Hi,
I have a 99 S80. I am considering replacing the remote door lock system and adding a Viper system with remote car starter. The dealer says that I would need to loose one key since he says there is a transmitter in the key that they need to place in the new Viper remote.

Is there really a transmitter in the key itself? I thought that only the newer Volvos had this. My key doesn't look like it has anything except the actual key with a plastic top part with the name Volvo on it. Could there be a transmitter inside that?

Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve

 

Yes the 99's have a transmitter in them. Places usually strap them under the steering wheel cover like right over the ignititon lock.

The transmitter keys started in 99 on all the Volvo's.

 

Thanks for the quick response.

By having the transmitter always in the car, does that make the car more prone to theft? Probably not, huh, as long as the alarm system is armed. True?

I'd had the car over 10 years now. Does the transnitter have a battery and can it die eventually?

Does it matter which key I give them? The valet key or one of the masters?

thanks again,
Steve

 

There is no battery in it. Yes they can go bad eventually.

If people can figure out you have remote start they might know where to look for a key but as long as the rest of the alarm works fine then you should be fine.

Also a Valet should be fine.

 

Although I cannot confirm about Volvo's as I haven't pursued the remote starter yet, in other cars with chipped keys, people worrying about the key being used to actually start the car either purchased a uncut key and had it programmed or took their valet key and cut the key part to make it unusable in the ignition.