Programming VT Commodore key

Cut and pasted from Ewok Enterprises. All credits to Ewok Enterprises. I've purely mirrored it in event site stops working. If you're Ewok Enterprises and wish this removed, please leave me a message.

HOW TO REPLACE AND RE-PROGRAM A VT COMMODORE KEY

Most VT Commodore owners will have two keys and if you are like me you will have used one consistently and at some stage this one will get a flat battery.

Many people presume that the internal battery is re-charged whilst the key in is in the ignition, but this is not the case.

Other problem is that with constant use either the buttons are cracked or missing, or the ‘bridge’ at the top of the key is broken (See below for the typical state of my 10 year old key shell).

One option is to buy a new key from a Holden Dealer, this will set you back up to $180.00 with cutting and programming.

Another is to go to a place like Key King or some locksmiths and you might get away with it for $80.00.

This was my option (You end up with TWO keys for about a quarter of this cost);

Note that you need to have at least one working key (ie, still has the program in it and the battery is not flat).

• Buy new key head shells for your keys.  I got mine on eBay - great and cheap, about $10.00! – See an example below;

          

• Buy a new CR2032 Lithium Battery (3V).  Again I got mine from eBay ($1.00 for 3, delivered).  See an example below;

          

• Remove the screws and prise open your old key shell (of the dead key) with a small screwdriver.  See the circuit board below.  The contact on the top left contacts the key blade.  The contact on the bottom left (I call it the ‘Dome’ contact) contacts with the circular contacts on the ignition.

• Use a blade / small pliers to remove the battery.  The original is ‘spot welded’ in.  See the two points where the contact was attached on the top of the old battery below;

          

• Get the replacement battery and place it on the circuit board.  Either try to solder (watch the heat), or superglue the contacts on the new battery.  I just bent the contacts towards the battery first, then superglued.  I then taped the edge of the battery down to the other side of the board for extra security;

               

• I also bent the contact at the top left of the board a little towards the key blade and sanded the key blade at the point it would contact to ensure a good electrical connection.

The next steps can be a little tricky, so read carefully.

There are two options here, the first is to open the good key and the second is to use test leads.  The second option saves you having to open the good key and is recommended, but a little fiddly.

Option 1.

• Remove the screws and prise open the good key, so that the key blade is loose.
• Start the car with the good key, then slide off the head, leaving the key blade in the ignition.
• Slide on the head of the key you replaced the battery on.  The car will program the key immediately.  I left it in the ignition for a few minutes.
• Remove the key and re-assemble.
• Do the same for the working key, suggest you replace the key head with a new shell.

Option 2 (Recommended).

• Buy some test leads (Yes, you guessed it – eBay) - $1.88 delivered.  See below;

• Start the car by using the key blade from the old key, connected to the good key with test leads.  Connect one lead from the key blade in the ignition to the key blade of the good key (leave it on the dash).  Connect the other lead from the circular contact on the ignition to the dome head contact on the good key.
• Start the car by turning the blade (this is the fiddly bit), leave the key blade in the ignition.
• Remove the leads.
• Slide on the head of the key you replaced the battery on.  The car will program the key immediately when the key blade contacts the contact on the board and the ‘dome’ contact touches the circular contact on the ignition.  I left it in the ignition for a few minutes.
• Remove the key and re-assemble.

This process works!
All up cost -     $20.00 for two (2) key shells.
                        $1.00 for three CR2032 Batteries.
                        $1.88 for the test leads.
TOTAL           $22.88 for two as NEW keys.

This is a LOW RISK, LOW TECH, LOW COST, EASY DYI option.  

Please pass on to other VT Commodore owners.

Reprogramming/adding remote to Toyota Aurion

1. Start with the key out of the ignition. Open the driver door (all other doors are closed). Driver door is unlocked (other doors don’t matter).

2. Perform these steps within 5 seconds 
a. Insert the key into the ignition (don’t turn it) Pull key out 
b. Insert the key into the ignition (don’t turn it) Pull key out

3. Perform these steps within 40 seconds 
a. Close, then open the drivers door. 
b. Close, then open the drivers door. 
c. Insert the key into the ignition (don’t turn it) and pull it out.

4. Perform these steps within 40 seconds 
a. Close, then open the drivers door. 
b. Close, then open the drivers door. 
c. Insert the key into the ignition and leave in the ignition. 
d. Close the drivers door

Turn the ignition to ON (as far as you can go without cranking the engine), then back to off at approximately 1 second
intervals for 1 - 5 times, depending on which mode..

Add mode - 1 time
Rewrite mode - 2 times
Confirmation mode - 3 times
Erase mode - 5 times

e. Remove the key from the ignition.

5. Within 3 seconds, the power door locks should lock then unlock automatically indicating successful entry into programming mode. Return to step 1 if the locks do not cycle at this point.

6. Perform these steps within 40 seconds 
a. Press the lock and unlock buttons on the transmitter simultaneously for 1.5 seconds 
b. Immediately after letting go of the lock and unlock buttons, press the lock button by itself and hold for 2 seconds. Within 3 seconds, the door locks should lock then unlock once indicating successful programming. If the door locks cycle twice, repeat steps 6a and 6b as the remote was not accepted. 

7. Open drivers door

Ebay

When buying from Ebay there is a fundamental issue you must understand, transaction is not complete until you the buyer receive the goods, not when seller sends the goods.

Sellers offering insurance is only saving the seller money, it is seller's responsibility that you receive the goods; this applies to all items regardless whether seller in their listing explicitly states it is buyer's responsibility for insurance.

Also, sellers in their listing including they reserve all rights to cancel the auction. If there are bids and item has less than 24 hours remaining, seller cannot cancel auction. If item is cancelled, write to Ebay and seller's account will be suspended.

Similarly, if you're returning a product to seller, make sure you send it via a service that allows tracking and signature, it is your responsibility to ensure seller receives the returned product.

Have a read of this if you've time.

Happy Ebaying!

Julia Gillard

I find it amusing by comments Julia Gillard has made recently, more so regarding wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

"What he has done is illegal, the Australian Federal Police are investigating whether he has broken any laws".

You need to have broken the law in order to be doing something illegal, if the Federal Police have not determined whether any laws were broken, it cannot be illegal.

Reprogram N15 Pulsar keyless remote

The pulsar allows you to have upto 4 keyless remotes programmed to your car, by programming the 5th remote you lose the first one etc.

To program:

Get into your car, close all doors and leave doors unlocked.
Insert your key and turn to ACC then back to off position (no need to press the button to eject key)
This needs to be done in quick succession and on the 5th turn to ACC your hazard lights will flash once indicating you're in programming mode.
Press button on your remote then doors will lock.

Repeat if you have multiple remotes.

Good luck.

24 hour Chemist

Being a father of 2 little girls it's extremely frustrating when your kids have a fever late at night. If you're in SYdney, you need not fear, there's now a 24 hour chemist, we are little behind Perth and Adelaide where they have 24 hour chemists but nonetheless, we have one now.


Chemistworks Wetherill Park
Shop 72, Stockland,
Polding Street Wetherill Park
NSW 2164

p: +61 2 9609 7239
f: +61 2 9604 2772

http://www.chemistworks.com.au/

I'm sure if you have a toddler with fever you won't mind driving an extra half hour to get some medication :)

No, I am not affiliated with this chemist, through my search I wasn't able to find any, by chance I saw an advert in the papers.

Sync your Google Calendar with your iphone

Most solutions to sync your iphone with your google calendar involves a 3rd party solution such as ical etc..  but you do not need to involve a 3rd party software/provider.


Steps are:
1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account > Other > Add CalDAV Account


2. For the CalDAV settings, enter the following information. Note that your username should be the email address you use to access your Google calendar as well as the password.

3. Then tap “Next” and it should verify your information.

4. If you can’t get your account verified, tap “Advanced settings” and make sure that “Use SSL” is On, that the port is 443, and that your Account URL includes the sign “@” in your email address.

That’s it!

Now every time you add an event to your iPhone calendar, it will also show up on your Google calendar, and vice versa. You obviously need to have internet access from your iPhone for the data to sync. Note that the sync is not immediate. It sometimes takes a few seconds but besides this, it works very well.

Hope that helps someone.