Saab Key Programming

saab key fob cars manufactured since 1994 feature an immobilizer that relies on coded keys. Adding an extra key requires the purchase of a new transponder as well as special programming. This is usually handled by the dealer using the Tech2 diagnostic tool.

This can be expensive. It is always advisable to keep an extra set of keys on hand.

Transponder key

The transponder key comes with an electronic chip that transmits a signal to the car when it is placed in the ignition. The car then checks the signal to see whether it matches the one in the key. If both signals match it will open itself and begin. This is an excellent way to safeguard your car from theft.

Transponder keys are an extremely popular accessory for cars, but they are not as safe as traditional metal keys. While the metal part of a traditional key could be cut and copied, a transponder is protected by an electronic chip. The chip has a unique code that is programmed into the car's computer to identify it.

The car will recognize the Saab keyfob and allow it to be turned on. But, it's only able to do so if the key fob has a non-modified chip that has been programmed to match the original. The car won't start in the event that the key has not been programmed to match.

It's important to make sure that you have a spare key for your Saab. This is especially true when you live in a rural location that has many car thieves. You can get a brand new key for your Saab key battery by visiting the dealership, without having to pay their expensive costs. In the majority of cases, you can have a new key made on-the-spot for less than half the cost you'd pay at an auto dealer.

Wired key

Saab cars usually come with two keys when they're new. If you have only one, it's a good idea to get an additional key fob as quickly as you can in case you lose it the car will require an entirely new CIM unit and the locking cylinders will need to be replaced. This could be expensive particularly if you are purchasing a used vehicle.

The next step is to connect the row and columns wires to your microcontroller. This is the most difficult part of the project and will require a large amount of soldering. There isn't a standard method to do it, however, you should plan how to connect and Saab Key Battery solder each column and row. For this keyboard, there are five rows and 17 columns. So there will be 22 microcontroller wires and pins that you need to connect.

Once the rows and columns are soldered, it's the time to connect them to the key switches. To do this you must place an inverter over each pin of the key switch and then solder it. This will protect the pins from current, and prevent them from getting shorted. The diode allows current to only flow in only one direction. It comes with a visual indicator, a black band, that shows which way current will flow.

Some of the tools offered at auto parts storeslike the Autel MaxiIM IM608 Pro and IM508 -- could aid shop customers or DIY customers in certain instances program replacement saab car keys keys and restore lost immobilizer data Sanabria says. The tools connect to OBD ports and guide the customer through each step and make the process more straightforward than replacing the car's computer.

Jump-starting the battery

A lot of people keep an assortment of tools in their trunk to jump-start a vehicle in an emergency, but this might not be the best idea for newer cars. These cars are equipped with a variety of digital and Saab key battery computer systems that communicate with one another. A surge of voltage when the battery is connected another one could cause damage to the parts making your car inoperable.

Start the vehicle you are using and allow it to run for approximately two minutes before you connect the cables to the one that is disabled. Attach the red clip to the positive terminal of the battery that is good (it will have "POS" or "+" on it). Attach the other end to a clean, unpainted metal surface under the hood of the disabled car. The engine block is a great alternative. Do not connect the black cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery, since it could spark an ignition that ignites the gasoline in the engine bay.

Once the cables are connected, start the vehicle that has been disabled and let it run for about five minutes before you disconnect them in reverse order. The battery in your Saab 9-3 will be recharged while you drive. It may take a while it to recharge again. You should purchase a second key fob, as soon as possible. Replacing the only one that works requires the installation and programming of a new computer chip.

Replacement case

Many Saab owners only have one key for their vehicle and if they lose that key, it will cost them. The reason for this is that it's costly to buy a new key, and this involves replacing the CIM (Column Integration Module) or TWICE on older models, in addition to programming. In the event of theft, or any other disaster it is advisable to have an extra key. Don't purchase a used key, even if it's "new." Keys that are claimed-new from a second-hand store will not work and are likely to fail at the critical moment.

The dealer will charge you top dollar if you only have one working key. We can, however, reset and reprogram the computer's EEPROM in order to prepare it to accept the new key without having to replace the whole system. That can save you a significant amount of money. It's also a lot cheaper than waiting until you lose your sole key.