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How do you program a key fob???

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Old May 31, 2009 | 12:43 PM
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Default How do you program a key fob???

When I got my car it only came with one key fob. I recently purchased another fob from a forum member and am curious if I can program it myself or do I need to take it to my dealership? Thanks.
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Old May 31, 2009 | 12:45 PM
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You can do it yourself. The short procedure will add it to your car and it will probably end up being Fob # 3....or you can do the long procedure, erase all and then program the two that you have as #1 and #2. Here are the two procedures :

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.

Keep in mind that somewhere out there is a fob that is still programmed to your car...unless you know that is has been destroyed...so only the long procedure will invalidate that one and make absolutely sure that the two that you have now are the only ones that will work on your car.

Last edited by cclive; May 31, 2009 at 12:52 PM.
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Old May 31, 2009 | 12:45 PM
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You can do it yourself. The procedure is in your owners manual, and has been posted several times on this forum.

Good luck.
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Old May 31, 2009 | 12:46 PM
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http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...e-by-hand.html

This thread will spell it out. It's the same instructions as in the manual
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Old May 31, 2009 | 12:47 PM
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A pretty good step by step instruction is in your owners manual. For mine (2005), it's page 2-6.
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Old May 31, 2009 | 12:54 PM
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Note that there are 2 different procedures described in the owner's manual. The procedure for which a link is provided above is the one you want to use. It is found on page 75 of the 2007 owner's manual. That procedure should program your new fob as no. 2.

There is a longer procedure, also described in the owner's manual, but that is for reprogramming all fobs. At this point, you don't need that procedure.

Technically, you're not programming the fob. You're actually programming the car to recognize & use the fob.
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Old May 31, 2009 | 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by cclive
You can do it yourself. The short procedure will add it to your car and it will probably end up being Fob # 3....or you can do the long procedure, erase all and then program the two that you have as #1 and #2. Here are the two procedures :

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.

Keep in mind that somewhere out there is a fob that is still programmed to your car...unless you know that is has been destroyed...so only the long procedure will invalidate that one and make absolutely sure that the two that you have now are the only ones that will work on your car.


cclive is "da man" on this topic - - follow his instructions and you'll be good to go!
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Old May 31, 2009 | 01:57 PM
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Worked perfect. Thank You.
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Old May 31, 2009 | 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by silver07vette
Worked perfect. Thank You.
Glad to hear it!


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Old May 31, 2009 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by silver07vette
Worked perfect. Thank You.
What fob # did it get programmed as? If it's fob #2, it'll have memory options. If programmed as fob #3 or #4, it will not have memory options.
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Old Jun 1, 2009 | 04:55 AM
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Will the instruction in the 2007 manual work for all years for the C6 modell. In the European version and the Swedish manual, the owners are advised to go to the dealer in order to progam the FOB's.
Anyone tried the 2005?

Best regards
Jan from Sweden
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Old Jun 1, 2009 | 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by janne66+2002
Will the instruction in the 2007 manual work for all years for the C6 modell. In the European version and the Swedish manual, the owners are advised to go to the dealer in order to progam the FOB's.
Anyone tried the 2005?

Best regards
Jan from Sweden
Interesting question...I have no idea about european versions...our manual only mentions USA and Canadian....but I would think that there is nothing to lose by trying the 5 key turns...see if the DIC responds....here, we can just cancel out if the DIC reponds by pushing the top of the start button instead of the bottom.
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Old Jun 1, 2009 | 12:24 PM
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I think cclive has the right approach, deleting the fobs and then adding the new ones is the way to go for sure. I think when i get my C6 I'll take this approach and wipe out both fobs and re-add them. It doesn't seem all that bad and you never know if someone is hanging out onto a fob out there.
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Old Jun 1, 2009 | 02:22 PM
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When I bought my 05 the second FOB wasn't recognized by the car so I reprogrammed it without wiping out both FOBs because I read where someone did that and then the car didn't recognize either FOB and they had to have it towed to the dealership and I didn't want to take a chance on that happening to me. Anyway, when I reprogrammed the
second FOB the car would only make it a number 3 which didn't allow the memory functions to work so I took it to the dealership and they used a handheld computer and were able to make the second one read as the second one but I have also read where others were successful at doing it themselves without wiping out both FOBs.
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Old Jun 1, 2009 | 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by BBinFla
(snip) I took it to the dealership and they used a handheld computer and were able to make the second one read as the second one but I have also read where others were successful at doing it themselves without wiping out both FOBs.
Either they were confused as to what they were actually doing or you misunderstood them.

The only way for someone to "do it themselves" and have a new fob programmed as #1 or #2 is to remove all existing fobs from memory first. If you don't wipe out existing fobs, any new fobs WILL be added as #3 or #4.
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Old Jun 1, 2009 | 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Kent1999
Either they were confused as to what they were actually doing or you misunderstood them.

The only way for someone to "do it themselves" and have a new fob programmed as #1 or #2 is to remove all existing fobs from memory first. If you don't wipe out existing fobs, any new fobs WILL be added as #3 or #4.
This is true....and the safest way to wipe out both is to take the battery out of one, then put it in the slot and try starting the car with it. This should work and shows that the slot is working...once we know the slot is working, then wiping out all fobs is not dangerous. Hope this makes sense.
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Old Jun 2, 2009 | 12:35 AM
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Originally Posted by cclive
This is true....and the safest way to wipe out both is to take the battery out of one, then put it in the slot and try starting the car with it. This should work and shows that the slot is working...once we know the slot is working, then wiping out all fobs is not dangerous. Hope this makes sense.
I think the battery has to be in the fob for the slot to work... not 100% sure, but when I took the battery out of my fob, it wouldn't start my car.

I think the slot isn't really special... just puts the fob VERY close to the receiving antenna, thus enabling reception even if the fob battery is very weak.

Cheers,
Kent
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Old Jun 2, 2009 | 04:54 AM
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Thank you for all your help.
In the manual for 2005, you can read:
The Canadian immobilizer standard requires Canadian
owners to see their GM dealer for matching new
transmitters when a recognized transmitter is not
available. United States owners are permitted to match
a new transmitter to their vehicle when a recognized
transmitter is not available.

So from what I can understand with an US-version of the C6 Corvette you can match the FOB's yourself, but if you have a Canada- or European version, you have to open the wallet and go to your dealer who has a Tech II with GM's computersystem. That must why the European manuales says that you have to visit the GM-dealer.
(Let's hope there will some still available in the future....)


Best regards
Jan from Sweden
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Old Jun 2, 2009 | 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by janne66+2002
Thank you for all your help.
In the manual for 2005, you can read:
The Canadian immobilizer standard requires Canadian
owners to see their GM dealer for matching new
transmitters when a recognized transmitter is not
available.
United States owners are permitted to match
a new transmitter to their vehicle when a recognized
transmitter is not available.

So from what I can understand with an US-version of the C6 Corvette you can match the FOB's yourself, but if you have a Canada- or European version, you have to open the wallet and go to your dealer who has a Tech II with GM's computersystem. That must why the European manuales says that you have to visit the GM-dealer.
(Let's hope there will some still available in the future....)


Best regards
Jan from Sweden
Only when another good fob is not available to start the process, the way I read it.
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Old Jun 3, 2009 | 08:00 PM
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Yes, the procedure is in the owner's manual and I offer all manuals from 1993 - 2009 on my site for free at www.gmpartshouse.com. Hover over the downloads link and you're good to go.
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