Programming key fobs
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Advanced
Joined: Nov 2013
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Programming key fobs
Looking for someone that has a '20 or '21 that is up to date with all software updates and has successfully added a 3rd key fob without going to the dealer.
I have a '21 HTC Z51 and I am trying to program a 3rd key fob. The owners manual for a '21 has the details of how to do this, but I cannot get it to work. And the owner manuals of newer C8s do not include this process, so I'm wondering if a firmware update on my '21 removed the ability to self-program a new fob.
The issue is compounded by changing part numbers. My original fobs are both 13538853 (7 button for HTC). But if you try to order a new one for a '21 from GM, different part numbers are shown to supersede the original, and not all say they will work on a '21. Many sites cross reference to 13554501, but the fitment info says it is only for a '23. I ended up with 13547766, which shows for 20/21, but I cannot get it to program. Could be the wrong fob, a bad fob, or a fob that has already been programmed (I read somewhere they cannot be re-used?). Anybody?
I have a '21 HTC Z51 and I am trying to program a 3rd key fob. The owners manual for a '21 has the details of how to do this, but I cannot get it to work. And the owner manuals of newer C8s do not include this process, so I'm wondering if a firmware update on my '21 removed the ability to self-program a new fob.
The issue is compounded by changing part numbers. My original fobs are both 13538853 (7 button for HTC). But if you try to order a new one for a '21 from GM, different part numbers are shown to supersede the original, and not all say they will work on a '21. Many sites cross reference to 13554501, but the fitment info says it is only for a '23. I ended up with 13547766, which shows for 20/21, but I cannot get it to program. Could be the wrong fob, a bad fob, or a fob that has already been programmed (I read somewhere they cannot be re-used?). Anybody?
Last edited by new_hampster; Oct 4, 2023 at 05:15 PM. Reason: signature
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Naples, Florida
I have a 2021 C8 and bought a fob from someone on Ebay. I found out later that once a fob is programmed to a car, it CANNOT be reprogrammed to another car. If you want a third fob, you have to buy a "virgin" fob from the dealer.
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^ Wow, if that is the case, sure would make buying another key fob a risky proposition unless you knew it had never been programmed before.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,742
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From: Naples, Florida
I don't know how much a new FOB will cost (Check with your dealer) but the C8 owners manual gives instruction on how to program it (attached). I took this from my 2021 owners manual. When i brought the FOB I bought off of eBay I tried to program it myself. When I failed, I brought it to the dealer and asked them to program it. After a number of tries, I think that they called Bowling Green and found out that the FOB couldn't have been programed to another vehicle.
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Joined: Sep 2016
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I think a dealer CAN reprogram a fob. But no, the owner can't.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2016
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Now that I think about it, I did add a fob. I lost one of the originals, had a dealer program a new one, which ended up as fob #3, rather than 2. That one wasn't for an HTC, so eventually I ordered a new fob with the HTC buttons, and programmed it myself as #4. But I really wanted it to be #2, for memory purposes, so I ended up having the dealer reprogram all three of them. I followed the procedure in the manual, which requires both working fobs to be in the cupholder, IIRC.
2021 MY.
2021 MY.
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 297
Likes: 195
From: Northern MN
I have a '23 HTC and decided to buy a third fob as a "failsafe" plan on long road trips. I ordered it from an online GM Parts Dealer and followed the instructions in the forum sticky to program it myself. As I recall, the two working fobs had to be in the car and the new fob placed in the rear cupholder. It succeeded as #3 and functions perfectly! HTH👍
Racer
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 297
Likes: 195
From: Northern MN
Virgin fob status unknown?
This one is supposed to be new - it looks new with stickers and all, but I guess I have no way of knowing. I'd still like someone to confirm that they have actually done this on a '20 or '21 with the current software updates. The process was removed from the owners manual beginning with '22. A software update could have changed the way this works on my '21, so for all I know even if I have a 'new' one, I will still have to take it to the dealer for programming. That's OK if it comes to that, but I'd like to know.
