I bought the car over a year ago and it has spent half of that sitting in my garage. It came with only the valet key and two new un-programmed factory key fobs. The valet key has worked perfect, until I changed the car battery and since then it will not start the car. I've checked everything that a basic inquiry says to check and still nothing. I really don't want to take it to the dealer as it seams like I should be able to figure this out but I'm out of things to try. So I welcome any and all suggestions! Thank you all ahead of time!

 

You need a real key and it must be programmed by dealer-level software (some indies have it); take your title and VIN to the dealer and buy black key then let them program both the valet and new key.

 

Jim, I thought they had to have the car to program the keys. This is one thing I don't have a clue about, as my keys don't have a chip. Just looking for info.

 

Jim, so are thinking that the valet key lost its "program" somehow as a result of me replacing the car battery?

Would it follow that had I had the normal black key in addition to the valet key, say even the two originals that came with the car, that when I replaced the car battery all keys must then be reprogrammed? How would changing the battery cause the need for a trip to the dealer to reprogram a previously working key, valet though it may be?

Does the valet key have a battery of some sort in the key that could be dead?

Thank you for your reply and for taking the time to consider my problem.

 

Yes, they need the car, as well as the key (s).

 

Disconnecting the battery should not affect the key recognition, we do it every time we work on the electrical system. Is it possible the connection to the security module is damaged?

 

Let's review the bid: The car started with the valet key; you changed the battery; now the car will not start. Do all the lights come on on the dashboard when you turn the key?

If so, the battery and connections are good. The problem then is the key has lost its coding. But valet keys are different than the regular keys. You need to visit the dealer and buy a new key and then find somebody with the right software to reprogram both keys.


I think you need three things: dealer level software, a regular key, and a tow truck.

 

All the dash lights light up, headlights, etc. so yes battery and connections are good. In the end you may be correct and I will definitely take it in to the dealer. I was just trying to make sure there wasn't something else that might be causing it, something that I could potentially fix myself.

RJ237, thank you for the input, and I will check the connections to the security module.

Jim, thank you again for your replies and thoughts.

 

Not that this would necessarily avoid a trip to the dealer, but do valet keys have some sort of battery in them, that in my case could be causing the problem somehow?

 

No, nor do the black ones. There are batteries in the fob (but they won't program from a green key).

 

Does whether the car is in valet mode or not, effect whether the valet key can start the car?

 

It shouldn't (doing this from memory, since my current car does not have a valet key -- after three tries to get the dealer to sell me a programmable key, to no avail, I said to hell with it). On my previous XJ8, the valet key worked in regular or valet mode (but, if you put it into valet, you won't get it out without a black key).

I have two black keys, and I rotate them every other drive. Two years ago I tried to use the key that was the back up, but it had quit working so I had to have both keys reprogrammed.