don b

I have a 2009 mazda 3, I lost my key fob, I have a key fob from a mazda 6, will that work if not, how do I know which fob's are compatabile! How do I program a fob. The dealer wants $80.00 to do it, that not going to happen. Thanks, Don B.

djs2571

the reprogramming procedure is in your owners manual.
you should have gotten two FOB's with the car when new... did you loose both already?

eggynatey

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71178

This will be useful for all you MZ3 owners out there, I pulled this from another forum:

"As you may know, the Mazda3 has a built in security system that utilizes a key with an embedded transponder chip that is read by the car's ECU when you start the car. The ECU is programmed to accept only certain transponder codes. If a key's transponder is not registered with the ECU it will not allow the car to be started.

This is a system that Ford has developed and has so far proven very effective at reducing auto theft, while there is nothing that will prevent a determined, prepared car thief from stealing a car system like this make it nearly impossible to start a car by hot wiring or breaking the ignition.

Mazda North American Operations seems to think that their customers are complete idiots and are incapable of wiping their own nose. They don't include instructions in the owners manual for programming additional keys yourself, instead they instruct you to go to your dealer to have new keys made & programmed. As some forum members have experienced some dealers have wanted over $100 to make & program new keys.

Luckily my last car was a Ford Focus with the same transponder key system, Ford I guess has a slightly better opinion of their customers so they provide instructions for key programming in the owners manual (which I retained in PDF format). I decided to take the risk and attempt to use the Focus key programming instructions to program new keys for the 3.

First I needed a compatible transponder key blank cut physically to match my car's ignition & door locks. My local locksmith doesn't carry the blanks so I had to go to the dealer. The guy at the parts desk warned me that they needed to be programmed but when I told him I was going to program it myself he was like "ok". 5 minutes and $23.38 later I had a new key physically cut to match my existing keys. I tested the key in the ignition and verified that while it would turn the ignition cylinder it would not engage the starter, it also unlocked & locked the drivers door so I know it's cut correctly.

Now to program the transponder, I have the Focus manual page in hand, here is the basic how-to.

Items needed:
1. 2 pre-programmed transponder keys.
2. 1 new transponder key

The timing is critical to this procedure, please read through the entire procedure before attempting.
Procedure:
1. Insert one of the pre-programmed transponder keys and turn the ignition to "on", leave on for at least one second (I wait until the red key symbol in the instrument cluster extinguishes), remove the key from the ignition.
2. Within 5 seconds insert the second pre-programmed key and urn the ignition to "on" for at least one second but no more than 5 seconds (use the key symbol for this as well) then remove the second key.
3. within 10 seconds insert the new key in the ignition and turn the ignition to "on", if you are successful the red key symbol will illuminate then extinguish after about a second.

If you are not successful the red key symbol will flash repeatedly to indicate that you have inserted an invalid key. Remove the key, wait a minute and try it again, it took me a few times to get it perfect and I had done it before.

To see the applicable pages from the Focus owners manual see
this page

The new key cost me less than $25, the dealer even physically cut the new key for free.

I STRONGLY suggest that EVERYONE go out and get at least one spare key made & programmed for their 3. If you lose one of your two original keys and don't have a spare you won't be able to make any new keys (as you need to prorgammend keys to program more) and will need to go to the dealer and have them re-program the ECU. "

icspots

It depends. Some remotes are cross-compatible between models. For instance there are flip keys from a MX-5 and a '06 Mz6 that work on '04-'06 Mz3's. Not all remotes will work across models though.

The easiest way is just to try programming it. To program a remote you only need one working key, and any currently programmed remotes that you want to keep programmed (If you don't reprogram old remotes when adding new ones then it will deactivate them). The process is a little tricky so it might take you a few tries, but you don't lose anything by trying it.

TENGIS

I know this is an old post but I just bought the car. The car has already been programed once before I think because it has a JMA key now. The question is why 2 programed keys. Why can you not just use the same key twice in programming for yourself. Just trying to save some money. At my dealer new key and to be programed nearly 200 bucks. Thanks in advance for any advice.

icspots

Security reasons. You don't want a valet to be able to program a new key off of the single one they have.

Each key has a unique key code on it's RFID chip so the computer will only accept two discreet keys to get into the programming mode.

You can save some money on the key itself. You can get an OEM key cut and shipped for around $30 from onlinemazdaparts. Alternately you can get an aftermarket key from dealextreme for about $9. For programming call a few dealers and see what prices they'll offer. Most people get quoted between $50-75.

Another option is some lock smiths can clone a transponder key for you. You'd end up with two separate keys which work but your car would think they were the same key so you wouldn't be able to use them to program more keys.