Sourcing a replacement key for a vehicle

My wife drives our 05 Dodge Durango. It came with two keys when we bought it a while back.

As of last week both keys are now missing, so it is sitting in front of our house.

Any ideas how we can get a replacement key made for it? My sanity implores a solution...

Some manufacturers have the key info(cut,RF and remote signal) on file under the vin#.

Worst case is tow it to the dealer and have them rekey the whole thing.

It's going to involve some level of contact with the dealer so you might as well call them and see what they say.

I was afraid of dealer involvement. Thanks guys!

Take the registration to the dealer. They can cut a valet key. Use that until you find the others

There's no garrentee that the dealer can cut a key using the vin.

I had a similar problem once. I trailered it to my dealer and they couldn't cut the key using the vin. What they ended up doing was remove the trunk lock; which has the same pin out as the doors; and then having a locksmith cut a to work. They then programed the key to the cars security system and I was good to go. Since they couldn't cut a key themselves and had to call a locksmith I didn't have to pay for that part.

It helped that a good friend of mine worked as the service manager.

rather than having it trailered to a dealer for that.. I once watched a locksmith make a key for when my mom locked her keys in the trunk of her old sunbird. It took about half an hour.

In reply to mad_machine:

I wondered if a locksmith could help. I think my wife even has a blank key.

Maybe I should let my fingers do the walking...

In my experience, Chrysler will be no problem cutting the key, but you need to either take the vehicle to someone who can program the pin, or bring the person to the vehicle.

The dealership I use will sell you the key, cut it , and then introduce it for the price of the key. I'm sure not all places will do that.

There is no bypassing of the pin- GM will accept a new key in some of their systems if you just leave it in the ignition long enough. Mopar needs the pin.

Streetwiseguy wrote: In my experience, Chrysler will be no problem cutting the key, but you need to either take the vehicle to someone who can program the pin, or bring the person to the vehicle. The dealership I use will sell you the key, cut it , and then introduce it for the price of the key. I'm sure not all places will do that. There is no bypassing of the pin- GM will accept a new key in some of their systems if you just leave it in the ignition long enough. Mopar needs the pin.

I had an '05 Dodge Magnum, with only one key, and it ceased to start the car. Towed it to the dealer, but as I only had one key - and it was not working - I had to get a whole new module and key. Sadly, everything I had read was that you need two keys to program a new key.

RealMiniParker wrote:

Streetwiseguy wrote: In my experience, Chrysler will be no problem cutting the key, but you need to either take the vehicle to someone who can program the pin, or bring the person to the vehicle. The dealership I use will sell you the key, cut it , and then introduce it for the price of the key. I'm sure not all places will do that. There is no bypassing of the pin- GM will accept a new key in some of their systems if you just leave it in the ignition long enough. Mopar needs the pin.

I had an '05 Dodge Magnum, with only one key, and it ceased to start the car. Towed it to the dealer, but as I only had one key - and it was not working - I had to get a whole new module and key. Sadly, everything I had read was that you need two keys to program a new key.

That would be a WIN, not a mechanical key, correct? I have been working off the idea that Dakotas still had a proper iron key in 05.

I need a second key for my rover.. but I am not digging the $200+ price of getting it programmed

Streetwiseguy wrote:

RealMiniParker wrote:

Streetwiseguy wrote: In my experience, Chrysler will be no problem cutting the key, but you need to either take the vehicle to someone who can program the pin, or bring the person to the vehicle. The dealership I use will sell you the key, cut it , and then introduce it for the price of the key. I'm sure not all places will do that. There is no bypassing of the pin- GM will accept a new key in some of their systems if you just leave it in the ignition long enough. Mopar needs the pin.

I had an '05 Dodge Magnum, with only one key, and it ceased to start the car. Towed it to the dealer, but as I only had one key - and it was not working - I had to get a whole new module and key. Sadly, everything I had read was that you need two keys to program a new key.

That would be a WIN, not a mechanical key, correct? I have been working off the idea that Dakotas still had a proper iron key in 05.

That is correct, it is a basic metal key with the basic unlock fob attached to it. I don't even think it as a "chip" in it, but I haven't researched that far into it.

Chrysler could be either/or in that timeframe, IIRC. Some had transponders and some didn't.

Last Chrysler without a chip was 2000 or so. Its got a chip.

In the past I've pulled a door Lock barrel and taken it to a locksmith to have them make a key for it. Worked perfectly, but it was a non transponder key.

I could have had the locksmith come to me, but I'd already let myself into the car because I thought the Keys were locked in it. Having the locksmith come to me involved an extra 200 dollars.

Streetwiseguy wrote:

RealMiniParker wrote:

Streetwiseguy wrote: In my experience, Chrysler will be no problem cutting the key, but you need to either take the vehicle to someone who can program the pin, or bring the person to the vehicle. The dealership I use will sell you the key, cut it , and then introduce it for the price of the key. I'm sure not all places will do that. There is no bypassing of the pin- GM will accept a new key in some of their systems if you just leave it in the ignition long enough. Mopar needs the pin.

I had an '05 Dodge Magnum, with only one key, and it ceased to start the car. Towed it to the dealer, but as I only had one key - and it was not working - I had to get a whole new module and key. Sadly, everything I had read was that you need two keys to program a new key.

That would be a WIN, not a mechanical key, correct? I have been working off the idea that Dakotas still had a proper iron key in 05.

Aye, WIN module. Key with remote buttons in the 'knob' of it, not a separate fob.

Ok, so it doesn't sound like we are getting this resolved without the dealer.

Of course I contacted the guy we've bought cars from in the past and he moved on to a different dealer.

I'll post what we end up with...

I broke down and called the dealer today. They said new key and programming would be $250. And they need the truck there, so we have to pay to have it towed there.

berkeley me.

In reply to paranoid_android74:

AAA could cut down that tow cost maybe?

If we had AAA it might. But we don't.