Ok...I am an idiot...just bought a really nice 08 coupe 6 speed and promptly lost the working fob in a snow storm last night...no I wasn't driving the car...the fob just disappeared from my pocket somewhere, maybe in a deep snow bank..don't know...so I got out my spare fob...but it is not programmed...I tried the long procedure as describe in the fob thread...using the key in the trunk to activate the DIC...no luck..turned key 5 times...no DIC message...so now I am stuck with a beautiful car I can't even get out of the driveway.

What am I doing wrong? Do I have to tow the car to the dealer to get this programmed or can I just bring the fob with the vin ?

 

How fresh is the battery in the existing fob? I would put a new battery in it and try to program it again or maybe it may even work with a new battery.

Also, did you try the fob in the glove box slot?

 

You should be able to program the non-programmed fob without an existing programmed fob unless you've got a C6 built for Canada.

From the owner's manual:

 

Agree with this. Why would the car come with a fob thats not programmed? Probably dead fob battery.

 

Programing is a one time thing to do. Once the car learns the serial number of a FOB it never forgets it unless you intentionally erase it with the long procedure. When a FOB that used to work no longer works it is almost always a battery. Either the car battery is dead or the FOB battery.

A dealer can do nothing with a FOB and VIN because the FOB is a stupid little device that doesn't know anything except its serial number. It is the car that learns and remembers the FOB number, not the FOB learning the car number.

As far as not being able to turn the key and get programming started, that is a common issue. Dirty lock, turning too fast or too slow, or not turning far enough. But again, you should never have to do this.

 

The owner of the car never activated this fob...I did replace the battery...still doesn't do anything...I cannot get the dic to start the programming procedure...now the instructions say to keep the window open, but I cannot open the windows without a working fob..or is their another way. I will try charging the cars battery too. I did place the fob correctly in the glove box slot...still nothing.

 

How do I know if the car was built for Canada? Origin of car was wisconsin, then shipped to a NY dealer...2nd owner had the car in Delaware...only has 27000 miles on it...verified by carfax

 

I just put the charger on the battery and first it said Full, but the it gave an FO3 code which indicates a bad cell...so I really don't know for sure if its good...but I never had trouble starting the car, even in this cold weather.

 

So the previous owner bought a FOB but then never got around programming it? What instructions say to keep the window open? Since you say you lost the one working FOB you will have to do the long procedure.

1. The vehicle must be off.
2. Place the new, unrecognized transmitter in the glove box transmitter pocket with the buttons facing towards the passenger’s side.
3. Go to the rear of the vehicle and insert the vehicle key into the key cylinder located above the license plate. See Hatch/Trunk on page 2-14 for more information on the key cylinder.
4. Open the trunk.
5. Turn the key five times within five seconds.
6. The DIC message will display OFF-ACCESORY TO LEARN
7. Press the ACC button (ignition switch).
8. The DIC will read WAIT 10 MINUTES and will count down to zero, one minute at a time.
9. The DIC will display OFF-ACCESSORY TO LEARN again.
10. Press the ACC button (ignition switch).
11. The DIC will read WAIT 10 MINUTES and will count down to zero, one minute at a time.
12. The DIC will display OFF-ACCESSORY TO LEARN again.
13. Press the ACC button (ignition switch).
14. The DIC will read WAIT 10 MINUTES and will count down to zero, one minute at a time.
15. A beep will sound and the DIC will read READY FOR FOB #1. At this time, all previously known transmitters have been erased.
16. Once the transmitter is recognized and programmed, a beep will sound and the DIC will display READY FOR FOB #2.

If you have additional transmitters to program, take transmitter 1 out of the transmitter pocket and place transmitter 2 in the pocket. This can be done repeatedly until up to four transmitters have be programmed. The DIC will then display MAX # FOBS LEARNED and will exit the programming mode. When you are done programming transmitters, press the ACC button (ignition switch).


Sounds like you also have a bad car battery. That should not prevent getting into programming mode but leaving it on a charger while you try can't hurt.

 

thanks for all the info....I left the charger on the battery and lo and behold...the dic responded to the 5 key turns..I did the long reprogram
and my key now works. I am getting a spare key right now on ebay...what procedure do I need to use to program the spare without messing up my current key.
Also...I was worried about someone recovering my lost key and maybe tracing the car and stealing it...is that possible?

 

A key doesn't get programmed. I'm assuming you're talking about buying a new fob on ebay. Program it with the short procedure to just add a fob.

When you used the long procedure to program the fob you have, it nullified all other fobs. So the fob you lost or never had will no longer work for your car.

 

You have done the long procedure and that erases all previous fobs, so right now, the one fob you have is the only one that will work on the car to start it. The metal key that you lost with the fob will still open the trunk and short of re-keying the lock, there is nothing you can do about that.
You need to use the fob that you have along with the short procedure to make the next fob (ebay) be number two on the car. Read completely and use these instructions:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tructions.html

You may also use a Cadillac fob as long as it looks like yours and has the same FCC id number on it. You may also use a C6 or Cadillac fob from '05 thru '07...they all work the same as long as the FCC number is the same. The Cadillac fobs are usually less expensive because they are in less demand so if it doesn't matter that it has the wrong emblem on it, it may be an alternative for you.

 

cclive's thread is the one I was looking for yesterday and couldn't find so I repeated another post of the long procedure. His is the definitive answer to FOB programming.

 

Thanks for the confidence!