My 99 XJ8 came with only 1 key and remote.

Went to the dealer in Farmington Hills, MI. and they told me the folowing:

Transponder key cut only - $95
Program Key - $115.00
Remote - $225.00
Program Remote - $115.00

To be safe, I paid $95.00 for a copy without programming because the car was not with me at the time. I knew that if I lost the original key before I got the car to the dealer for programming, that I'd be able to at least get in the car to put it in neutra for the tow truck driver.

The worst part is, I tried the key this morning and it does not work!

It won't do anthing except lock the driver door. No unlock, no go in the ignition.

I knew that the likelyhood of the car being rekeyed always exists so I gave them the original key to match it up.

Now that I'm done with my rant...how do these keys work? I'm familar with the profiles of regular keys and how they move the tumblers. On these, I'm clueless. I assume it has to do with the height the key is cut to so I'm going to get out the calipers and compare, but some real insight would help.

Thanks,

Ken

 

the keys are chipped and have to be read by the security system to start the car. you need to take the car and all key back to the dealer and have them programmed(married) to the car. right now your new key is just dating the car
and yes you pay for programming approx $100-120

 

I payed same amount at dealer for my new key, with remote and programming.On my remark that with $500 i could make one from Gold, the manager told me ,yes, you could, but it would only open the door and no more than that. So BRUTAL is absolute right, once you put the key in the ignition, the engine regognises if its fake ,or not, and only then starts!

 

"It won't do anthing except lock the driver door. No unlock, no go in the ignition".

All TIBBE keys will LOCK the driver's door but only the correct key will UNLOCK or operate the ignition. Put both keys side-by-side and see if the cuts are identical. They probably cut yours by the VIN and looked it up on the Jaguar secure website. I have seen alot of cars that the info was wrong regarding Key Codes and Radio Codes. The sure way to get it cut correctly is to give them your original operating key and tell them to MATCH it.
You can programme your own new remote with the headlamp flash procedure.

bob gauff

 

. . . . and buy a used remote on eBay for less than $50, sometimes, much less.

The programming instructions are posted under the XK8/R FAQ sticky here:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=29800

Nothing difficult.

 

Yes they looked it up and I gave them the good key. I guess they did not check their work.

BTW the tips of the keys do look different. I'll post a pic in a few.

 

The Original key that came with the car is on the left in both pictures.

What do you guys think is wrong here?





Thanks!

Ken

 

The green key looks like a valet key, it being green and not having the extra cut at the tip, but that shouldn't be causing the problems you're having.

 

What does the valet key limit? I assume Trunk and Glove Box Access but is there anything else?

 

I does limit those, and only when valet mode is activated on the dashboard. It doesn't have any effect on speed, which I found out when I first got the car, and would use the valet key by accident once in a while.

 

those pics are alittle hard to see clearly, you also need side shots of all 4 sides. really look for misscuts on both sides, cause I dont know if its the light, but the 2nd key cut on the right doesnt match the left. (1st cut starts from the plastic thumb side) the 2nd cut looks miscut, also lube your locks many times new keys are sharp cut and locks a sticky leading to no turning, make sure the cut are alittle smoothed. They are supposed to wire wheel them after cutting(thats why theres a wire wheel on the key machine to smooth the cuts)

 

I'm sure if you take the key back to the dealer and let them program it for you (for a fee) if they find the key is not cut properly, they'll do another for you. Easy fix...you still need it programmed though.

As test point instructed, do your remotes yourself, save some $$.

 

Thanks guys. I'll just take the car with me next time.

Sorry about the pics. I need to get a tripod for close up work like that.

Ken

 

The green key is the Valet key and will not open the trunk and glovebox. I use our Valet and a remote so when I leave the car I give them that key and I use the valet button to prevent anyone from getting into the trunk. If you do not touch the valet button you can open the trunk with the trunk open button on the dash or the remote if you have one.

 

Ok....I went back to the dealer today. Turns out the guy that cut the key was not the best one at "Aging" the key. I came back about an hour later and took the key home to find that it works perfectly now.

I'm not sure if they "aged" it or recut it. All I know is that it now works.

Thanks to everyone for your inputs.

Ken