Are you a 2009 Dodge Challenger owner looking for a more affordable way to get a spare key fob? Dealerships often lead you to believe that you must purchase a brand-new, dealer-programmed fob at a premium price. But what if we told you there’s a more cost-effective solution? The truth is, reprogramming a used factory key fob for your 2009 Dodge Challenger is absolutely possible. Let’s debunk the myths and explore how you can save money and get that extra fob you need.
Bypassing the Dealership: Reprogramming a Used Key Fob
Many dealerships would have you believe that once a key fob is programmed to a vehicle, it’s married for life. They often claim that only they can program new fobs and that used fobs are unusable with a different car. This simply isn’t the case. Like many electronic components in modern vehicles, key fobs can be reset and reprogrammed. The idea that only a brand-new fob from the dealer will work is often a tactic to maximize their profits, not a reflection of technical limitations.
My Real-World Experience: Reprogramming a Used Challenger Fob
To put this to the test, I decided to try reprogramming a used factory fob for a 2009 Dodge Challenger. I sourced a genuine, used key fob from eBay, ensuring it was a factory original and not a cheap imitation. The cost? A mere $35 – a significant saving compared to the dealership’s quoted price of $175. The seller assured me that while the fob had been briefly programmed for a customer who never picked it up, it could be reprogrammed without issue.
Next, I located a local locksmith specializing in automotive key programming. They quoted around $60 for the reprogramming service and key cutting, which is comparable to what a dealer might charge for programming a brand new fob. The locksmith was upfront, stating that the programming fee was payable regardless of success, but they offered to program another fob for free if the first attempt failed. This minimized the risk, making it a worthwhile experiment.
The programming process wasn’t entirely seamless initially. The locksmith’s diagnostic tool struggled to retrieve the “skim” – the car’s PIN code required for programming. After about ten minutes and some behind-the-scenes work to obtain the code remotely (at no extra cost to me), they successfully accessed it. From there, programming the used fob to my 2009 Dodge Challenger was remarkably quick, taking only about 20 seconds.
In the end, for a total of $100 ($35 for the fob and $60 for programming), I had a fully functional spare factory key fob. The locksmith also clarified a common misconception: reprogramming a new fob doesn’t require clearing the old one. The process simply overwrites the existing programming, meaning dealerships have no technical reason to refuse reprogramming a used fob, unless they simply choose not to.
Key Takeaways: Save Money and Reprogram!
This experience definitively proves that you can reprogram a used factory key fob for a 2009 Dodge Challenger. Don’t be misled by dealerships claiming otherwise. By choosing a used fob and a skilled locksmith, you can save a significant amount of money while obtaining a perfectly working spare key. This is a smart way to avoid inflated dealership prices and get the key fob solution you need for your 2009 Dodge Challenger.
