Keys, cards, alarms.
 

Does anyone know if it is possible to program a regular key fob with the lock/unlock features to be used in a car with the smart key? My neighbor stopped by this morning to tell me that a stray cat kept jumping up on my car and setting the alarm off last night (cat will be trapped and taken to a shelter very soon). This is actually the first time this happend. He had company so I think they probably bumped into it or something since my car is currently dusty awaiting its bath when my Zaino arrives and there was no evidence anywhere of cat marks on it and dust undisturbed. Anyways, he was wondering if I had a remote to shut off the alarm when it goes off. I called the dealership and my options given were a smart card with key for approximately $600 and $84 programming fee or the smart card without key for just under $200 plus an $84 programming fee. All of these would allow the neighbor to be able to start and drive my car, although I know he wouldn't. Can't vouch for his company, though, if they happened to find the keys. I asked about the regular fob without a key or transmitter and they said they didn't know that it would work since the car "brains" were different for the different type of system and they only way to know would be to try it, which would most likely still cost me the $84 for them trying it. So, I was wondering if anyone had tried this or knew if it would work?

can you just leave the alarm OFF?

When the door locks it automatically turns the alarm on. The only way to not have the alarm on is to leave the car unlocked, which I don't want to do it at all possible.

Well, after talking to Mazda directly they don't know for sure if a regular fob works with it or not since they have never tried. They said my option was to get the smart card with no key in it to give to the neighbor and then to take the ignition knob out of the car, since he then won't be able to turn it on without a real key. So, it looks like I will be ordering a smart card and paying about $300.

Why not just adjust the sensitivity of your alarm? It'd be cheaper and no worries about the neighbor disabling/enabling your alarm. It would be cheaper.

I talked to the shop people and Mazda and they said it's not going to really help with the alarm going off during thunder storms which we seem to be getting quite often lately or with the cat unless they turned it to basically the point of off, which defeats the purpose of having alarm sensors.

I just got done ordering the card and my dealership was nice and gave me a discount so it will only end up costing me $250 instead, so I can get that done this weekend and also get my plates put on my car since they finally came the other day and I haven't gotten around to doing it myself yet. It will cut down on the neighbor annoyance factor by me being able to consistently take it to work myself since I can finally register it with security. This way my car will only be there about 5 hours a day and the rest at work. :)

turn the shock sensor down all the way- then it wont go off because of cats and thunder but it will still go off it someone jimiies the door open.

hmm did you get a "VALET" key?

Just two transmitter cards with popout keys. I think the popout is supposed to function as the valet key as well as a spare backup in case the transmitter dies or has "issues" at a gas station. :)

You have some nice neighbors :)

I know this is a little off subject, but you might consider a good car cover if you leave your car outside—I think the Evolution 4 and the Noah are very good at protecting the finish from cat claws. Also, if the forecast calls for severe thunderstorms, you can throw it on at work, at a picnic—wherever—and not worry about hail. Only problem is that the good covers cost around $120 or so—and the cheap ones are worthless.

but how would they (valet) disarm / arm the alarnm?

Shock sensor is mis-adjusted or mis-mounted.

You should be able to have thunder rattle the windows, and have a cat jump onto the car without the alarm going off.

The sensor is designed to detect an impact such as someone hitting the door that would create a door ding, or breaking a window.

The key is equipped with a computer chip. You just stick it in the lock to unlock it and lock it again. It will still arm the alarm, at least according to the guy at Mazda. :dunno: I've never tried it.

So you'll have to start the car with a real key then?

One of my business associate has an 06 MX5 and the actual 'key' is the master key- you give valets the rest of the card-key minus the 'key' for valet purposes. Then they use the plastic ignition nob to start the car. the actual metal key opens the glove box and other compartments. (including the passthru I believe) so you wouldn't want to give valets this.

I would follow Zoom's suggestion though- disable or turn down the sensor all the way so that if someone opens the door it goes off. Thats pretty much what most stock anti-theft alarms do anyways.

thanks for clearing that up about the valet:)

The ignition knob is a covering that locks into place over the ignition. All I have to do is put it back in and it is keyless again.

Well, the dealership is unable to program a smart card that doesn't have a key in it. In order to program the smart card you have to have all the keys with you, plus put the new key for the new card into the ignition or it can't be programmed. They tried to do it using my other keys and it also wouldn't work. They also called Mazda, who was at a loss as to how they would program it otherwise, which makes me wonder why they would sell one that can't be programmed? :dunno:

So, I now have a useless smart card in my possession. They dealership is going to order new a new card with the key built into it and not charge me the difference for the new one (the price difference since I had to prepay the first one).

LOL, they really had no idea how to help you, did they? That must have been a fun show.

"Here's the smart card you prepaid to order. We tried everything and can't make it work. We didn't know it wouldn't work when we took your money."

What do you say to that? You have to either laugh or strangle them. :banghead:

Now that the dealer has shown they have no idea what they're talking about (and I do say that with no malice, just an observation) have you tested the valet procedure above? Using the smart card with the key removed?

Personally, I find little/no value in the whole valet key concept anyways since a valet can pop the trunk from inside or force the glove box, but I'm curious to hear if the smart cards realy work that way.

I've been able to use the card without the key in it. I just wanted a keyless card for the neighbor for the purpose of turning off the alarm. I'm going to give him the new one without the key in it.

did you try the keyfob DIY just for kicks?

Nope. Don't have enough spare time to be that ambitious right now. :)