Programming a New Key

[GoHack]

Hi,

I just got a second key for my GS. The dealer didn't charge me for the key cut, but wanted $150 for the programming.

Doing some research on the net, I found that there is a way to do it yourself.

Well I tried it, and it partially worked, in that I can now lock and unlock my doors w/the new key, but it appears to have done something to the Master key, in that, I can't start the car w/it anymore. It just locks and unlocks the doors only like the other one. It also won't shut the alarm off on the car either, unless I open and close the doors, and lock them.

I guess there is a way to program the keys w/o the master key, but it totally erases the Master when done, and as such, it too has to be reprogrammed.

I'm a little leery to do it, since I don't know if the Master is now totally no good anymore, program wise, or needs reprogramming.

 

[MelsRegal]

When you say you got a second key, do you mean you got a second key fob with the flip out key?
Did you read the instructions on page 2-5 of the owners manual?
https://my.buick.com/content/dam/gm.../2013/buick/regal/2013_buick_regal_owners.pdf

 

[GoHack]

When you say you got a second key, do you mean you got a second key fob with the flip out key?
Did you read the instructions on page 2-5 of the owners manual?
https://my.buick.com/content/dam/gm.../2013/buick/regal/2013_buick_regal_owners.pdf

I just got the Key Fob, which I ordered through my local Buick dealer, and because of my long wait for it, due to the GM strike, they went and cut the physical key for no charge, but wanted $150 to program it.

My driver's door can be open with, and without a physical key, remotely, as well as has a button on it as well, to lock/unlock it. The physical key access on the door is not covered w/a cap or anything.

As for my ignition, it is a Push Button only, and because the vehicle is a manual, it doesn't have a remote start.

As for the process, I thought I did it correctly, but evidently not. I can lock/unlock the doors w/both keys, both the new and the Master, but I can't start the car w/either key. Once again, it a push-button start.

I hate these convenience items on cars. I just bought a new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the basic Sport model, w/a manual transmission, w/no electric windows nor door locks, but sadly came w/a push button start.

 

[MelsRegal]

Does that mean you did or didnt follow the instructions in the owners manual?

 

[BoostedRegal2.0]

I assume he didn't follow the instructions in the owners manual correctly since the programming wasn't complete. Try it again using the Programming without a Recognized Transmitter so it will program both remotes completely.

 

[GoHack]

Does that mean you did or didnt follow the instructions in the owners manual?

Reviewing the procedure, it looks like I did everything correctly, outside of initially not removing the cupholder liner. I simply just laid the master key into the cupholder.

After doing the manual keylock w/the new key, the DIC displayed, and I went and then removed the cupholder lining and put the new key in the transmitter pocket, then pressed the Start Stop button as directed.

As mentioned, the new key unlocks and locks the doors OK, but nothing else. The same goes w/the Master key as well now, and nothing else, including allowing me to start the car.

I can only guess that by my not removing the cupholder liner, and putting the Master Key into the key pocket there, then that must of been the issue.

So w/both keys now essentially inactive, can they be reprogrammed to be both active?

Thanks!

 

[BoostedRegal2.0]

Yes but obviously you didn't read my post above, and you must remove the cupholder liner for it to work properly.

 

[GoHack]

Yes but obviously you didn't read my post above, and you must remove the cupholder liner for it to work properly.

I'll repeat the process tomorrow, w/the cupholder liner out, and hopefully it'll work this time.

Thanks!

 

[GoHack]

Well I followed everything in the manual to the "T" below, but w/no luck, outside of the horn always going off.

Quote out of the Manual:

"Programming without a Recognized Transmitter (Keyless Access Vehicles Only)
If there are no currently recognized transmitters available, follow this procedure to program up to eight
transmitters. This feature is not available in Canada. This procedure will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. The vehicle must be off and all of the transmitters you wish to program must be with you.

1. Insert the vehicle key of the transmitter into the key lock cylinder located on the outside of the driver door and turn the key to the unlock position, counterclockwise, five times within 10 seconds. CHECK!

The Driver Information Center (DIC) displays REMOTE LEARN PENDING, PLEASE WAIT. The only thing that showed up was KEY 4, and after a few seconds, went out.

2. Wait for 10 minutes until the DIC displays PRESS ENGINE START BUTTON TO LEARN and then press the START button. The DIC display will again show REMOTE LEARN PENDING, PLEASE WAIT. Display went out, after showing KEY 4, w/only the odometer display showing below."


After turning the keylock in the unlock position five (5) times w/in 10 seconds, I got back into the car and put the key in the key slot in the cupholder, w/the liner removed, and the "KEY 4" showing on the DIC display, and after a few seconds, the display went out, and nothing else showed up, and the horn (alarm) going off.

 

[BoostedRegal2.0]

It seems like it would be best to have the dealer program the remotes since following the instructions in the owners manual don't work.

 

[GoHack]

Well Good News!

After trying a few times, w/o any success, as I noted above, I bit the bullet and made arrangements to have the car brought to the dealer, and the keys done by them. Since I couldn't drive the vehicle, I had to call for a wrecker to bring the vehicle there.

The wrecker shows up this morning, and the first thing the driver had to say about my GS was, that he loved it, especially it being a manual. 😉

So I gave him the key, and he went looking for a place for the ignition key, which I had to tell him, there wasn't one, and that you needed to simply press the Start/Stop Button on the dash. He then puts the remote key, the original one I had, up to the Start/Stop Button on the dash, pushes the button, and the car starts up. No where in the owners manual does it tell you to do that. Appalled, after having tried several times, as well as very happy, I went and drove the car to the dealer, w/him following, w/o incident.

Once there, I thanked the driver w/a nice big tip, being very grateful, and happy, that he got it running, saving me perhaps up to $300. It's $150 total, to program a new key, and up to $300, if the car was locked out in theft mode. I have AAA, so the wrecker service didn't cost me anything. The driver also cancelled the call.

While there, I went and tested the new key, which I had programmed myself above, placing the master key far away from the car, and it too worked. So the process in the owners manual does work, outside of having to put the key up next to the Start/Stop Button after, which the manual doesn't state.

Being very happy, and cancelling my appointment at the dealer, I went and filled the car up, and went for a nice long ride, well over 200 miles. It was the first long drive which I took w/the car since purchasing it. It ran absolutely great on the interstate, averaging 80 mph, at around 25 to 29 mpg. Even going up some high elevation climbs, I had absolutely no problems, I passed everyone.

 

[bugspop1]

Glad to hear you got your Key situation all figured out.
I'm wondering if this process has something to do with it being Manual Transmission?

 

[GoHack]

Glad to hear you got your Key situation all figured out.
I'm wondering if this process has something to do with it being Manual Transmission?

Could be, I don't know.

 

[bugspop1]

Maybe it was just an oversight when writing the manual?
There may be the same Steps for both the Automatic and Manual Transmissions, but with one Extra Step for the Manual Transmission.
If so, they should have put a Note for Manual Transmission Owners on the Extra Step.

It's just speculation though, I really have no Idea if this is the case or not?
I just got thinking; Since Starting the Car with a Manual Transmission has a different procedure, that maybe the Key Programming did too?

Anyway, I'm glad you got it all worked out and didn't have to pay to get it fixed!

 

[GoHack]

Thanks!

 

[G-26108]

so any insight on the original post? I have tried the procedure many times and nothing.....I am scared to try the full reset and not have a working key at all! it is my daughters car and it is needed every day..

 

[bugspop1]

The Tow Truck Driver ended up Putting the Remote next to the Start Engine Button and then pressed the Start Engine Button.

 

[ldrolle70]

Well Good News!

After trying a few times, w/o any success, as I noted above, I bit the bullet and made arrangements to have the car brought to the dealer, and the keys done by them. Since I couldn't drive the vehicle, I had to call for a wrecker to bring the vehicle there.

The wrecker shows up this morning, and the first thing the driver had to say about my GS was, that he loved it, especially it being a manual. 😉

So I gave him the key, and he went looking for a place for the ignition key, which I had to tell him, there wasn't one, and that you needed to simply press the Start/Stop Button on the dash. He then puts the remote key, the original one I had, up to the Start/Stop Button on the dash, pushes the button, and the car starts up. No where in the owners manual does it tell you to do that. Appalled, after having tried several times, as well as very happy, I went and drove the car to the dealer, w/him following, w/o incident.

Once there, I thanked the driver w/a nice big tip, being very grateful, and happy, that he got it running, saving me perhaps up to $300. It's $150 total, to program a new key, and up to $300, if the car was locked out in theft mode. I have AAA, so the wrecker service didn't cost me anything. The driver also cancelled the call.

While there, I went and tested the new key, which I had programmed myself above, placing the master key far away from the car, and it too worked. So the process in the owners manual does work, outside of having to put the key up next to the Start/Stop Button after, which the manual doesn't state.

Being very happy, and cancelling my appointment at the dealer, I went and filled the car up, and went for a nice long ride, well over 200 miles. It was the first long drive which I took w/the car since purchasing it. It ran absolutely great on the interstate, averaging 80 mph, at around 25 to 29 mpg. Even going up some high elevation climbs, I had absolutely no problems, I passed everyone.

This was SUPER helpful! Had the same issue so followed the instructions in the owner's manual and it did not work initially but we waited a while like maybe 15 minutes and then all keys came up and worked. This saved me a whopping total of $220!!

 

[billyjoejimbob]

Had the same issue as everyone else, this was a very helpful message thread. 2014 Buick Regal with push button start. Followed the procedure to program a new remote with the existing remote. Followed the instructions in the manual perfectly, and afterward the buttons on both the original remote and the new remote would unlock/lock the doors, but the car was completely unresponsive to trying to start it. Waited 20 minutes or so (which the manual doesn't mention) and after that the car starts with either remote now.

Total cost about $35. $25 online for the new PEPS proximity remote, $10 for the local hardware store to laser cut the physical key portion.

 

[brianbat124]

Had the same issue as everyone else, this was a very helpful message thread. 2014 Buick Regal with push button start. Followed the procedure to program a new remote with the existing remote. Followed the instructions in the manual perfectly, and afterward the buttons on both the original remote and the new remote would unlock/lock the doors, but the car was completely unresponsive to trying to start it. Waited 20 minutes or so (which the manual doesn't mention) and after that the car starts with either remote now.

Total cost about $35. $25 online for the new PEPS proximity remote, $10 for the local hardware store to laser cut the physical key portion.

I know this thread is over a year old, but THIS is the exact problem I had and the reason I could not get my remotes working was because they were not PEPS. Anyone with a push button start cannot get the regular remote and MUST buy the PEPS remote.

For google search - remote buttons will lock/unlock the car, but push button will not start and the DIC will say no key fob detected, cant start the car