Just purchased 2001 SSEI. Problem is no spare key nor spare remote.

1. Where is the best place to purchase a spare key? Do I have to go the dealer route or are there some good places on-line? Does the spare key have to be programmed?

2. I know where to purchase a spare remote but the dealer wants many times the unit cost just to do a 1 minute job. On other sites I have read instructions about how to program your own. Does anyone have instructions to DIY program a second remote for a 2001?

As always, thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

You should probaly get the key from a dealer (chip needs to be blank). I think they were around 45 - 65 dollars. They key has to be programmed to the car but the procedure is simple and the dealer can tell you what it is (I dont remember it right off).

Thanks for the reply Rogue.

I just looked at the key I got with the car. It DOES NOT contain a chip but it opens all doors and works the ignition! It looks like my wife'* Honda key with the big clunky plastic end on the key, and the key is simetrical in shape in that it will works in either "up" or "down" position. I was expecting a key that has a small resistance chip embeded in the steel like my other GM cars.

It does have a chip, its just in the key head, not on the metal.

I got a dumb question- did the dealer ask for your full VIN and have to order it?
It might of come coded. I may be wrong- and for the life of me can't remember where I read or heard this - that a new key thats correctly cut will be set to the cars code or the car will take the keys. Again Don't hold me to this. I do know my owners book says you can prog new fobs by having the car unlocked and press the lock/unlock @ the same time. IT worked for me.

I went to the dealer, told them model and year, had the blank cut to my original key and then programmed the new key to my car. It involved something like use my original key and turn the car to on, turn off the car, put the new key and turn to on within 15 seconds. Again i'm just going from memory and the dealer can tell you excatly how to do it. They had the blanks in stock and just cut the key using my original.

Yea I though it was something like that.