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My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 8:43 pm
by rhythmstick
Hi All

I love gadgets, and I bet I'm not the only one here. I've always wanted one of those flip keys, but my NB didn't come with one, and to buy one and get it programmed them from Mazda, is daylight robbery. So I thought, "how hard can it be?".

So, after a lot of searching, I found a remote casing that would accept a direct transplant of my current three button remote circuit board. Not only that, It has Mazda branding! This means no programming of a new remote chip.

The casing I bought wast $20 delivered, but it only had the lock/unlock button holes :(
Once I received it, I measured where the boot release button should go, and simply drilled a hole for it.

My friend is a locksmith, so I got him to cut it. If you get the same casing, note that the blade is NOT OEM, and that one side of the blade is wider, so you will need to pack the blank to cut deeper into it, or else you will wear out your ignition barrel. Noting this to a good locksmith, they should know what you mean.

I had to sacrifice my spare key to remove the transponder, so I don't need to spend money on getting someone to program a new chip :wink:
There was a little spot inside the case where you can put the chip as well.

The result?
IMG_0291.jpg


I surely can't be the only one who wanted something like this, but not willing to pay the ridiculous amounts of money, so I thought I'd share.

If there is any interest, I'm happy to supply links to ebay, and show you the insides of the casing.

By the way, I saved money by getting a friend to cut the key, so the cost of that isn't taken into account.

Cheers

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:26 pm
by Locutus
i've done a bit of research on the matter and the most valuable resource i could find on the matter is here:
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=55575.0
the most interesting part is page 28.

you don't need to pay mazda to program a new transponder "chip" key - you can do it yourself, provided you already have 2 working keys.


my preference is the OEM flip key, but when i tried to program an OEM flip key remote to my car (NB8B) it wouldn't accept it.

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:30 pm
by rhythmstick
Hi Locutus

Thanks for that. I have read that before. However, this will require a third transponder, which is pricy, which is why I created the thread. I was looking into getting an OEM flip key, but they were starting around the $80 mark, which includes the remote.

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:41 pm
by Locutus
the transponders are actually quite cheap, provided you don't source them from mazda. i recently bought a friend a spare mazda 3 key for around $10, which included a 4D transponder.

i think we need 8C transponders for our cars, but can't find any concrete information... :|

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:47 pm
by rhythmstick
That would have been useful, and saved me attacking my spare. haha.
This is why I went down this path, as I couldn't find concrete info. However, if you bought one of those, it is easily incorporated into this method, and saves your key.

I can give you the info written on the transponder chip if it'll help you.

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:15 pm
by Locutus
thanks - that might be helpful.

but to be honest, i don't know enough about the chips to make heads or tails of the codes, short of plugging them straight into google.

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:44 am
by rhythmstick
Locutus wrote:thanks - that might be helpful.

but to be honest, i don't know enough about the chips to make heads or tails of the codes, short of plugging them straight into google.


Sorry it's taken so long. Here's what I have:

1K5561A
1L 29 205
10581

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:23 pm
by Regie
where abouts are you located??

ill pay you to make one for me :)

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 2:12 pm
by rhythmstick
Regie wrote:where abouts are you located??

ill pay you to make one for me :)


PM sent, thought it's still sitting in my outbox.

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 5:17 pm
by Regie
rhythmstick wrote:
Regie wrote:where abouts are you located??

ill pay you to make one for me :)


PM sent, thought it's still sitting in my outbox.


shot you one back

Do Want :)....id love just one thing to carry around in my pocket instead of 2...leaves more room for ahh....money :) we all like that

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 5:20 pm
by BadBong
Lines up with Regie for one of these beautiful keys :)

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:07 am
by Regie
BadBong wrote:Lines up with Regie for one of these beautiful keys :)



mine is getting closer :P

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:41 pm
by rhythmstick
Ok, Version two is here. I can't stick with one thing, I have to keep improving upon things.

Regie, You happy with this?
IMG_0327.jpg

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:02 pm
by Hammer
rhythmstick wrote:Ok, Version two is here. I can't stick with one thing, I have to keep improving upon things.

Regie, You happy with this?
IMG_0327.jpg

I'll have one of those.

Are you doing a group buy?

Re: My $20 NB Flip key

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:05 pm
by rhythmstick
Hammer wrote:
rhythmstick wrote:Ok, Version two is here. I can't stick with one thing, I have to keep improving upon things.

Regie, You happy with this?
IMG_0327.jpg

I'll have one of those.

Are you doing a group buy?


Hey Hammer

If there is enough interest, I can. Do you have the same three button remote as in the pic? It's now hard to get the original, but the one I've just posted looks much better, and slightly slimmer, and feels a bit more sturdy.