99 9-3 Lost key

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Steve - 15 Feb 2006 16:21 GMT

A friend has a 99 9-3, and lost the key. She said she went to the dealer
and said they would have to replace the whole anti theft system for $2,000.
This sounds a little crazy. If my key in my 96 Mercedes is lost, it is
$200 for a new one. Any suggestions?

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Dave Hinz - 15 Feb 2006 16:58 GMT

> A friend has a 99 9-3, and lost the key. She said she went to the dealer
> and said they would have to replace the whole anti theft system for $2,000.
> This sounds a little crazy. If my key in my 96 Mercedes is lost, it is
> $200 for a new one. Any suggestions?

Yup. Don't lose the last key, because it gets really expensive.
Sorry to be blunt, but yeah. The car comes with two sets, and without
either of them, the car doesn't know that you're not someone trying to
steal it, so it can't differentiate between a forgetful owner, and a
criminal.

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Bill Jackson - 15 Feb 2006 23:39 GMT

I've seen every now and then a "theft kit" on ebay for the Saabs that
includes two keys and the TWICE modules as well as the locks to match.
Generally a lot less than what the dealer would charge you for the parts,
but someone with the computer system would have to put it in.

But yea, don't lose that last key, it's big trouble. Last time I lost my
2nd key, I was at the dealer getting a new one within a week.

>> A friend has a 99 9-3, and lost the key. She said she went to the dealer
>> and said they would have to replace the whole anti theft system for
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> steal it, so it can't differentiate between a forgetful owner, and a
> criminal.

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Bob - 16 Feb 2006 21:26 GMT

>But yea, don't lose that last key, it's big trouble. Last time I lost my
>2nd key, I was at the dealer getting a new one within a week.

Yes, alas it is true. Saab made the decision that *no one* was going
to be able to steal a Saab once locked with a remote. Other makes have
provided means for field programming - which allows them to be stolen.

In the same vein... don't get your only remote wet or it will be a
long time before you drive home. Also, test your remote by
consistently using it from a distance so you know when the batteries
are getting weak.

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Bill Jackson - 17 Feb 2006 03:30 GMT

your remote will tell you when the batteries are getting weak. And when they
are, the remote will still open the car when you're standing right next to
it. Mine did just that two weeks ago.

I *THINK* you can still open the car with the key if the remote is dead, but
if you don't have a key that is married to the car, you're in trouble

>>But yea, don't lose that last key, it's big trouble. Last time I lost my
>>2nd key, I was at the dealer getting a new one within a week.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> consistently using it from a distance so you know when the batteries
> are getting weak.

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Bob - 17 Feb 2006 17:01 GMT

>your remote will tell you when the batteries are getting weak. And when they
>are, the remote will still open the car when you're standing right next to
>it. Mine did just that two weeks ago.

Mine never told me AFAIK. Maybe that's year specific?

As for weak.. yes.. that's why I use my remote from 25+ feet away.
When it stops working at that distance I change batteries.

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