Hey guys.

Sometimes I think of really random stuff. The Cobalts have that new style key fob. I think it looks rediculous. I don't know why...but I do.

My question? Are all OEM key fobs (any used by any manufacturer) specific to a certain vehicle... Or vehicle brand? Most brands use the same fob, maybe 2 style of the same basic idea. Could you program a fob for let's randomly say a Toyota to work on a Chevy? And vice versa? I don't know how to program these. Could I even use an older style GM key fob? Like one from the mid 90's that were kind of a small rectangle? How do I go about programming one if I can?

I just think of random questions while I'm off valet parking cars. Sorry. lol.

 

LOL, I think they're all for specific cars, Unprogrammable.

 

Yeah. I have very random questions.

: P

I mean, I have a spare, new, Cobalt one, but ugh. lol.

 

hey there, key fobs now a days need to be programmed with a computer through the dealer. its a procedure that takes about 2 min

 

Could you use a Sony remote to operate your RCA television? Kinda the same thing. You'd either need a "universal" key fob (if one exists), or you MIGHT be able to reprogram a GM fob to work with the Cobalt, but I don't know if the dealer would be able to do it for you or not.

 

No, another fob will not work to my knowledge. The fob puts out a specific frequency for the "remote door lock reciever", to understand.

 

But you can program the reciever to recognize or not recognize the fob. My uncles do it all the time when people trade in their cars at the dealership. You just can't switch at will between different fob models.

 

Yes, correct, you could program your fobs to say, my car or even the newer style Malibu. But you could not program an older GM fob to it.

 

Alrighty.

Well how about a fob that you can get at like Circuit City to work with an alarm? I've seen people valet-ing that have aftermarket fobs but with stock GM alarms.

hmm...

Yeah, when I got my Cobalt I got 2 sets of keys and 2 fobs. I also asked for another fob and key, but the fob didn't work. lol.

 

Exactly, it has to be the same gen. The Cobalts' fob has been around since I believe '03, maybe '04.

 

there was an episode of NUMB3RS on this issue. Every key fob in the world is unique to its reciever. it uses 1 and 0 bitwise i believe, like a barcode to transmit and decode the signal. just like bar codes, there are trillions of combinations, so the reproduction of a number wont occur for a while...

Any Computer Technology majors out there that can explain this in detail?

 

We had a funny instance today at my valet job.

I pressed the unlock button on a Chrystler Pacifica key and the alarm of a Subaru Forrester next to it went off.

Signals are funny.