hey

I'm sure everyone loves saving money when it comes to crazy service charges at GM for minor small stuff, like programming a remote.

I picked up a new remote because the old one cracked and tape'* holding it together...not that im cheap, im a conservative
they wanted $45 to program the remote, which from what i have read on the forum requires some tech stuff to program and that i dont have
So, if you're in my situation and just need the new remote programmed and have no need for the old one....these chips can be removed and put into the new remotes case and instantly, new remote works. im sure this is small potatoes in finding things out, but i just saved cash and it feels kinda nice.

If you need the old remote (with the new chip) programmed, go over to GM and tell them the old remote got a new battery and it will not unlock the car anymore. I got it done for free this afternoon.

i hope this isnt a useless peice of info here, but i thought i'd share

pete

This interests me.. can you please post some pictures of the swap you are mentioning.

here'* the one picture you really need.


If you've ever changed the battery before, you'd just pop off the back, on the bottom of the fob there is a space where a nickel fits in and pops that back off
then push out the green chip and put it in the new fob

I work in an electronics store where we sell the 3V lithium cells for those remotes. In my 10 years dealing with those things, 90% of them come in with batteries that are perfectly fine. I test the battery each time. I have found over the years the most common problem with those remotes (GM in particular) is the cold solder joints I find on that metal piece that is the negative contact for the battery in that remote. There are three solder points to the pcb and usually 2 of them (if not all) break off the pcb. A quick dab of solder and presto the remote works again! I have had remotes in the store that date back to the 90-94 model year with fully charged batteries still in them. Figure those remotes are presed for about 1-2 seconds 2-4 times a day and you can see there isn't much drain on the battery, unless they are stuck in a purse or pocket and have something continually pressing a button on them.

Moral of the story, always check your solder connections on that battery contact before you think it'* time for a new remote.

I have soldered many remotes to date and they all work. On the 96 programing is a do it yourself procedure if you need to program a third or forth. I have three. Not sure on the 2000 + but its just a matter of jumping a few terminals on the aldi connector.
Stealership quoted me $75 to program my third remote. Yah right.

my "favorite" dealership quoted me i believe 55 dollars to program my remote, i don't understand how they can charge that much for the use of a techII and a few minutes of their time.

By the time it is assigned to a Tech and that Tech is done..figure at least 30 minutes total time. Add to that some cost of equipment.

Starts to seem reasonable.