2001 Dodge Neon
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in San Diego

2001 Dodge Neon Transponder Key Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

Out near Libby Lake, a guy called me about his 2001 Dodge Neon. He had one key left and it was getting to the point where he had to wiggle it just right to get the car to start. Sometimes it would fire up clean. Other times it would catch for a second and then die. He had already been to an auto parts store and had a spare cut from his worn key. The new cut looked fine to him. He used it once. The car cranked and stalled immediately. He figured something else broke overnight.

I explained what was actually happening. The replacement key he had made was a plain metal blank with no transponder. It opened the door because the door lock does not care about the chip. But the immobilizer does. Without a matched chip enrolled to the vehicle, the system sees an unauthorized key and shuts the engine down after that brief start. That is not a coincidence. That is exactly what the system is supposed to do.

I came out to him. Cut a proper replacement key to his vehicle, enrolled the transponder on site through the diagnostic port, and tested it through several cold start cycles before I packed up. His original worn key still worked too, which was good -- two enrolled keys is always better than one.

He asked what the dealer would have charged. I told him to call and find out if he was curious. He said he would take my word for it.

My BSIS license number is LCO#6792, publicly searchable through the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Background checked, insured, registered. That is the baseline you should expect from anyone you let work on your car.

BSIS Licensed

LCO#6792

CA Bureau of Security & Investigative Services

NASTF Certified

National Automotive Service Task Force

Fully Insured

Liability & vehicle damage coverage

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