Such an excellent post! Thank you for making time to fully illustrate the process! Truly appreciate it!
Thank you so much!
________________
Jill

 

You want to Google IIDTool and about $700 (U.S. Dollars) will get you a new one, or you can search for a used one but read the file at the GAP site "Downloads/TransferGuide.pdf" first. When you reprogram keys, ALL keys MUST be present because the tool memorizes the correct code then wipes all memory of keys before rewriting all the keys it sees locally. Your keys must all have a working battery, so I'd check the one you soldered in to see if it hasn't expired from excessive heat, I used a 100 Watt iron and about 2 seconds of heat with Kester brand 60/40 resin core solder, then checked the battery with a digital voltmeter to make sure I hadn't fried it. There are other OBDII tools that can program keys, but ALL keys must be present, the GAP IIDTool is the one many of us purchased, but I'm sure others will chime in with some less expensive offerings (hope so anyway), good luck!

 

After toiling over all the options, I just found a dealer that would not charge the programing fee for each key times two,since they are done at the same time on one programing, and bought two new OEM keys from them.They came from England cut..$871 for two new keys.
It was at the LR dealer near Princeton NJ.
Two dis satisfactions .I asked them what it would cost, they told me, I made appointment for a few days later..when they charged me was higher..why.. the hourly rate went up that same day. Not cool at all. And I thought I was getting two new keys and my working old one so I can give that to mechanic when we drop car off..no..they disabled my old key. Really no respect for customers $.

 

I just programmed an $18 eBay key in addition my my other eBay key that has been used for years. Someone I lost my other and really should have a spare for camping, so the new one. To have it cut, key shop and $15.00. While I would love OEM keys, that is too much to spend.

 

It really is too much and that was the least going that route, we drove about an hour and a half to get to them.It was either getting one of those llD tools from lucky 8 or transferring in innards of our old ones not knowing if battery would hold up after 18 years and I don't have any tools or experience soldering...
I asked a local guy who would do the aftermarket key thing and he wanted $225 or $275 per key with the chance it will be an inferior job. I just did it OEM and told my wife make sure not to press key case with her nail cause it more readily wears through.After that bill she will be sure to do that : )

 

I ran into this same problem with the last two key fobs that I purchased. The ones I used to buy were truly "plug and play" where you could simply swap out the key blade/base. Now the base doesn't fit into the new fob nor does the blade fit into the new base. The only solution as mentioned in another post is to file down the old blade to get it to fit into the new base.

Does anybody have a recommendation for a cheap fob that will accommodate the old blade (and base) without requiring modifications? Thanks in advance.

 

The first ebay fob I bought lasted 2 yr then died
The second one I bought is still working going on 6 yr
My wife has used the (only) OEM fob since purchase, but the button skins became gaping holes

So I swapped my wife's OEM innards and blade/base into that first dead fob shell - perfect fit!

The exact listing item for my first fob is no longer available - seller was alice2017-us
They do have other current listings, maybe they can confirm parts swapping?

Unless someone knows of a confirmed "shell only" for you
(OEM parts did not fit into my second fob shell, had blank cut)

 

After toiling with this back and forth I decided the batteries are 17 years old welded in and after wife got stuck out of car I found the best price I could and went to dealer and got two new keys made.
It was a great relief.
The guy saw our milage of 224,000 miles looked over at the line of $100,000 Defenders to the right of him and says ..you'll never get that kind of milage out of one of those.

 

Thank you for the replies. I think I'm just going to have to file down my old key blade. The buttons have once again worn through on the old fob. Part of the issue is that locking/unlocking has now become unreliable, requiring multiple button presses of the remote. And yes, the green cable in the passenger side sill wiring harness is indeed in excellent condition with no corrosion.

 

Car not worth two new keys ?
I found a dealer who would charge the one hour to program the two keys at once.
It may end up being at the right place $680 maybe for the two.
They get the cut key from UK.They express ship it and then do the programing.
The IID tool is $600 plus .I toiled over spending the $ but we always fix this car right and we love it