Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gregg and I just purchased a 2002 V70 T5. I live in Simi Valley, CA and this is my second Volvo wagon the first being a 740 a number of years back.

The car is in excellent condition with 122k miles but looks and runs like it has 75k. It is a late 2002 build and the trans seems to work well though I will be flushing it on GP. I was well informed while shopping with all of the information I gathered here. For that I thank all of you.

The car came to me with only one key. Today I went to the local Volvo dealer, Volvo of Calabassas in Calabassas, CA, and was informed that 1 new key and 1 new remote would cost over $400 out the door. I started laughing but could have just as easily started crying.

The cost was broken down as follows;

$ 65 for the key
$ 35 for the key software
$ 35 to cut the key
$117 for the remote
$ 35 for the remote software
$ 25 (approx) for sales tax
$???? for a service appointment to have the key and remote programed for the car.

This Volvo replaces a Lexus for which a key and remote were sourced for under $125. Similar cost on my Benz.

There has to be a more cost effective way. I hope some of you might lead me in a direction to source a key and one or two remotes for much less

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of Volvo prices.

Dealer quoted me $345 for a key and remote for the S40. I checked with a local indy shop that specializes in Euro cars and they were almost the same, just a little lower on labor.

The software is supposedly VIN specific, and is actually used to program the car to accept the new key and remote. This enables the car to be reprogramed in case of lost or stolen keys rather than being forced to change the locks. Programming requires the PIN for the remote - without a PIN the remote is just a pricey key fob. eBay has a lot of cheap "new" and used remotes listed, but when I contacted vendors about the PIN they blew me off. The risk wasn't worth the slight savings, so I went with the dealer.

Since the extra key was just for my wife to carry for emergency (she no longer drives) I just bought a spare key - no remote - for about $135.

From what I have experienced and have read on other forums, there is no viable alternative.
i

 

1 key and no keyless is kind of a rough spot to be in, you *should* be able to find new fobs, uncut keys etc on ebay (as sketchy as that may seem) and then just be held accountable for the programming (i believe that these are still un-coded, simple cut keys that you can have cut at a locksmith for cents against the dealers price)

 

Further research seems to indicate that there is a chip in the key. Furthermore any new key has to be introduced electronically to one of the computer modules on the car. A dealer (or high end specialty repair shop) operation. I will bite the bullet and have the dealer cut and program me a new key.

I am 57 years old and drove for many years prior to the invention of keyless remotes. Maybe I'll burn a few extra calories inserting the key in the door lock ...

 

Well ... $512.00 dollars later I have one new key and two new remotes giving me two full key sets. I added the second remote as there was no additional software to pay for and no additional tech time @$ 118.00 per hour.

OUCH !!!!!!

 

Learned this lesson the hard way today. The dealer I bought it from told me $600 to get a second key. *&%$%!!

 

I have seen similar posts on other forums and feel blessed that I've only had to replace 1 fob (although at the time I felt that $135 was highway robbery).

But then I started thinking - Just how big a problem is Volvo theft anyway??????

I have never seen a Volvo on any list of "Most Stolen Cars", never had one stolen, nor have I seen a highspeed pursuit of a carjacked Volvo on the evening news.

I can imagine the following post, however...

New member intro!
Hi, I recently stole a really nice XXXX Volvo XXX. It's really nice but I would like to ask the members a few questions
1) How do I get the CEL to stay off?
2)Whats with the blinking lights on the climate control?
3)I'm losing coolant but can't find any on the ground - where is it going?
4)I had a hard time losing the cops because they were able to follow a trail of brake pad dust - is this normal?
5The turnsignals don't work, but the bulbs and signal switch are fine- is there some other wierd componet here
6) the speedo-radio-tach (heck, all sorts of stuff!) works intermitantly. Also the ABS light is on.
7) My key fob seems to work(it has an LLoyds of London Insurance policy taped to it for some reason) doesn't open all the doors.

There are some other issues but I thought I'd start with these. I'm beginning to get suspicious of the fact that when I stole this car I found it in a bad neighborhood with a full tank of gas, the keys in the ignition, and a Big Mac on the passenger seat. (there was a large Coke in the cupholder but it fell out of the flimsy thing midway through my first corner).

PS .Just talked to a Vovlo dealer about getting this thing fixed - And people call ME a crook!!!

 

That could also be lifted straight from Cadillac forums (my last car was a Caddy). No dread "Service Ride Control" message with these at least.

 

is the answer to this issue...I bought a remote Fob and tried to do the programming from FCP.....no luck....but I already had the intent to have an Remote start/Alarm installed...the total will cost $500-$600...so if your going to pay that much....fork over your spare key and get a total system that will work.....charging for SOFTWARE is BS..it's not like we can go in and PULL it from the ECU...or could we??ummmm....The cost to PROGRAM it is BS..plug it up walk away do another job come back and it's done....my V specialist said they would charge me $250 to get the Fob to work...naaahhhhh!! having my alarm done next week!!

 

So funny that iKeyless is a site sponsor, but they can't provide replacement keys or remotes for many Volvos. :-)

 

I see that iKeyless lists remotes and blank keys for my 96 850 (just purchased). I have 2 keys but no remote, and am wondering if anyone has successfully programmed a remote from iKeyless. The seller, not surprisingly, makes it seem trivial but I'd like to hear from someone with actual experience... anyone?

 

I purchased 4 new Volvo blank keys from E-Bay @ $9.44 a piece, '98 C70, chip keys, took them to locksmith that does vehicle keys. Locksmith cut programmed each key for $30 a piece. Purchased Volvo new remote, $24.00, off E-bay, had Volvo dealer program for 1 hr labor, $118. 4 keys working = $120. Remote working: $142.

1998 C70 Coupe, 2.3 HPT 37k miles
2000 Linc LS 83k miles
2002 F150 Supercrew Lariet 5.4, 116k miles
1956 Ford Crown Victoria, 312 CI. Thunderbird

 

I have purchased remotes online (including from ikeyless) for Toyotas, Corvette and Dodge and have always found the programing instructions to be accurate.

With my Volvo V70 (2001 and newer) only the dealer can program keys and remotes. It may be different on older V70's

 

Thanks for the clarification --- I guess I'll contact the Volvo dealer.

One follow-up question: I see multiple remote fob styles on eBay, each claiming to fit my '96 850. Is one preferred over the other? Which one was original?

 

Just bought and 02 s60, and have the same issue, only came with one key. From what i've seen, the cheapest route is to get the blanks off of ebay and take them to a halfway decent locksmith. Several hundred dollars for a dealer just to do some programming is just ridiculous

 

There is a note or remote program instructions on this site somewhere for the 850's. No need to have the stealer program them.

 

Thanks. I really appreciate the guidance --- I guess I just needed better search terms. I'll find out what kind of remote I need my VIN and give it a shot!

 

Ouch was hoping to get a fob and a 2nd key for my '98 S70 T5 maybe ill hold off for awhile o.O

 

Here is what found out regarding my 2002 V70 from the dealer. Keys must be programmed by the dealer. The remote can only be programmed if you have the bar code from the package. In other words, you cannot take a used remote and have it programmed.

In other words, I have two remotes (one from eBay and another) that are worthless to me. The dealer will not ( they say 'can not') program them to my car.

You owners of older models probably can program this stuff, but we are not so lucky on the newer models.

 

I have a used S40 remote for sale for $50.00 if anyone is interested