I am ready to program a factory replacement key fob that I purchased. I already have 2 programmed, #1 is aftermarket and intermittent, #2 doesn't work at all.
Also number #1 will not pop the hatchback. If I just add it to #3, I don't believe it can do that function (pop the hatchback).

So I am using this procedure: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html

I am right at the point of invalidate all FOBs. What happens if things go wrong? Will I have to tow the car to the dealership?

 

You can reprogram the fobs without a Tech 2 I'm pretty sure. Process is in owner's manual, but you do need the physical trunk key to do it. You have to turn the key something like 5 times, while rubbing your stomach and patting your head, something like that. But you're supposed to be able to do it as long as you have a physical key

 

Do a little more searching. Fobs can be reprogrammed with just the trunk key as noted above. There are multiple threads on it.

 

This is the tried and true set of fob programming instructions https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tructions.html
More complete than the owner’s manual, but I’ve seen it written a few times that in addition to those instructions, you may need to complete the procedure for each fob by pressing the unlock button on it.

 

I should have mentioned that if things go wrong you can still attempt the procedure again (and again…. ).

 

When the locksmith came out to provide me with the 2nd keyfob (as part of my deal with the dealership), he programmed it with what looked like a giant iPad connected to OBDII port. Seemed to take way longer that way than just doing the key in the trunk trick. He said he had to wait 12 minutes or something between each action with the tool he had. At the end of the day he got both fobs programmed and it all works but it seemed way more difficult doing it the way he did vs the trunk lock trick.

 

I've done the trunk lock method before, and honestly I think I'll just go that route again. Doesn't sound like it saves any time by using the tech 2.

 

The long procedure that you can perform yourself by using the fob key has 3 x 10 minute wait periods. And that’s after you’ve gotten the car into programming mode by turning the key 5 times. So it’s going to take at least 30 minutes just for the waits. If you want to derisk it a bit, just use it to program your first fob. Now you’ve got one working, so no matter what happens next, towing the car is off the table. Then use the short procedure to add in how many other fobs you’ve got up to a max total of 4. The short procedure cannot FU the one programmed fob, and it takes literally just a couple of minutes to do the short procedure.

 

Right ... and I was also thinking that if it had to go to the dealership, they're going to use a scanner - which I already have.

 

I wound up simply adding another key FOB. It was #3 and it was a factory replacement. I was surprised to see that the hatchback button worked on #3. I was under the impression that that only worked on FOB #1 and #2.
The factory FOB has been solid thus far compared to the #1 knock off. That one wouldn't pop the hatchback.... and was also, at times, unreliable.

 

Short of an export car, where you have a waiting period before you can program a fob in tech II type tool,
with Tech II, can program fobs into any slot (even if currently being used by another fob), where as when you use the long procedure with key to first erase the fobs then program them back in with 30min wait time, so you can program then back into cleared slots, While short procedure is only going to allow you to program fobs in to the 3 or 4th unused slots.

Hence with tech II, and car not export model, should only take about 3 mins, first to erase all fobs that are programmed in (so a fob floating around that someone else has, can not be use to steal the car), then program in the fobs into the slots that you want them in. Hence car with memory functions, only slot 1 and 2 will work with these momory features, and slots 3 and 4 on the RCDLR will not.

As for is you screw something up while programming, and do not even get a single fob programed in, so you can put the car into ACC mode to use the Tech II, then need to use SPS to put the RCDLR into relearn mode, so when you press the start button, DIC will ask you to insert the first fob to start programming.
Note, export cars, or using TIS2000 SPS, going to have the 30min wait time, hence 3 10min count downs, where once the two 10min count downs go to zero, will need to hit the starter button again within 1 min, to start the next 10 min count down.

Simply, for export models, the count down is to make it harder for someone to get into the car to program a new fob in, so they can steal the car with new programmed fob.
Same for someone using stand alone TIS2000 with count down for both usa and export cars, while on line TDS SPS, no wait once RCDLR is put into relearn mode.