QPV key programming

modelT

Member
Messages
157
I have a similar problem in that I only have one key. My local locksmith has said £85 for key that will fit door lock and start car (so no remote operation), apparently no risk as not messing with the car. He said he would not be happy messing with the car. I did talk to Timpsons and the guy there was very knowledgable. He said £250-300 for a full remote working key and mentioned it was based on Fiat. I think for now I will just get £85 key.

I do have the key code pin card thing in my handbook docs folder.
 

Harvey_Tim

Member
Messages
371
I have a similar problem in that I only have one key. My local locksmith has said £85 for key that will fit door lock and start car (so no remote operation), apparently no risk as not messing with the car. He said he would not be happy messing with the car. I did talk to Timpsons and the guy there was very knowledgable. He said £250-300 for a full remote working key and mentioned it was based on Fiat. I think for now I will just get £85 key.

I do have the key code pin card thing in my handbook docs folder.
Thanks for the info.

ps. Have been enjoying your videos, great work!
 

Neptune.

Member
Messages
161
I just got a new key being made (but I live in China so not sure it will be super helpful)
Anyway, the guy did it in about two hours, he said it was the same system as used on Ferrari.

In order to program the key, he had to take out the whole fusebox that is located near the steering wheel. On the backside of this fusebox there is the main body computer, which apparently controls the key system.
He removed its whole mainboard and he soldered some wires directly onto its main chip's legs.

After that he connected to the chip using some kind of interface and loaded some files. He was following a tutorial on his smartphone so I guess this is fairly common here in China.

Anyway, after that he carved the key using a mini portable fully automated CNC milling machine that was super fun to watch.
Then he reinstalled the fuse box and put the key in the ignition.

Last, he used some kind of wire loop in order to sniff the signal coming to/from the transponder, then he used a special tablet connected to the OBD port, did a few operations and it was done.

The key is fully functional, just like an original one. It can control all the remote functions and start the engine.
That cost me 100 euro for everything.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Staff member
Messages
35,805
I just got a new key being made (but I live in China so not sure it will be super helpful)
Anyway, the guy did it in about two hours, he said it was the same system as used on Ferrari.

In order to program the key, he had to take out the whole fusebox that is located near the steering wheel. On the backside of this fusebox there is the main body computer, which apparently controls the key system.
He removed its whole mainboard and he soldered some wires directly onto its main chip's legs.

After that he connected to the chip using some kind of interface and loaded some files. He was following a tutorial on his smartphone so I guess this is fairly common here in China.

Anyway, after that he carved the key using a mini portable fully automated CNC milling machine that was super fun to watch.
Then he reinstalled the fuse box and put the key in the ignition.

Last, he used some kind of wire loop in order to sniff the signal coming to/from the transponder, then he used a special tablet connected to the OBD port, did a few operations and it was done.

The key is fully functional, just like an original one. It can control all the remote functions and start the engine.
That cost me 100 euro for everything.
I wish we had him over in the UK. All things keys here are a ball ache.

What base key did you use, the Chinese copy with no transponder, the factory base key or something else?
 

Neptune.

Member
Messages
161
I wish we had him over in the UK. All things keys here are a ball ache.
Yeah, told him he could make a lot of money working in europe, he had almost every key to every possible brand in his shop.
FYI, I asked the Maserati dealer at first here and they told me a new key would cost 10 000 rmb (1260 Euro / 1060 pounds). Which is why I tried to find another solution, obviously :p

Maserati really don't do themselves any favors by pricing simple stuff and repairs so high, that's one of the main reasons their car values decrease so fast and so hard, which itself it one of the main reasons people hesitate to buy their cars. Too bad they can't seem to realize that.

What base key did you use, the Chinese copy with no transponder, the factory base key or something else?
I'm not really sure, it looks just like an original one but I don't think it is since it was so cheap.
I guess it has a transponder because it can start the engine just fine and I've seen him use that electromagnetic sniffer thing to program the new key. I suppose if it had no transponder he probably wouldn't bother use this thing? Surely it's not an issue for chinese factories to make a small transponder, they do pretty much everything nowadays.
The key looks, feels and works 100% like the original, I can't differentiate it from the original in any way.

I'd love to open the key to make sure but the screw is under the logo and I fear damaging it...
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Staff member
Messages
35,805
What I suspect he did was the $9 Chinese key, swapped your rubber buttons over and glued in his own transponder.

He wired into the body computer, read the transponder code then mimicked it. It’s more of a clone key rather than a new key.

Hats off to him.
 

Neptune.

Member
Messages
161
What I suspect he did was the $9 Chinese key, swapped your rubber buttons over and glued in his own transponder.
Actually I didn't have a second key at all, the reason why I made a new key was in case I were to lose the only one that was given to me when buying the car. :confused:

So he couldn't swap anything.

Didn't see him opening the new key at any point either so I suppose the transponder was already in it?

He wired into the body computer, read the transponder code then mimicked it. It’s more of a clone key rather than a new key.

Hats off to him.
Yes that sounds very possible indeed.

I should probably have asked more questions but the guy wasn't very talkative, also it was very technical stuff that I would probably have a hard time fully understanding in Chinese. ;)
 
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