2004 flip key comparability?
 

Guys I have searched and I'm just confused. Someonr have a strait yes or no answer in this? Is there a switchblade key that works on the 04's? Or am I stuck with the regular fob?

There is a thread about buying the '05 and up switchblade key and pairing it to your '04. Blank '05 and up keys are pretty reasonable on Ebay. Check out the DIY

I was thinking about doing this too but I'm spending the money on something else right now

I bought my 04 at 13k miles and NEVER got a wireless remote. I've been using just the key for 6 yrs.

My car was new in Oct '04 and a DO have two switchblade keys! Now, I've no idea whether they are original but at least it proves that the s/b all in one keys do work with 04 models. Bear in mind mine is a UK spec car, I know there are some differences in differnt markets (USA remotes had the red 'panic button' for example, which we never had in the UK and i'm told these remotes do not work on UK cars so there ARE differences) and you never said where you were from.

Thanks for the info. I am in topeka Ks.

got something for ya mate...

JDM Japanese Auto Parts specialists | japanparts.com

SEARCH. It's been discussed and detailed many times.

Short answer: It CAN work.

You need to know your FOBs Visteon ID to find a fitting Switchblade remote.
It's everything on the board here.

Yes it does work, mines an 04 and i swapped to one. Search for "rx8 switchblade key" oh and search , then search again. All you're answers are there in the...search.

I also was able to get a local hardware store to cut mine even with it in the FOB. They didnt do an awsome job but it works and i programmed it myself. Programming is discussed in the threads you'll find by searching. Really theres too many answers to too many questions to outline them here.

Oh and BJP, i think it cost me like 40 bucks to do this so whats with the spending money on something else comment?

It was just a comment...nothing else. I will do it evenually.

Thanks for the replies! I ordered and have received both the switchblade key and the fob that goes with it. I already had two keys so the key programming was easy. The fob was also easy to program with the help of a you tube video. Needless to say I am a happy camper and now have a modern working key for my rx8.

Good result, the SB key is a much nicer thing to use, enjoy!

huh? The FOB that goes with it?? The point of the switchblade key is it's an all in one unit. Do you mean you ordered the key blank and the fob to put it in and did it yourself?

If so im curious about how you did that? I opted to buy a switchblade with a blank already in it because i was very concerned about being able to swap the key blank myself.

You just push out 1 little bolt that holds the key in place.
It can be seen if the switchblade key is 3/4 open.

You can either do it yourself with a pointy needle and a hammer, or have your key cutter do it. No big deal.

One of my best friends is the sales mgr at a Local Mazda dealer here in ks so I got a hefty discount. I orerderd mine form them. It comes as two pieces from the dealer. One is the fob itself and the other is the key part of it. Both require individal programming then you snap them togther. I paid with tax $53.45 for both items at the dealer! Thats what I meant if that answers your qurestion. The end product is a all in one switchblade/retractible key/fob.

They're like $30 on Ebay.. I bought a few.

Home Depot cut the blank key to match my OEM key and it works great.

Thanks for the info but I realize that it was worth it to get it overnighted.

Can u post the FCC and ID numbers on the remote? I bought a unit off ebay, but I could not program the remote after the dealer programmed the key for me; giving me 2 keys to the car. The dealer could not program the remote either! I'm scared to spend money on another unit without verifying the numbers off the back.

Theres a main thread about this somewhere and i believe it discusses the fcc ids in it. I swapped mine some time ago so i dont remember exactly but i think many ebay sellers list the fcc id in the ad so that you can match them up. from what i remember for certain years there are only a couple codes that work e.g. for my 04 there were just 2 fcc ids.

I also tested programming the remote before i bothered to have the key cut. That way i could try and return it if it didnt work. When you're doing this project the whole point is the merged remote so if that doesnt work right away theres not point going further.