Losing or damaging your car keys can be a frustrating experience, especially when faced with the high costs of replacement. Owners of a 2008 VW Passat often encounter this issue, finding themselves needing a new key fob. Purchasing a new key fob and getting it programmed through official channels can be quite expensive. However, there are more affordable routes you can take, as illustrated by one resourceful Passat owner who combined new and used parts to solve their key fob dilemma. This guide delves into a cost-effective method for 2008 Vw Passat Key Fob Replacement, drawing inspiration from a real-world fix.
The original author of the source article needed two key fobs for their 2008 Passat but aimed to avoid hefty dealership prices. They opted for a smart strategy: buying one new key fob from Keyless Ride for $199 and repurposing a used key fob for the second key. The brilliance lies in salvaging the RFID chip from an old key with broken buttons and installing it into a working used key fob. This approach allows the car to start, bypassing the need for expensive complete replacements for both keys.
Let’s break down how to perform this RFID chip swap. The process involves carefully opening both the old and the new (or used) key fobs to access the internal components.
First, you’ll need to disassemble the key fob. Many online tutorials, including YouTube videos, demonstrate how to safely remove the back cover of your VW Passat key fob. Once the back is off, the internal casing needs to be carefully opened to reach the RFID chip.
The white opaque casing within the key fob shell is typically glued together. Using a precision tool like an Exacto knife, carefully cut along the glued seams, marked by red lines in the original example, to separate the casing halves. The RFID chip is located within the black bump area of this casing.
Start slicing in an area with no glue, then proceed incrementally along the glued sections. Press down gently and repeatedly to slice through the adhesive. This method works for the sides and bottom of the casing. The top section might have a slightly different gluing method, often requiring a horizontal cut.
A horizontal cut, as shown, should allow you to separate the top section of the casing relatively easily. Repeat this process for both your original key fob (the one with the broken buttons) and the used key fob you intend to use.
After carefully separating the casings, clean the edges of the parts you plan to reassemble. Take the white opaque section containing the RFID chip from your original key fob and carefully place it into the used key fob shell. Re-glue the casing securely. This swapped RFID chip will allow your 2008 VW Passat to start.
However, to get the buttons on your newly assembled key fob to function (lock, unlock, panic), programming is necessary. While the RFID chip allows the car to start, button functionality usually requires professional programming, often done at a dealership. In the original author’s experience, the dealership synced the used key fob buttons for free when they programmed the new key fob.
The total cost breakdown from the original article was: $199 for a new key from Keyless Ride, $16 for a used key fob from Midwestkeyless (including a new battery and blank emergency key), and $100 for programming both keys at the dealership. An additional $12 was spent to have the emergency key cut by a locksmith. This DIY approach, combined with a new key purchase, significantly reduced the overall expense compared to replacing two complete key fobs at dealership prices.
In conclusion, replacing a 2008 VW Passat key fob doesn’t have to break the bank. By utilizing a combination of new and used parts and a bit of DIY effort, you can achieve a functional key fob replacement at a fraction of the cost. Remember that while the RFID chip swap is a DIY task, button programming and key cutting might require professional services.
