Note that from everything I've seen and know about the electronics in this car (experts feel free to chime in on whether I'm correct), this procedure only gives you a key that will start the car. The buttons on the key still won't unlock your doors, pop your trunk, etc.

The starting of the car and the unlocking of the doors/trunk are two totally separate systems. The starting of the car is passive and all of the powered electronics are in the car. This system sends out a radio signal that the little self-contained RFID chip in the fob sees and then it sends its ID back. This is similar to the key cards you get in many hotels or that are used in many secure office buildings where you hold the card against a panel on the door lock. Same mechanism, just adapted to use in a car. In this case, if the system reads the first key and accepts it as good then reads the second key and accepts that as well, then it's put into a programming mode where the next key it reads is added to the internal list of acceptable keys for starting the car. So you CAN create a new key to start your car with two already programmed keys.

However, the unlocking of doors, etc. is what the circuit board with batteries is for in the key. When you push a button on the fob, that system sends a radio signal from the fob to the door lock system in the car which is constantly listening for a signal when the car is off. This is the way pretty much every traditional car key fob works, but this system needs to be programmed with an appropriate AMDS computer hooked up to the in-car door & window ECU.

So, if you have a new key that you want programmed to both start your car AND open your doors and trunk, then you're paying the dealer or some other garage with the appropriate hardware to do the programming. Sucks, but that's about the size of it. I just wish there were more independent garages with the AMDS computer system to properly service them here in the US. The dealers might not be charging highway robbery prices if they had a little more competition.

 

The ones I'm working on will be replacements for the 09-17 model year ECUs, not the fobs for the older cars that require a turn key in the ignition. But thanks for the link, I'll keep them in mind if I ever buy an 05-08 DB9 or Vantage.

 

For those that want to fully program keys, this is new and looks promising...


It looks like the Chinese are starting to come through for us on reverse engineering how these ECUs work.

I plan to eventually get one and see how it does as I have a spare valet key that I was able to program to start my car with the other two keys, but which doesn't unlock my doors.

 

wouldn't mind a Chinese knock off of the cheap plastic ECU key... even used ones are a couple hundred $$.

 

Reviving old thread here but has anyone tried this? I'm in the only have one key boat and wondering if any similar jaguar key with a transponder can be cut and programmed just for safety to have a backup!

 

my plastic key for my 2009 Vantage cost me about $350 cdn + $75 to program at the dealership, so not the end of the world

 

Wow the dealer here in Vegas is a different story. $250 for the key and $375 to program. Oof.

 

In case anyone is in need of a spare ignition key just for safety:

Call up a local automotive key cutter. It's a Jag key with a 4D60 transponder in it. My local guy just copied the transponder in my existing key so I now have a working spare Incase I ever lose it. It's not a pretty Aston key but it starts the car and nice to have a backup.

Cost me $265

 

Hello
Just came back from dealership in South Florida also have 2009 V8 vantage. They wanted around $4000 for new key and programming. I guess these is because of new tariffs?
How did you solve?

 

Just came back from dealership in South Florida also have 2009 V8 vantage. They wanted around $4000 for new key and programming. I guess these is because of new tariffs?
How did you solve?

 

For $4000 it must have been a Cristal key and not a plastic valet key. Mine was the valet key, if you search the forum for Key programming I believe that some people had good success doing it themselves

 

$4,000 for a new key?? Are they still high from NYE?

 

I bought the think diag..no luck as yet programming my fob..still trying…has got very frustrating…

 

@Import I've successfully done it with my Launch X431 scan tool on 2 different Astons. Remind me to bring it next time we meet.

 

That is very kind..and absolutely will do that…thanks..and happy new year…you doing van dusen if it happens?