holden key question

[younglion]

hi guys i couldnt find an answer anywhere online so im trying here because no doubt there are some other commodore owners here, i have lost the small metal rod that sticks out of the key that touches the ignition barrel, what is this rod for and will it matter that ive lost it, i thought it might be some form of immobiliser but the car started fine.

[Chev_350]

hi guys i couldnt find an answer anywhere online so im trying here because no doubt there are some other commodore owners here, i have lost the small metal rod that sticks out of the key that touches the ignition barrel, what is this rod for and will it matter that ive lost it, i thought it might be some form of immobiliser but the car started fine.

I would guess that it recharges the remote's battery.

[brchi17]

I would guess that it recharges the remote's battery.

if that's the case he'll know in a few days then.....sorry but i don't know what it does either....

[Jace]

You will need to go & get a new key head programmed at your local friendly holden dealer. Cost maybe $100-$120 depending on where you go & they can usually do it while you wait depending on how busy they are at the time.

[younglion]

so i just rock up and ask for a new key? What does it recharge? the central locking or something more important

[Chev_350]

so i just rock up and ask for a new key? What does it recharge? the central locking or something more important

Well yeah, the battery goes dead, you can't get in...well you can use the key blade itself but if you have an alarm it will go off.

[05shan]

I was told it was something to do with the imobiliser, until a mate lost his and his car still started. He got a replacement head from Holden for $160. That includes programming. Although when mine went flat i bought a new head and had it programmed by a local locksmith for $55.
Worth asking around.

[lukey73]

The little button type of thing in the end of the key need to make contact with the ring around the ignition barrel for the car to start, it is supposed to be part of the immobilisation system.

[younglion]

my car still started and its not on there

[Road Runner 72]

It recharged the battery in the key head, as my spare key would not open my central locking, so I used my every day key to unlock it & used my spare in the igniton & went for a long drive, & it seemed to charge it & now opens the doors ;) so I do this every so often.

[Robert Murphy]

Mate,
Get it fixed before it runs out. If it runs out and you cant start the car you will need to tow the car to the dealer, they need both the car and the key to do the reprogram.;)
Rob

[Leigh]

The little metal bit that you lost is the second electrode to recharge the battery inside the key. The first electrode is the key itself (hence why if your key battery keeps going flat, you remove the blade and clean the end;))...

If the battery in the key goes flat, your key effectively becomes like old non-electronic ones where you have to stick it in the barrel of the lock, but as others have said, if you have an alarm, it won't disarm.

Usually, if the key battery goes flat, you can still start the car by pressing the unlock button as you turn the key, but I understand that this is where you need the metal bump as this is when the immobiliser works through that bump...so I'd get a replacement quick;)

[brchi17]

It recharged the battery in the key head, as my spare key would not open my central locking, so I used my every day key to unlock it & used my spare in the igniton & went for a long drive, & it seemed to charge it & now opens the doors ;) so I do this every so often.

I've experienced similar after using the same key for nearly 2 & a half years and was told to use both keys more regularly.....now I swap my two keys around every 12 months & it's not been an issue since.

[toad]

Keys are a bloody nightmare nowadays.

My wife locked the keys to our VE Commodore in the boot at Philip Island. Holden assist were less than useless. RACV came and spent a dew hours not breaking into the car.He even used a hammer on the side windows to no effect. He eventually got a thin rod through the passenger window, opened the glove box and pushed the button to the boot. But they are now electric and with the car locked they don't work. Bugger! He called his mate the Wonthaggi Holden dealer who said there was no hope of getting in, only to trailer it back to GM...as not even Holden dealers can get into them. So I had to drive back to Mt Macedon in my truck (5 hour return trip) to get the spare key. Now I keep a spare in my wallet at all times.

I have a friend with a new WRX which got a flat battery His story of woe over his engine disabler is unbelievable. He was flat bedded to the dealer.

[Leigh]

AIUI, all cars sold in Australia by law have to have a weak point for access, I'd suggest Holden just havn't told anybody down that way yet...

This is to let children out on hot days...5 minutes in a locked car can kill them, so the jaws of life are too slow...

[05shan]

This is to let children out on hot days...5 minutes in a locked car can kill them, so the jaws of life are too slow...
Thats why they invented hammers:p

[younglion]

just had the key replaced at brian gardners cost 85 bucks and they even charged me 2 bucks for two genuine holden screws!!!!!

[rayman]

AIUI, all cars sold in Australia by law have to have a weak point for access, I'd suggest Holden just havn't told anybody down that way yet...

Yes that's correct.They are called windows.

[toad]

AIUI, all cars sold in Australia by law have to have a weak point for access, I'd suggest Holden just havn't told anybody down that way yet...

This is to let children out on hot days...5 minutes in a locked car can kill them, so the jaws of life are too slow...

If you are locked inside the car you can still open it by opening the inside door handles. Likewise if you are locked in the boot (either you have been car jacked or are a bit kinky) there is an internal handle to release yourself. But if a baby is locked in the car I would suggest the windscreen is the easiest way in.

[Leigh]

If you are locked inside the car you can still open it by opening the inside door handles. Likewise if you are locked in the boot (either you have been car jacked or are a bit kinky) there is an internal handle to release yourself. But if a baby is locked in the car I would suggest the windscreen is the easiest way in.
Even if barrel locked:confused:

I don't mean a hammer or removing a window either...the VT-VZ has a special way of getting in that requires knowledge of it;) Very difficult to explain, and unless you know what you are doing you damage the vehicle and still can't open it:eek: There was an article on A Current Affair last year about how the latest lot of car theives had got hold of all the "special" ways into cars...

[malscar]

Icfp2297 (quote)the latest lot of car theives had got hold of all the "special" ways into cars(unquote)

Yep, called a tow truck.:p Why break in when you can carry it away and no one thinks anything about it?

As to the VZ, if I dead lock it with one of my daughters in it, they can not get out unless they go through the boot. (or they con me into unlocking it) It did teach them not to dawdle.

[brchi17]

....As to the VZ, if I dead lock it with one of my daughters in it, they can not get out unless they go through the boot. (or they con me into unlocking it) It did teach them not to dawdle.

Must admit, I did noticed this when I got my 1st Commodore a few years ago....unlike the Falcon when the doors are unlocked by pulling on the door handle in the Holden this does not unlock/open the door....

[Leigh]

I think you'll find it a common feature on modern cars Brad:p Was easy to steal cars in the 80's by smashing a rear quarter window and letting yourself into the car...

Again Mal, you be barking up the wrong tree...

I'll try to repeat in more plain English for those having troubles...I was out with a work collegue in a then new VX, she locked the keys in the car. RACV came out and got into the car in 20 seconds flat, no damage and no tow truck...they said they can also get in when it is barrel locked...

[malscar]

[quote=lcfp2297;198356]
Again Mal, you be barking up the wrong tree...
(Quote]


Nope Leigh, fully understood what you were saying. Tow truck comment was just saying that for the professional car thief this how quite a few now operate. If you check the part I quoted this will show you.

The dead lock part was just saying how dangerous it could be to anyone locked in.