Has anyone bought one of these second gen replacement key shells off of ebay. They are really cheap so I'm assumming they are knock offs but wondering what the quality is like.

 

Sorry. Here's a link.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-PO...eb4ebc&vxp=mtr

 

Would be nice if someone came up with a solution to hide the long metal key within the remote housing, that thing can take out a 'nut' if you're not careful sitting down with the keys in your pocket :P

 

Agree,...might as well be a screwdriver!

 

Lol!

 

Wish I saw those a year ago. I ended up buying a used remotes and swapped the guts & key blades. At the time the best prices were in the $75 range for a used remote.

 

Well, I figured for under $35 it was worth taking a chance, so I ordered one. Once it arrives I'll let you know how it is and post pics.

 

let me know how it works out. i have one button which is partially broken.

 

I'm about to buy one also. Let us know how it goes.

 

The difficulty will not be parting with $35 but in removing the transponder chip. You'll need the eyes and patience of a watch repairer. Also, watch out for the small piece of plastic and the spring that lock the blade into the housing - very easy to pop out and lose. Someone has posted a great DIY with pictures on how to do this. A search might turn it up.

 

When I bought the car, the guy who traded it in handed over one key and promised the dealership the other. The dealer said that almost no one actually bothers to send in the 2nd key, so they went ahead and ordered a new one. They called me today at the 2nd key (now my third) came in today from the previous owner, so I'm going to try it on that one, just in case I jack it up. LOL

 

Got mine in today, the quality appears to be excellent. Very hard to tell it from the OEM key. Swapped the guts out, works great!

 

How difficult was the swap? "Do you need the eyes and patience of a watch repairer"
I want to try this but don't know how hard the job will be?

 

it's not that bad at all. you will need

- glue softener (goo gone, or the more effective goof off) - to soften transponder ship from donor key
- exact knife scapel pen - to cut and scrap away at the glue holding the transponder ship from donor key
- some basic white glue - just a few dabs to hold the transponder chip into the new key.
- perhaps a flat head screw driver to pry out the chip when you feel you've cut enough glue away.

parts costed me 15$ at home depot.

just make sure you cut and scrap away at the glued areas and not the transponder chip itself.... both my donor 997.1 keys were destroyed in the process... this is common during this process as the 997.1 keys really caked on the glue heavily to hold the chip in place. this is completely unnecessary as the oem 997.2 keys barely use any glue from the dealer.

it took me about 30-40 mins per key. i have also updated the thread on the other forum re this process.

i hope this helps and best of luck!

 

Easier than changing spark plugs.