Hi there.

I'm new here, so forgive me if this has been covered a zillion times.

But I just bought a 1995 1.4cl (it's great) - first time polo owner.!!

But there's a few niggles, some I have fixed via reading advice hereabouts.

The first of which is...

Has there been any definitive answer to the best / cheapest place to get one of these damn annoying pricey keys cut. Mine got a RED dot - which I assume to be a transponder.

Now it came with no spare which makes me edgy, so I'm looking to get a spare cut , local key cutter quotes 50-60 quid.

For a car 17years old !!

We would really like a key each, rather than cut'n'pasting chips about the place.

Would appreciate if anyone can recommend a on online?

or perhaps high st key cutter who isn't hand carving it from pure unicorn horn.

cheers

Edited 3 February, 201214 yr by Jon-Paul Mountford

the bloke in alton high street did my key (no transponder) for free! he charges 20 pound for ones with transponders. and normally 5 quid for standard keys but i guess my luck was in that day.

Thats all i can help you with, sorry. that being said i know someone who bought a new key for a mk5 golf and all they did was send pictures in to a website and they got a key cut FROM PICTURES :S for £25 with transponder. (not sure how that even works personally but hey!) ill try find out this website for you

was it

http://www.carkeyhelp.co.uk/categories/VW/Keys/

I've heard mixed reports about those guys, if it works.

I'd give them a try if few people can vouch for them but some have said it a waste of money.

Edited 3 February, 201214 yr by Jon-Paul Mountford

Google hinkleys.

They can cut any key from a picture and provide you with the key number making it very easy to program a new chip at home if you have VAGCOM.

Google hinkleys.

They can cut any key from a picture and provide you with the key number making it very easy to program a new chip at home if you have VAGCOM.

Cheers ... erm .. Whats a vagcom?

Hows it work, is it expensive, and am I likely to need it later for other VW polo things?

So I know a normal keys like £5-6 pounds to cut.

Those above there Keyhelp peeps have quoted £23 ... BUT .... and it's a big but ...

They want me to send them them my only key, to copy the chip,

Which leaves me basically with no car and if it disappears in the mail - I may as well have a large paperweight.

VAGCOM is a fdiagnostic interface that can read error codes reset certain modules and code new chips for the immobiliser. You would deffinatly use it more then once as it does many things. You would need a laptop though. You can get them from eBay for around a tenner delivered.

Hinklys charge iirc 8.50 for a cut key from a digital picture and you don't have to send them the key. Plus they give you the key number which you then use with VAGCOM to get into your immobiliser and program a new chip.

OR... You could glue your existing chip to the sensor ring and get the new key blade cut at a local store, but this means there is no immobiliser.

VAGCOM is a fdiagnostic interface that can read error codes reset certain modules and code new chips for the immobiliser. You would defiantly use it more then once as it does many things. You would need a laptop though. You can get them from eBay for around a tenner delivered.

Hinklys charge iirc 8.50 for a cut key from a digital picture and you don't have to send them the key. Plus they give you the key number which you then use with VAGCOM to get into your immobiliser and program a new chip.

OR... You could glue your existing chip to the sensor ring and get the new key blade cut at a local store, but this means there is no immobiliser.

Thanks for that, now I'm getting interested.

Sounds like it might be a handy thing to own, I assume there's a socket hidden inside the car somewhere?

is this the one ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-VAG-COM-OBD-...6#ht_3252wt_988

I have a laptop, I'm typing on now ( Dell Inspirion 6400 )

we wanted a spare key so we can both use the car - which is why we didn't want to go down the cut'n'paste route.

I am quite savvy with simple mechanical stuff - also good with tekkie stuff but the two in one package is new to me.

Cars with computers are a bit of a mystery so forgive me If I'm being a little slow.

How do you get the code into the key?

Yes that is the right cable but it's in hong kong and can up to a month to get here, if you search for the nearest item to you, you will find them in the uk. They may cost a little more but they will be with you in a few days.

This plugs into the obd socket, this is behind the under steering glovebox, on the left hand side.

VAGCOM is a user friendly program and is fairly easy to understand and use.

To program a new immobiliser chip (a blank one should come with the new key), you would need the key ode (which you will get from Hinkleys When you order your new key) this code allows you to acces the immobiliser menu and you then have to insert your new key into the ignition and the immobiliser will do its thing and the key will now work with your car. Detailed instructions can be found on Ross-tech's website, ross-tech are the people who made the VAGCOM program and also made the original cables/interfaces, the one most of us use are a copied version of these.

Edited 6 February, 201214 yr by dixy

Brilliant...

I think I'm starting to get a handle on this.

a little Googling and these guys cut from a photo .... cut key for £13.12 with delivery.

Thats a key containing a transponder chip in (according to their online chat guy).

http://www.keytrader.co.uk/Vehicle-Keys/Ca...ransponder.html

So let me see if I've got all this right ..

Step by step

I buy that - and get it cut by them, so that I now have a key that fits the locks and won't run the car.

Then I get a Vogcom Lead - Which plug into my car.

I then download one of these (matching one of the numbers to my car)

http://www.ross-tech.com/vcds/download/

And the I ADD the code from the key into the immobilizer system?

I didn't fully understand the descriptions on the ROSS-TECH site.

But if I understand correctly I can put up to 4 keys into the system

Correct me if I've got any of that wrong?

oh and I think this one is okkay?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAG-USB-diagnost...#ht_2892wt_1115

its a UK seller that one

Edited 6 February, 201214 yr by Jon-Paul Mountford

The cable will come with the correct software included so no need to download from ross-tech.

The key number is the special number provided from vw (was printed on the sales receipt for the car and stamped into a metal tab on the original keys) this number is needed to gain entry Into the immobiliser system via VAGCOM. If the key cutting place cannot give you this number it makes this whole process a lot more difficult.

From what they have told me, once you send them a high quality picture of the key blade, they have software that reads this and tranlsate this into numbers, then they're machinery will then cut a new key to these numbers, they then also provide a copy of this to the customer.

The link to the guide on Ross-techs site will make sense once you have the program up and running in front of you.

Cheers...

Now they have changed thier mind - they Won't cut the Key.. Sheesh !!

"Sorry for the confusing reply!, we can not cut this key for you, we can supply an uncut, unprogrammed key to you for a cost of £10.72. "

So that has me with a blank key?

And no number for the key or the immobiliser?

Urg my head is spinning.

So have you a link to a place who will do it from the picture?

I never began to imagine a key for 1995 car would be so complex.

God forbid I loose the ONE key I have.

I tried googling Hinkleys and got everthing but a key cutter.

Almost there...

http://www.hickleys.com/diagnostics/keys_menu.php

You can buy keys and transponders separately. Coding for the non-specialist is very hard. Suggest, you shop around on the high street or bite the bullet and go to VW. It's difficult - but then again, that's what provides the security for your car!

PoloD.

I'm still a bit agog.

I popped into a local Timpsons as I was passing in the high st,

He popped in his scanning machine and cheerily said, that'll be £40 quid..

Now I'm Not being Fagin here.

But I think thats a bit pricey, I know the blanks are about £10.

It must take all of a minute to cut and program.

And all want is a backup in case the current one finds a drain or escapes it's key-ring.

So I'll keep scouting about and if I find an alternative, or even find a cutter who isn't hand carving it from unicorn horn then I'll update this.

Cheers

Edited 13 February, 201214 yr by Jon-Paul Mountford