C5 Fob & Keys
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 516
From: Gilbert, Arizona Currently Own: 1998 Coupe YouTube: My Corvette Life
C5 Fob & Keys
When I bought my car, the previous owner only had 1 key and no fob.
1. In 1998 did they all come with fobs or was that optional?
2. How do I go about getting a spare key?
1. In 1998 did they all come with fobs or was that optional?
2. How do I go about getting a spare key?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 471
From: S.E. Pennsylvania
All Corvettes came with a Fob. You can buy a new one online for anywhere between $30.00 to $100.00. You should go to a locksmith for an additional key as the keys are numerically linked to your car. Take the existing key with you and they can tell which key is for your car by measuring resistance on the key. Cost should be about $20.00 for the new key.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 734
Likes: 45
From: Over in the UK
Or get an amp meter touch the little metal bits either side of the key.. Measure the resistance them lookup the chart on Google... There's a list of resistances linked to a number.. Think 1 to 10......
When you get this you can get one on eBay ... A blank key that is... Then get it cut at a locksmith
When you get this you can get one on eBay ... A blank key that is... Then get it cut at a locksmith
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 355
From: Little Rock Arkansas
The biggest issue is that the 1997-2000 cars have the "passive entry" feature and this is the primary reason the earlier FOBs are different. The very basic gist behind it is that you're supposed to be able to walk up to the car with FOB in hand and it automatically unlock. Unfortunately as a lot of '97-'00 owners will tell you passive has a tremendous amount of issues with functionality (think having your FOB in the house, and it constantly locking and unlocking your doors while your car is in the garage) and was dropped for 2001 onwards.
The only other issue I can think of you will have not knowing what the other key's VATS value is will be if your '98 has the memory function with accompanying power seat. The memory function is designed to work in conjunction with whatever key is inserted into the ignition, i.e., if you have steering wheel and seat position set for both the 1 and 2 key it will move to those positions based off what you set. As you'll have to make a copy of the key you have on hand it'll use the same VATS resistance as the original key. There may be a solution to this that I'm not immediately aware of that someone could enlighten me on.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,556
Likes: 24,834
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
