I don't have my valet key. It was lost to history some years ago before I acquired my kitty (99 XK8). I'm curious, what would happen if I were to push the valet button without a valet key? Would I be locked out of my trunk and glove box forever?

 

Nope the regular keys always work.

 

Don't forget, the valet key (green) can not open the trunk, or I believe a locked glove compartment. The valet button disables the trunk release button on the dash board, so the premise is if you don't want a driver (valet for example) to get in your trunk, you hand him/her the green valet key, press the valet button and keep the black normal key and the remote transmitter. That way they have no way into the trunk without a sledgehammer.

 

+1

After pressing the Valet button, the vehicle can be started or locked with the green headed Valet Key but the luggage compartment and glove box can ONLY be opened with a black headed Master Key.

Using the Master Key or the Remote cancels the Valet setting.

Graham

 

If you compare a valet key very carefully to a regular key, there are some very small differences in the cut. I am not sure if a transponder is used, but a locksmith friend showed me the differences.....Mike

 

Both Master and Valet Keys have a transponder chip embedded in the plastic head.

The difference between a Master (black) and a Valet (green) is only in the section marked in red. The blue sections are identical:



The Master red section is smaller diameter than the Valet. A Valet key can be converted into a Master but not the other way round.

Graham

 

The transponder chip is under the cover flap circled in red:



Difficult to photograph!

Graham

 

Here's a fuzzy pic of a transponder on it's way out of the valet key.