Thank you for the instructions I was able to get myself a working fob finally. My car came with only 1 key and no fobs. I bought the stock 2004 fob brand new from eBay (the 4 button fob only) but despite the attempt sot program it nothing would work. Would have to go to the dealership and have them program it for $75 if it would even work. Grace_Excel was of great help with the process and told me what I needed to buy. I returned the other remote and got the 2005+ switchblade and it programmed perfectly the very first try.

The current issue I am having is the horn will not make any sound now. When trying to program the first the car alarm went off. Not having a remote at the time I didn't know how to turn it off so I pulled the negative cable on the battery. But reconnecting the cable the alarm kept going off. Eventually pulled the horn fuse until I solved the problem with the alarm. I have since reinstalled the horn fuse and the horn doesn't work. Not when I click the fob buttons and not when I push the steering wheel. I am not sure if is alarm related but wanted to ask if anyone knows the issue. Iswapped fuses with the fog light fuse and it is not the fuse. Maybe the horn broke somehow. I actually dont know where the horn itself is to test it.

 

You're welcome. The horn problem, you described it quite different from your PM. I think your initial encounter with your alarm before you pulled the battery cable off is just the same as locking the car and picking it, triggering the car's alarm can only be disabled with the working fob(one you did not have at the time) or by inserting the key and, without starting the engine, turning the key ignition to ON.

When the car's alarm goes off; it is accompanied by a flashing hazard. If you allow the car's ECU to disable itself, it will take at least 5 minutes before it turns off on it's own but instead you pulled the battery. After you programmed the new fob, pressing the button to unlock/lock the car disabled the alarm as it normally would. Switching the fuse with another good one is the next best step to find what caused the horn to be faulty. Two things, I think a wire could have disconnected or the horn broke before/after you've cut power.

I have changed my radiator twice and I was not paying much attention where the horn is located, I cannot recall seeing it up front or behind the bumper as most cars do. The best place to ask that question is in this link: Dumb Question Thread

 

Thank you for the help! I have posted in the dumb questions thread to see if someone can help with diagnosing the horn issue.

 

well.. since this thread is still going strong, just putting in my 2 cents. i just bought an 07 GT that came with only one credit card style card key. the keyless doesn't work.

the plastic of the little emergency key is chipped and doesnt properly stay in the card sleeve, and i was sick of carrying it around. i happened to have a switchblade key leftover from my wrecked car, and i bought a key blank and brought it to a locksmith.

he was able to program the key to work and start the car with no issue. but he was NOT able to program the switchblade's buttons to lock or unlock the car.

i'm not sure if the guy knew what he was doing or not. also, not sure if keyless is going to work once i get that all fixed, but i suspect that it actually will.

so for those wondering if you can use a switchblade key on an AKE car, the answer is.. sorta.

if anyone has tips to help me to get this working, i'd appreciate it. right now, i have two working transponder keys and one working remote control. i happen to have an extra card style remote, missing the key, that i could also potentially use to pair up, if there's a process for it, but it doesn't seem like that's possible based on what i read.

interested to hear what others think

 

I have repeated this post many times with the new car fob I've finally gotten over the years of putting it off. I got the Keyless/Flip Key combo off Amazon.com. 3 Button, says compatible with KPU41788, IC 41524. It says it works for 2005-2010 Mazda RX8's. Any takes on how I might get it to work? Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but its also self explanatory in that post I went off of. Any ideas helps, thanks.

 

Just purchased a rx8 and was only given one key. Last night, I lost the key. Of course, Mazda wants an arm and a leg for new keys. From looking in the posts even if I bought the key without it being programmed I would have to have at least one already programmed? Just trying to get out for as little as possible! Any help/ideas are much appreciated! Can't even get into my project car now and I'm pretty sad. Thanks!

 

Well, I think you're going to have to go to the dealer.
I'm pretty sure, if there's a trick to getting a new key without an existing one, I don't recall reading about it.
Sorry.
*Edit;
Grace_Excel has helped me with a key issue before, maybe you can try a PM, if he doesn't know, Idk who else would.

 

Yes, sad to say that you need at least two working keys to program another key. However, you only need one to program a switchblade FOB. Your only chance at getting a working key is either fork out an arm and a leg to a MAZDA dealer or possibly a locksmith. Could your insurance cover that under comprehensive coverage? If that is the case, just take your proof of ownership and/or title to the dealer and include aonther key and keyless FOBs with your purchase.

 

Okay, so I got the switchblade key. To program the key itself, is it like programming the remote? I have two keys already that lock/unlock/turn on the car. I got the switchblade, since the 04 FOBs don't seem to be programable and besides why not have a third key? So now, I'm here wondering how do I program the key itself?

 

I'm not 100% sure, but I think a locksmith may be able to do it.
I've had mine for about a year, and I still haven't had it cut or programmed.
I just use it for the remote.
I may see about getting it done Friday.

 

I have the two 04 original keys and programmed the switchblade to use as a remote. Yes, you can program the key transponder yourself but it's a different sequence than programming the FOB, it involves inserting first one of the original key and turn it to ON, remove and do the same with the second original key, then remove it and insert-turn the new key to program the transponder; you should be able find that instructions here in one of the pages.

You can only program a number of keys to work with your ignition before the ECU bumps an old one, "how many keys?" I do not know.

A few of the members who responded to this page were able to have their locksmith program the key to work in the ignition. Same with those who programmed it themselves.

Now, here's what I experienced three years ago. I had my key blade cut and it worked to open the doors and trunk, and turns to ON in the ignition. I came home and attempted ONLY that one time to program it myself according to the instructions I found in the forum and all I noticed is a rapid blinking red-key-light(anti-theft) on the dash. The original keys still started my car but not the newly cut blade with the switchblade FOB. I still use that FOB(along with the transponder and the cut key blade) to lock-unlock the car.

I did not pay much attention if that blinking light was there before I attempted to program the transponder for the ignition, may be I missed a step or may be because my switchblade FOB was a used one from another MAZDA(which I purchased in eBay). Programming the two FOBs I purchased worked instantly and it hasn't stopped working since I did it four or five years ago; even though I had that rapid blinking red-key-light after that attempt, both the original keys and the switchblade FOB still works together to start the ignition and haven't immobilized the car which is what the anti-theft device would do.

 

I'm going to go pick up mine on Monday with a n uncut key blank the fcc I'd# on the back of the Mazda fob says KPU41788 and I can't find a list of compatible frequency ids

 

That's the only # I'm aware of.

 

The crappy replacement fob that came from the previous owner says kpu41805, so I figured that I'd make sure before I buy it. Thanx

 

Yeah I have one of those and they are ****. I can't even get them to work. After a year, I finally decided to get the switchblade key. Crossing my fingers it'll program just fine. I read somewhere on this thread, that you don't need to have two working FOBs to program the switchblade one. Hopefully thats true because I don't want to go to the dealership and pay a lot just for them to do it.

 

If you have the right switchblade it will work with one key.

 

Actually after reading entire thread, you do need two keys to program the transponder to the ecu, however after searching around on YouTube I have found out that there is an obd2 device that will also add a transponder to the ecu. So I searched locksmith and transponder on Craig's list and found several in my area that can do it cheap especially if you go to them instead of being raped at the dealership

 

I was talking about using the fob for a remote only, not for the ignition.
I haven't even had the switchblade key cut yet.

 

Correct, only one key is needed to program the keyless entry for the switchblade FOB. Two keys to program and add a working transponder for the ignition.

RaXtaman8 and Enrique2014:

Do you have four (lock, unlock, trunk, and panic) buttons in your keyless entry FOB? The Switchblade key should look like mine, attached below. Also, do you know where the fcc ID and the visteon # etched in the FOB?

 

I didn't see this post, but to answer the question. So far, only the four button Visteon model is proven to work with the programming instructions provided in this thread. A handful of members ended up purchasing a three button switchblade key that is made by Mitsubishi which works with the Mazda5 and CX5 but will not work with the RX-8.

If any of you guys are wondering, the attached picture below is where you will need to look for the Visteon Model and the FCC code in the prefered (four button) switchblade key.

 

Hmmm...I got the one with four buttons and its KPU41788 but IC is 41524.

 

If you have it, try and see if it works. May have been an earlier or non-US model?

 

Nice

 

So when I bought the car it only came with a single key and no extra or fob. I just wanted to know if I needed 2 programmed keys to add the new fob I just bought or if it will work with just one. I've tried programming with 2 different fobs now and neither has worked. It's a 2004

 

Hi guys my house was a total lost in a fire and my RX8 keys was inside several days ago i found the keys but one of them i founded fine but burned the other one was melted there was a piece of metal with a code on the keys, for what is that code? i can order a new set keys from a dealer or what?. i saw one guy on ebay that sell two keys with a remote, the visteon module, an ignition switch with computer, door lock, trunk lock, all set, but is from a right driven car and mine is left. what you recommend me? im going crazy with this house, car situation. please be serious and try to help me. thanks?