Alrighty - recently my 8 was broken into and I realize there is a high probability of my Valet key being in the briefcase which they stole. I called a few dealerships and explained and they said two options exist: 1) spend 1000 dollars and rekey/recode and change the igntion and tumblers in the door/trunk etc. or 2) reprogram the keys such that the valet key will no longer start the car.

for the time being the car is in a safe location (body shop far away), I have my two original switchblade style keys as well just no valet key. My main concern is that they wouldnt be able to come back use the valet key and DRIVE off like they owned the car. I do realize they would theoretically be able to get inside the car but my inside is clean and bare of anything that isnt stock and comes with the car. I'm going to have a hard enough time paying for the laptop so as much as I would love to get the car rekeyed with new tumblers I cant.

Now I was in a conversation with StealthTL and he's been very helpful in letting me know apparently I can recode my own key and not have to give the dealership 150 dollars as they quoted me on the phone. (one dealership actually said "dont worry the valet key doenst start the car) ummm WTF! i hung up on them.

Anyways - StealthTL not to doubt your knowledge I just wanted to confirm your idea with as many people as I could since (theoretically) if you were wrong they could drive my 30K RX8 away in 5 seconds with no smashing/cutting/flatbed.

He basically said that I can use http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=43873.html that method to re-code my two key FOBs. I was under the impression that an entire new code had to be programmed in at mazda to successsfully make it such that the valet key will not start the car. I hope I'm wrong because that would save me a bunch of money if i could successfully do it myself.

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PROCESS THAT I WAS TOLD WORKS to get the result I need of invalidating the valet key:
The computer sends a query to the chip, the chip replies with it's code #.

If the code is on "the list" the car is allowed to start.

When you start the reset process (door button etc.) you are re-writing that list.

If you successfully go thru the process, and your keys work, any key that was not in "that process" is no longer valid. If you buy a new key, you get it cut, then go thru the key registering process, and include the new key after the minimum two valid keys.
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if this is true - awesome that way I can do the recode myself and not have to worry about my car being driven away in the night if they ever came back. Any and all thoughts are appreciated.

ok you can add up to 8 keys and 8 keyfobs yourself. you cannot delete any. if you loose a key and want the code removed you have to go to a dealership and have them clear all the keys and readd the ones you want to keep.

a deleted key will still unlock the doors and will still turn the ignition tumbler. it will not start the car.

i see - i fully realize that the valet key would open the doors and TURN the ignition, my concern as this point is the valet key actually starting the engine so they could drive away. It seems this the only way to stop this from happening is to take it to a dealership correct?

I'm sorry if i keep asking all these questions but when it comes to the security of my car and who/what can start it I just want to know for sure. I just keep getting conflicting information from different people so it's hard to know whats fact. I called the dealership but they were not helpful at all - one guy even said "oh the valet key wont ever actually start the car so you dont have to come in and get anything done"

The vallet key will start the ignition. IIRC the only way to get a new immobilizer system is to have the ECU reprogrammed as well. I dont know how extensive this is, it could be as simple as a reflash, or the ecu may need to be replaced. Either way, tell your insurance co that you had a spare set of keys in the car and youre worried about them coming back. That may score you a whole new set of keys under insurance, since your paying a deductable anyway, might as well get your moneys worth..

bump for any other input? it seems I will have to take my car in and have them redo the keys... for the $150 dollars i guess.... i just didnt want to pay 150 dollars if all they are going to do is the DIY that I could figure out myself, if im going to pay that much I want 100% new codes in my keys that were not there before such that the valet key would not be able to start the car (due to an old code)

Later on today, I should be able to grab my valet key and try to start the car with it. I added a switchblade key to my 04, using the two other regular keys for programming. So if your information is correct, this would mean that in the process of adding the switchblade key, I must have 'deactivated' the valet key...

However, considering that you can have up to five keys registered with the car and you use only two existing ones while registering the new key, this would mean that you end up with only THREE working keys at any point in time. That doesn't sound right.
The other possibility is that the maximum number of keys can only be registered with the dealer's programming machine, not via the DIY method. We shall see.

awesome! i look foreward to your results this would answer everything perfectly for me wether I have to go and spend 150 bucks or not.

My valet key did start the engine with no problem.
Honestly, I'd have been surprised if it didn't.

Looks like you were right, the manual pages in that post even say it - the WDS is needed to clear old registered key codes.

Sorry I steered you wrong, I was under the impression that the "procedure" was all inclusive, and any key left out was not recognized. :o:

S

Of course the valet key will start the engine. How else will the valet return your car to you?

Just FYI, the valet key will also set the alarm with two locking twists (one to lock, one to set the alarm), and when you return, just unlock with two unlocking twists (one to unlock the driver, the other to unlock the passenger... and I think also disarm the alarm).

I think you may have missed the whole point of this thread, but thanks for the "two-twist" tip.

S

its all good stealthTL -- if i could have gotten out of spending another 150 dollars... it would have been nice, but of course its 100% worth it to prevent even the CHANCE of them coming back and driving away with my car like they owned it


thanks guys.

Why dont you do what nodice said and build it into your insurance claim?

beacuse my insruance is pretty maxed out as it is... and they said some BS about how that instance would have to be treated as a seperate claim as it was property in the car and not damage to the car.

What sad is my insurance company is really good except for the more BS that happens to me the more resistant they are to help. So far in 1 year i have:

1 - hit a raccoon doing 60 mph one night $2000 in damage
2 - had some fat lady back up into me in the parking lot with no insurance ($800 in damage)
3 - had my car egged ($1000 in damage)
4 - had my car broken into and laptop stolen (unknown $amount estimated at close to $2000 + the cost of replacement laptop ($2500 - grand total Estimate $5000)

there are some dirty fucks in this world as 3 of the 4 incidents are caused by rotten people that really dont deserve to be alive.

damn where do you park your car...im one of those anal people that park their cars far away from everyone elses. i have seen too many people just open their doors right in to the car next to them.

Where in Texas are you?

im in fort worth TX

and trust me ive parked my car ALL over this hotel parking lot, I used to park in this one place because the sprinklers didnt hit my car and fuck up my nice clean wax job with water spots.... my car got egged over there. I parked RIGHT outside my window and my car gets broken into and important things stolen, i dont know wtf to do if i have to stay here much longer. I'm in the process of waiting for a reply from my boss about getting moved to an apartment that some of the workers from my group are already staying at.

I heard thru the grapevine they have personal garages you can buy over there for like $100 a month... if i get over there even if they DONT pay for that I will, even if it was DOUBLE that price I'd still pay it for the peace of mind no random idiot off the street could walk up and have access to my baby.

Jeff

If you do purchase the personal garages you can then apply for an insurance premium reduction :rock:

Pay $60 a moth for mine..insurance went down 75 bucks =)