I got a spare fob for my car and (as many of you probably already know) the programming steps spelled out in the owners manual don't work. I wound up going to a dealer's shop and talking with a mechanic about it yesterday. He said that the programming procedure in the manual did work on some prior years' models but for some reason the text in the manual was carried forward for future years even though it no longer applies. He said the only way he knows to mate a fob to a car is with an electronic device they have in the shop. Having said that, he went ahead and programmed my fob without a work order. Nice service!

He also said that unless the issue has been corrected, it is important to alternate fobs every week or so. There had been a problem with the car 'forgetting' a fob that hadn't been used recently... people would leave their cars at airports when going on vacation, then come back and find their fob no longer worked. He said, just to be sure, to use each fob a couple of times every week or so. He said that it could be that the problem was corrected in the car's programming and that he just isn't aware that it was corrected, but using all fobs regularly ensures their future functionality.

Does anybody have updated information on either programming the fob or the forgotten fob problem?

 

No such problem as forgetting a fob on my 06 coupe. I realize you're talking about an 08, but I don't think there's a difference, except the fob itself.

There have been posts here in the past where there was an indication that not all the required info. for programming a fob was in the owner's manual. Many here with a manual tranny had to be sure they put the tranny in reverse before programming the fob.

I think the mechanic was mistaken in both instances.

 

I was reading that at one time manual transmissions needed to be put in "R" when shutting down but that requirement ended for the 2006 model year. I wonder if a requirement for the transmission to be in "R" for fob programming - as you stated, wasn't inserted into the fob programing section of the manual once the requirement for the transmission to be in "R" ended? I wasn't aware of the need for the manual transmission to be in "R" to program the fob - that just have been the problem I was having. Thanks!

 

This is the procedure that has worked for others:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1563917482-post10.html

 

Thanks for the link!
I had done a search on this form and I didn't find that page. Gee - talk about patting your head while rubbing your stomach!

My next endeavor will be to figure out how "personalizations" manifest themselves in the car. So far I haven't noticed any difference in the car's behavior between the two fobs

Thanks again!

 

I have a 2007 C6, A6. I would like to a 2008 keyless remote fob, but do not know if you can program a 2008 for a 2007. Have any of you done this successfully?

Thank you,
Lee


















i

 

Many have, it works fine. gmpartshouse.com may be the best place to buy FOBs.

 

Went to the site because i need an extra FOB. How do you now which one to order. they list 3 different types per FOB 1 and FOB2?? Any help.

 

The number on the fob only signifies the order that the fobs were programmed at the factory. All fobs are electrically identical. The order in which you program the fobs to the car determines whether the fob is a #1, #2,#3 or #4.
If the car is working correctly, the fobs can be programmed in a short time without any help from any machines at the dealer. As far as the other statement that fobs must be alternated or they will be forgotten: I was intrigued by this thought, so I just took out my fob #2, which has been sitting in a drawer for almost exactly a year and has never been used with the car, except to test it a year ago. I went out to the car and it opened the car and started it with a surprising lack of excitement. This kind of statement, made up somewhere by a mechanic or someone that he got it from, is just ridiculous on its face, and is the kind of thing that this forum can go a long way towards discrediting, so that it doesn't turn into an 'urban legend' with no basis in fact.
I have programmed dozens of fobs to many C6's and so have written up my own, simplified instruction set for both the short and the long procedure:

C6 Fob, Simple programming instructions….use these when you have a working fob and just want to add another to the system.



1. Car off
2. Trunk open
3. Glove box open
4. Put working fob on console next to shifter (the one you are currently using to drive the car) IMPORTANT. Also make sure no cellphones are in the car.
5. Put key in trunk keyhole and turn key five times in less than 5 seconds.
6. DIC will now beep and light up and say “Ready for fob 3”.
7. Put new unprogrammed fob in slot by glovebox with buttons facing right (passenger) side.
8. Wait and watch DIC. When it says “Ready for fob 4” it is done. Up to four Fobs may be programmed to the car total.
9. When all Fobs are programmed, push OFF/ACC (bottom half of start button) to turn off DIC.
10. Test all four buttons on fob and then take away all other fobs and check car starting with new fob(s).


C6 Fob Programming, long version to erase car memory and reprogram all Fobs. Any lost Fobs that are not reprogrammed with this procedure will no longer work on the car. Lost Fobs that are later found may be added to the car with the short programming procedure. This procedure requires three consecutive ten minute waiting periods, so plan on spending about a half hour to do this, during which the car may not be moved. Remember that the number printed on the Fob only indicates the way it was first programmed at the factory. All Fobs are identical. The order in which they are placed in the glovebox slot determines what number the Fob is.


1. Car off
2. Trunk open
3. Glove box open
4. Make sure NO Fobs are anywhere near the car. IMPORTANT.
5. Put key in trunk keyhole and turn key five times in less than 5 seconds.
6. DIC will now beep and light up and say “Off/Acc to learn” If you decide at this point NOT to do the programming now, push the TOP half of the Start button and the car will return to normal. To continue with programming:
7. Push bottom half of the Start button. DIC will say to wait 10 minutes and will start counting down the minutes. You may close the trunk and car door while waiting for the ten minute countdowns.
8. After the first 10 minute countdown, DIC will again say “Off/Acc to learn”. Push bottom half of Start button again. DIC will again start counting down the ten minutes.
9. After the second 10 minute countdown, DIC will again say “Off/Acc to learn”. Push bottom half of Start button again. DIC will again start counting down the ten minutes.
10. After this third ten minute period is over, DIC will say “Ready for Fob #1” Regardless of the number on the Fob, the FIRST Fob that is put in the glovebox slot will be recognized as Fob #1. Put the first Fob in the glovebox slot with the buttons facing to the right (passenger) side.
11. After 3 or four seconds the DIC will beep and say “Ready for Fob #2”. Put the second Fob in the slot. The car will take a maximum of four fobs. When you have no more Fobs to program, push the bottom half of the Start button to end the programming session.
12. Test all buttons on the fobs to make sure they work, then take all fobs away from the car and, one by one, try using each to start the car.

Good Luck!