Red Key - Do You Need It?

[Guest carliterature]

Hi

 

Searched for this before anyone asks but can't find an answer to this specific question.

 

Been to look to a Galaxy (98S 2.8 Ghia X) today and it seems quite fair for the year. Anyway, having looked through the paperwork I asked about keys: this one has one normal black key and one black remote key. The owner didn't know if there was a red key but would ask her bloke. Not yet heard but I'm off to see it again tomorrow.

 

Anyway, is it necessary to have the red key, assuming this one's not got one? Can I get away with any immobilser access issues with the two black ones? If I need a red key what sort of price am I looking at as obviously I'd ask for this to be knocked off the price.

 

I do have the red key still for our previous Galaxy. Can this old one be used/re-programmed? If it can, can an independent locksmith do it?

 

Cheers

 

Keith

[Guest vr6galaxy]

The red key is the master key, all other keys can be reprogramed into the PAT's system with it, although if you have two working keys these can be used to program another key into the system

it's not a life threatening situation is there is no red key it just makes it's a little bit harder! the red key from your demised Galaxy cannot be used in the new one as it will be linked to the PAT's system in the old car, to link it to the new Galaxy will involve a trip to the dealers to reprogram the PAT's system to accept it

you could how ever use the lack of red key as a reduction in asking price! unless the present owner is reading this of course ;)

[Guest carliterature]

Just looked in the "Questions About the Galaxy" forum. It seems I may be fretting about nothing. I red in a couple of threads that from 1998 the red master key was replaced by a black master key. If this is the case, this is what I've seen today! Does anyone know from when in 1998 the red key was withdrawn? Was it 1998 model year (ie late 1997) or sometime actually during 1998 production. This car was first registered in August 1998. Can someone who knows or who has a 1998 Gal confirm this?

 

Presumably then, if it doesn't actually have/need the red key and I get another remote key cut, I can programme it in as per the manual instructions or from those one an appropriate thread on here?

 

Thanks again for all your help lads

 

Keith

[Guest vr6galaxy]

98 + no red key master key just a plain black one, it was at this time that you could program in extra keys by the use of two existing working programed keys

[Guest MyPerfectVehicle]

I suppose it really depends how well you look after your keys!.2 will be fine if you just need a spare.however my mates wife is always losing keys and did a record 6 sets in one year once.lol ;)

[Topbloke]

i have a late 98 on a s plate (nov 98) and all i have is a remote key and two ordinary keys with the immobliser chip embedded within the key only advice that i can offer is make sure all keys given will fit and start the car, as a spare key but no chip or uncoded wont get you very far, just into the vehicle ;)