sean's place

Fobbing Around

After locking my keys in the car at a BART station a while ago, subsequently buying a new car, said new car coming with only one set of keys (and one fob), and mom bugging me about getting a spare key – I finally did (and a spare fob.)

According to Valley Mazda (the disreputable dealership here in town, but their parts department is cool), I got a helluva a deal on fresh cut keys for $10.95 from Tracy Mazda. Apparently, the type of key my car has are pains in the butt to actually cut, and that Mazda Corporate usually makes them. At the time though, I opted against a new fob, since Tracy Mazda wanted like $100 for it. Luckily, I found a fob on eBay just recently that I won for (get this) $10.95. Finally got it in the mail yesterday, followed the wacky programming instructions, and now I have a spare fob.

For the record, this is how you program a fob for a Mazda Millenia:

• Insert key into ignition, turn to “ON” (no need to turn on the engine), turn to “OFF”, remove key.
• Repeat last step two more times.
• Press door-jam light switch 3 times.
• Car will lock doors. Press lock on first fob twice, and the car will lock the doors. Press lock on all subsequent fobs twice, and the car will lock the doors for each one.
• At this point, I was tempted to wait for the car to get out of fob-programming mode; but, having waited for 15 seconds already, I was bored. So, I just put the key back in, and it stopped programmering.

Anyway. That’s my morning story.

I’m back from Fresno for the time being.