Alarm Issues

[rowan.bradley]

We have just bought a 2-year old Verso. It came with only one remote key. The salesman told me this was normal, and that they could supply a duplicate key for £135, which seems to me a ridiculous price. The car seems unusable with only one remote key. Both my wife and I drive it. When my wife treis to unlock it with the non-remote key, it sets off the alarm, and the only way we've found opf stopping tha alarm sounding is to unlock the car with the remote key. So if I am not at home, my wife cannot stop it. So, several questions:

1. Can we stop the alarm going off when we unlock with the dumb key? How?
2. If it goes off, can it be stopped without access to the smart key? How?
3. Can the whole alarm system be turned off to avoid this problem? How?
4. What is the cheapest way of getting a duplicate smart key?

Many thanks - Rowan

[FROSTYBALLS]

Moved to the Verso club

[Heidfirst]

5 hours ago, rowan.bradley said:

We have just bought a 2-year old Verso. It came with only one remote key. The salesman told me this was normal, and that they could supply a duplicate key for £135, which seems to me a ridiculous price. The car seems unusable with only one remote key. Both my wife and I drive it. When my wife treis to unlock it with the non-remote key, it sets off the alarm, and the only way we've found opf stopping tha alarm sounding is to unlock the car with the remote key. So if I am not at home, my wife cannot stop it. So, several questions:

1. Can we stop the alarm going off when we unlock with the dumb key? How?
2. If it goes off, can it be stopped without access to the smart key? How?
3. Can the whole alarm system be turned off to avoid this problem? How?
4. What is the cheapest way of getting a duplicate smart key?

Do you have a mechanical key start or push-to-start (guessing PTS as you mention smart key)?

if the alarm is set by remote locking unlocking the door with the mechanical key should trigger the alarm. Usually starting the engine silences the alarm.

If you lock the car with the mechanical key the alarm should not be set.

[rowan.bradley]

I have mechanical key start.

So the "solution" is always to lock the car with the mechanical key, then the alarm will not be set, and will not go off when we unlock the key with the mechanical key? And if per chance we do set it off, then start the engine and it will stop?

I will try this. Thank you very much for this info.

I really do need another remote key, but the price of £135 that I was quoted seems ridiculous.

Thanks - Rowan

[FROSTYBALLS]

Depending who has quoted for the second remote key, presumably the cost includes programming, so there is an element of labour included. Labour rates can be anything between £60 and £100 per hour depending where one lives.

To put the cost into context, back in 2003 we bought two new Mazdas on the same day (a 323 and a Premacy) each of which came with just one remote. So we also ordered a second remote for each and the cost then was £150 for each remote.