 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / February 2007PK3 Security Key Issues
Having learned some interesting behavior from experience, I'd like to share with anyone interested. I wanted to install an aftermarket remote starter on my wife's 2002 Montana. Because it uses PK3 keys, manuals stated an additional PK3 key placed inside an additional transponder module was required. I found a shortcut that works for me because I don't value the PK3 key security anyway. I simply duc-taped an original PK3 key inside the steering column, next to the ignition module. Now the very expensive PK3 keys don't work, but cheap hardware store copies do. Also the remote starter works fine without the additional transponder expense. What I learned could save someone simply wanting extra keys money on any vehicle equipped with PK3 security keys. Just do my duc-tape trick, and buy as many cheap hardware-store key copies as you like.  Signaturejmoleary http://www.automotiveforums.com That ghetto-mod has been posted on here plenty of times before and it is not recomended either. After some time, that PK3 key that you have tapped to the car will fail and then you will not be able to start it. Trust me on this. I install remote starters for a living and have seen plenty of my competitor's vehicles come in with this ghetto-mod and making things mess up. Signatureponchonutty http://www.automotiveforums.com My "fix" has been in place doing exactly what I want for some time now. I personally doubt your report of eventual failure. The PK3 key held close to the ignition sensor is no different than always using the same PK3 key in the normal fashion. If it ever fails, though the fix is to simply re-program the PK3 key into the car's memory. I have directions on how to accomplish this. I don't mean to start an argument with you. I am only reporting my experience so that someone else can make their own judgement on whether they would like to copy what I did. I must point out that since by your admission you are a professional installer, it would be advantageous to your business to convince people that this simple, cheap alternative has problems. Signaturejmoleary http://www.automotiveforums.com Well, I'm only reporting what I know since I've done 100's of remote starters on vehicles with the PK3 or simular systems. See, when these transponder based systems first came out, the only way to bypass them when installing a remote start was to do what you did or install the key in a box that had an antenna that travelled up to the ignition switch. When the remote start would activate, it'd energize the relay inside the box so the key's code would travel in the antenna and the car would see the correct code. The problem with this is that in extreme weather conditions, the pellet inside the key would change it's strength and in some cases, it's code just enough to make the system fail. This was very common on the newer Ford keys. On GM, it'd sometimes make the computer go nuts and drop ALL KEY CODES. Again, I too don't want to argue. I'm just stating what I've actually come across. Signatureponchonutty http://www.automotiveforums.com |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.