Valet Key
 

I have searched the forums about twice now looking for info on the valet key.
According to the owner's manual the gray one should only open the door and run the ignition. It should not be able to open the trunk, glove box, or the pass-through to the trunk.
I'm not sure if anyone else has encountered what I am dealing with but I would like to know.
My car was brought to Houston from a San Antonio dealer. It came with the 2 black keys but not the gray valet key. My service dept. said 'no prob, get ya fixed up'. They did, with 2 more black keys (for a total of 4 that open and run everything). I brought it to their attention that while it's great to have so many free spares, I would still like to have a valet key for the times that I feel I must leave my baby with a babysitter for a short while. They said 'No prob, get ya fixed up, we just have to order it since we don't have the gray blanks.' The blank came in, they cut it, programmed it, and tried it, and Voila!, it didn't open the trunk. That would be OK except that it DID open the passthrough access to the trunk and the glove box giving you access to the remote trunk button. Turns out, NEITHER Mazda NA nor my dealer have run into this problem before now. AND they are finding out the same problem exists with the Mazda 6 now that they are checking it out.
Tell me if you have encountered this and how you dealt with it. I'm open to suggestions at this point- I just want a valet key that does what it is supposed to do without having grandiose expectations of being a black key.
Try your keys- You don't want to find your supposedly 'LOCKED UP SAFE AND TIGHT ITEMS' missing.

addendum
 

Since this is only affecting the interior trim locks, maybe a manufacturing defect on the lock??
:confused:

ok- the suspense is killin' me. anybody ck'ed their key yet?

Hey-

This is sort of interesting. I will check my factory supplied valet key for ya', but in my case that will take a couple of days. My key is well and truly packed away with all my spare keys. I'll try to dig it up and take a look for you.

Haze

Sorry you've been held in suspense for so long :D. Results of my test for ya':
The valet key fit into, but did not unlock the trunk, glove compartment, or rear storage compartment.

My master key has more metal removed off the tip (1st cm) than the valet key. The two keys are visibly cut differently, and they have the same length and width. I'd expect that all valet and master keys would be cut differently.

Do you see any difference in your valet and master key cut patterns when you hold them side-by-side?

Good luck,
rx8cited

Probably the dealer just cut the master key pattern into the valet (grey handle) blank... which would not yeild a valet key.

DiRX-8, I guess you died from the suspense:D.

another question....even if you give someone the valet key. Don't they need the remote in order to turn off the alarm? Which, in turn, gives them access to the trunk?

PRESS THE VALET SWITCH BEHIND THE ALARM LIGHT.

If you use the key in the door it will disarm the alarm just like using the alarm remote. Same thing for locking the door.

The trunk would only be available if one the following were true:

* The key the valet was using worked in the trunk lock
* The key the valet was using worked in the pass-thru console
* You had not disabled the electronic trunk opener (button in glove compartment)
* The key the valet was using worked in the glove compartment (allowing them to re-enable electronic trunk opening function)

With the trunk control disabled (via the switch in the glove compartment) then the trunk can only be opened using the key.

This, by the way, is all detailed in the owner's manual.

Simon.

A. I have no "alarm" system to disarm, therefore no valet switch to flip.
B. The factory cut keys for at least one other RX-8 (in my presence) and Mazda 6 did the exact same thing that mine did.
C. My master key is the same cut and length as the valet key and vice versa. My valet key did not open the trunk, but my master key does as it is supposed to. They even tried taking some length off the valet key, but to no avail.
D. I and several others from Mazda and Mazda NA have read the owner's manual and yes, we know what the valet key is SUPPOSED to do, or rather NOT do, but the valet key doesn't want to cooperate. Some part of the equation is right because it doesn't open the trunk, just all the INTERIOR locks.

Will keep all posted as this develops

You're alive! That's good :D.

No alarm system, really? In case you're not joking.... U.S. cars come stock with an alarm. Leave your driver's side window down, lock the car with the remote, key, or door switch, then reach inside the window, unlock your car and open the door. You should get a honk, honk, honk, .... and flashing lights.

The alarm disarms when you unlock the car with a key or the remote.

I don't think it's a question of length. Sounds like they did a lousy job duplicating the master key pattern to the valet key if it won't open the trunk and you say the keys look identical.

If the keys are cut the same, I don't think your valet wanna' be was cut out to be a true valet key. Probably the trunk lock is more sensitive to being cut slightly off pattern than the glove compartment and storage compartment locks.

rx8cited

I stand corrected- it does have an alarm of sorts, not just the immobilizer :o
it's a tamper alarm, i thought it took actually forcing the door open to set it off.

Beizo-- what switch are you referring to?

still doesn't answer the valet key issue

And you said you read the manual! ;) You might find some other goodies in there.

Caps lock Bozo's screwing with you.

I gave you my theory on the key. You can make the dealer either fix the valet key or install new locks and supply new keys that work as described in the manual.

Good luck,
rx8cited

There is another stupid red blinking light in my car, behind it is a button, if you press it, it stops blinking, if that's not a valet bypass then the dealer must've been messing with my head...

Beizo--
Tell me the exact location of what you're talking about- the only blinking light I have is the blinking red car light in the dash by the door ajar light. Do you have some kind of AM alarm system or are you messin' w/ me?

rx8cited--
They had the FACTORY keys do the same on other 8's and 6's, the dealer didn't cut those keys. And yes, I have read the manual and it states "optional" theft deterrent system (pg 3-23)which I was told I did not have on mine, but since I tested it, I have found that I do. That flashing car light is also a function of the immobilizer system also which is why I thought that was the only deterrent system I had since the dealer said I didn't have an alarm system per se. Once again, proving some dealerships don't know s*** about their product. A dealership that I had gone to when I was looking even told me they were front-wheel drive. Oh, well I have my 8 and now it's even better now that I have more alarm system than I thought, thanks for enlightening me, rx8cited... :D

Answering your question about the second blinking light, I guess the dealer must've thrown in something else; you can tell it's A/M, and it's at the end of a black cable velcroed to the bottom of the steering wheel panel. i don't have any extra remotes or anything and I have heard the alarm go off by heavy truck transit besides my 8 , so maybe it's a motion sensor detector; unless the motion sensor is already a part of the primary alarm and it's just an extension (secondary) blinker to increase intruder awareness to the alarm system,
or just to make me waste my time wondering about it. Go figure.
(Little Christmass light maybe)...

Messing with you! Maybe we'll be surprised with a picture of the button.

Happy to enlight you.

Okay, so there are other cars out there with defective valet keys or locks. Get them to fix yours under warranty if you feel it's something you want corrected.

The antitheft alarm is also mentioned in the U.S. RX-8 brochure, and is listed as standard equipment for all models. I suppose it's easily overlooked. As you mentioned, sometimes you can teach the sales people a few things about the car after spending 10 minutes looking at the brochure :).

FYI for about $45 you can buy and install the alarm shock sensor upgrade option from Mazda to work with your newly discovered stock alarm system (check my favorite source: http://www.trussvillemazda.com) .

rx8cited

this thread seemed interesting to me, so i tried my keys, everything works as it should, i got my valet key when i got my car, it seems there is a difference in the normal keys and the valet key i have, on the top of the valet key, it seems that there is a cut missing. in other words my black key is thinner at the top, so if you got your valet key cut from one of your black keys, theoretically it should work all the same locks as your black keys, so the problem isn't why is your key working your interior trunk open, but why isn't it opening your trunk

Open your glovebox - there's a switch in there which disables the electronic opening of the trunk via the button near the hood-relase or via the key fob. I believe it's standard on all US models, so if you don't have one then that's quite unusual.

Already established trunk lock-out button is present in the original post:

Confusion introduced by this non-stock nonsense:

DiRX-8,

I'm just confirming what others have said I think:

My valet key is exactly the same as the master key except that the first notch at the very tip is visibly wider on the valet key and this prevents it from opening the glove box, trunk and pass-through as it should.

If your key is cut that way, then I would think that either the key is not different enough from the master in this first notch or else it's a lock problem with the glove box...

If your tech can't figure it out, ask a locksmith;)

Good luck!

I can confirm this and now if there are any enterprising valets out there, they now know to look at a regular RX-8 key to measure the depth of the initial shoulder cut and then they can duplicate it on any valet key they want to gain access to the glove box or trunk of.

Looks to me like Mazda screwed up in this respect. They should have made the valet key the one with the shoulder cut so that this scenario could not be played out.

Arrrrggghhh.

The dealership had a locksmith come in to cut these keys- he was at the dealer when I went in. He may not know what he's doing...who knows at this point. :confused: :confused: :confused:

I just bought an '04 GT 6MT Brilliant Black. It only has one key and the ket FOB doesn't work. The dealer sold me a Silencer alarm that is supposed to be a lot better than the stock alarm.

Anyway, since I only had one FOB that didn't work, I said okay.

Now, I find out that a second key is going to cost me $90.

and I don't have a valet key.