT attempt to use it in the ignition, because it would somehow disable being able to start the car at all. Have any of you ever heard about this? It works fine with the door, but I'm not going to try starting the car with it until I hear from you guys and gals.Thanks!

[goochsmooch]

I had a key cut for my '09 a few month ago at the Home Depot. The lady is partially right: the key will get you in the car, but you can't start it; however, attempting to start it WON'T cause any problems. I gave it a go and it just makes the initial sound on startup but refuses to turn over... I'd guess the worst you're doing is wearing out the starter. But, IMO, there's no point in even trying since I took the risk for you To the best of my knowledge, if you want a spare key that will start the car, you need to go through the stealerships and get one with a chip that is programmed for your car. Of course, eBay often offers ways around these things.

[Houston]

I decided to try the key in the ignition. It starts the car just fine. Does this mean the factory key doesn't have a chip even though they told me it did? It seems I read on here that somebody else also experienced this.

[joatmon]

The earlier model Vibes did not have keys with chips in it, so on ours it's just a simple shaped piece of metal. Your vibe is fine and the way it is supposed to be, and replacement keys are a lot cheaper.Sounds like on the 09's you need a key with a chip in it.

[Houston]

Guess I didn't make it clear that mine is an '09.

[joatmon]

I missed your upgrade. Congratulations, and ignore my previous post

[Herb]

Well I don't know how the ignition disable works without the chip on an 09 Vibe, but my work truck has a chip in the key and if I try to start with a chipless key, the engine will start and cut out after about 2 seconds.Supposedly three attempts with a non chipped key will disable the ignition for an hour.During the winter what I sometimes do is use the chipless key and put the boot of the regular key on top of the cut key to start the engine, this is usually close enough to trick the proximity sensor of the chip and allow for normal operation. I figure while the truck is warming up, if someone takes off with it, they won't be able to use it after they shut it down.

[Houston]

Very interesting information. Fact is I've started my '09 several times with this new key and have been driving around this area with no problem. Does anyone know whether or not all 2009s are supposed to have chips? Were there some that didn't get them? I contacted my salesman about this and he was under the impression that '09s didn't have chips. Maybe our board member who works in Nummi could find out.

[Herb]

I remember when I bought my Vibe, the salesman at the dealer claimed the key had a chip, but obviously it doesn't. I would say don't believe everything the salesman tells you. I would imagine the owners manual would state if this was an option or not

[goochsmooch]

Quote, originally posted by Houston »Very interesting information. Fact is I've started my '09 several times with this new key and have been driving around this area with no problem. Does anyone know whether or not all 2009s are supposed to have chips? Were there some that didn't get them? I contacted my salesman about this and he was under the impression that '09s didn't have chips. Maybe our board member who works in Nummi could find out.Wow, you're blowing my mind right now! I wouldn't steer you wrong, I put the plain old metal cut key, tried to start the car, and all I could get was the initial sounds of an engine trying to crank over, but it couldn't make it happen. I even tried Herb's trick with touching the FOB key to the cut key and it didn't make a difference. Not that it counts for crap, but the salesman told me they were chipped keys and I better not lose them because replacements are steep.This is strange I wish I could use a cut key like Houston.

[jake75]

Could there possibly be a difference in keys between Vibes with the power package that includes the remote keyless entry (has the chip), and those without (no chip in key)?

[star_deceiver]

http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=36847Fire up and drive away!

[Houston]

I do have remote keyless entry. I had a remote starter installed and no longer even need the company-provided key to unlock the doors - the remote starter control does that for me. I'm thinking that maybe when they installed the remote starter, they in some way changed the wiring in the column so that even if I have a chip in the key it isn't needed.All your guesses are as good - probably even better than - mine.

[jake75]

I know it is un-American, but when all else fails, read the instructions.I checked the owner's manual - page 2-2 - keys - says that the keys with the immobilizer theft deterrent system have a transponder. [Others do not.]That is probably the answer.

[Houston]

Thanks for the response, Jake75.I am confused,though, over it indicating (page 2-9) that "This vehicle has a passive theft-deterrent system." Immediately above that, is the title: Immobilizer Operation". I have never seen the "Security" light mentioned there. I assume this is only on Vibes equipped with the burglar alarm, but the Owner's Manual is certainly unclear about this. (The is probably a different topic, anyway.)

[star_deceiver]

http://forums.genvibe.com/zero...6.JPG Right above the winshiels wiper switches in this pic you'll see the Passenger airbag lights... if you magnify the pic you'll see the word SECURITY. There's a little red LED beside the Y that flashes when there's no key in the ignition. My Vibe is the Base model 1sa, there is no car alarm.Have you tried firing it up and driving the car around with the key you had made???

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by star_deceiver »http://forums.genvibe.com/zero...6.JPG Right above the winshiels wiper switches in this pic you'll see the Passenger airbag lights... if you magnify the pic you'll see the word SECURITY. There's a little red LED beside the Y that flashes when there's no key in the ignition. My Vibe is the Base model 1sa, there is no car alarm.Have you tried firing it up and driving the car around with the key you had made???That blinking red led light was in my 2003 as well. I think that is a ruse - like the people who have signs in their yard/on their windows saying that the premises is protected by xyz security company.

[star_deceiver]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »That blinking red led light was in my 2003 as well. I think that is a ruse - like the people who have signs in their yard/on their windows saying that the premises is protected by xyz security company.Or the big "Beware Of Dog" sign with a Chihuahua in the yard...

[Houston]

Quote, originally posted by star_deceiver »http://forums.genvibe.com/zero...6.JPG Right above the winshiels wiper switches in this pic you'll see the Passenger airbag lights... if you magnify the pic you'll see the word SECURITY. There's a little red LED beside the Y that flashes when there's no key in the ignition. My Vibe is the Base model 1sa, there is no car alarm.I've never seen the SECURITY or red LED lights on mine.Quote, originally posted by star_deceiver »[Have you tried firing it up and driving the car around with the key you had made???Yep - been driving it with the new flat key ever since I got it. Had two more made, for that matter, and they all work just as well as the original.

[goochsmooch]

Well, from what I can figure, I think it must be a Canadian thing. I have that "security" thing on the airbag display and when I put the cut key in, it lights up red. Any theories as to why the American models don't have an immobilizer/chip and the Canadian ones do?

[star_deceiver]

That's the bean counters. And some Canadian provinces requier (Manitoba I believe, there might be more) an Immobilizer to be able to insure and register the vehicle. No sense in making a special model just for Manitoba, that would cost too much. The US model seems to have it http://www.pontiac.com/vibe-2009/pictures/ but that might just be the GT.

[Mr Magoo]

I can tell you from my experience what Herb says is true. I had two dealers tell me both ways depending on which of their service techs I talked to. It wasn't until I finally had my dealer making me a key for my 07 that they figured out it wasn't chipped. I will also note that this particular Pontiac dealer is the WORST dealership I have ever been to of any manufacturer.