Had my key stolen, help needed urgently - panic over, key found - Phew

[Mega Maniac]

Hi,
I have been out fixing the car today with my dad, and during a quick trip inside our house we beleive somone has walked by and grabbed the keys from the car. We live in a generally nice area and this came as a shock to both of us, it was a pretty stupid thing to leave the keys unattended but neither of us would expect it in the area we live. Likly to be some yong school kid who will never amount to stealing it but is happy to put me and my father through days of woe and cost us an arm and a leg.

It was the only key that we have for the car, and unfortunatly all the windows were open at the time so the car is incredibly vunerable at the momentas they are sealed up with bin bags, I have a few questions below about getting a new key and was hoping you would all be able to direct me in the right direction, its my first post here so thanks in advance for any help.

Car is a Mk4 Golf 1999 TDI GT 1.9

As the key is gone is there any way to get a new one cut without the old key as reference, I saw somone mention a "key cut code" on another site, is this somthing i can find in my manual or am I barking up the wrong tree?

I understand its possible to get a new key rom ebay and have it programmed at the VW garage, so long as the above is possible. Is it also possible to change the code of the car itself, as there is a key in the hands of another person, I dont want to spend an arm and a leg getting a new key for somone to walk up with the one they nicked and stealing my car.

If this is infact possible and I dont have to infact replace the whole key system how much will it cost me after I take it to the VW garage?

If it is not possible (god forbid) how much am I looking at at a VW garage to get my car back in a working condition?

Thanks again for any help.

[onzarob]

If you go to a dealer thy can order the correct key based on the cars VIN number. This is the only way as you have no key to cut from.

I would also be concerned as you now have a key that will open your car. eevn when you have a new key!! When you get a new key, make sure they remove the existing key

One last thing, i would take the battery out of your car tonight, so if they decide to drive your car it won't start

[Mega Maniac]

Yea, we already removed the battery, I'm also considering sleeping in the car with a baseball bat but my Dad isnt so keen on the idea, he is more of a pacifist.

Can they get everything they need from that VIN number, the shape of the key and its electronic code and everything?

[onzarob]

Can they get everything they need from that VIN number, the shape of the key and its electronic code and everything?

Yes VW can get all the details for your car and supply and match the key

[Mega Maniac]

Well, atleast that means we won't be having to replace every lock in the car, am I right in sayng that they are always going to be able to open the door with the stolen key? We have off road parking, but we have another car with a SORN there at the moment, so it would be difficult to get another in.

[RickT]

As Rob says, tell the dealers to cancel the other key.

Is the car parked on a drive or on a road? can you "block" the car in?

its a pretty hard thing to resolve this one quickly, the keys tend to take a couple of days to arrive at the dealer and then they need to code it.

Rick

[Mega Maniac]

My fathers assumption is that the VW garage will suggest that the car be towed to wherever the garage is until the situation is resolved, this obviously adds further costs but we really dont have much of a choice.

I realise the dealers can cancel any electronic tagging the previous key may have, but am I right in saying the cut of the key cannot be changed, and that it is only the cut key blade that is required to open the door, so even if all electronic codes are changed, without replacing every key socket (i.e. all the doors and the ignition) whoever is in possesion of the stolen key will still be able to open the door?

[ini]

You are correct, they will still physically have access to the car.

Deleting the stored keys from the immobiliser and adding them again on a key of the same cut will only stop them from keeping the engine running.

Ideally you need to change all the lock barrels and get a new set of matching keys.

A good autolocksmith or dealer can make you a new key directly from the barrel, or from the VIN + documents.

It may be more economical to source a new complete set of locks & keys from someone breaking a similar car, and having an autolocksmith/dealer add the new key transponders to the immobiliser/car.

[Mega Maniac]

Unbeleivably good news people...

I woke up thismorning and thought I would have one last look for the keys, after searching everywhere they could be again I was wondering around aimlessly checking the stupidest places. One of those places was a mop bucket full of water, I swilled the water and heard somthing, but honestly didn't beleive for a second it was the keys, it couldn't be! I actually almost walked away thinking "Don't be stupid, stop giving yourself false hope" but it need to be emptied anyway and as I did the keys appeard in the bottom.

I actually still can't beleive thats where they were, they must have dropped out of my dads pocket as he went past it pulling somthing else out. Or atleast thats my best guess, but all I can say is thank god we found them, and thank all of you for your excellent advice.

Always check the stupid places

[NickPicks]

Good to hear that you've found them. Is the next post going to me "How do I get a waterlogged key to work", or does it work already?

If it's not working, take the battery out, rinse with clean water, rinse with isopropyl alcohol, dry thorougly, place somewhere warm and dry overnight, then put in a new battery and it should all work.

Even if the remote control doesn't work, the physical key will work, and the transponder should be Ok.