Freelander 1 Anyone sorted key chip cloning??

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The other thing to watch is some key blanks don't have the recess cut all the way to the plastic holder.

If cut, the key works in doors and ignition but not the fuel cap !! Ask me how i know 🤔
 
As theft of the car is not really an issue why not remove the chip from the working key and tape it into the steering column beside the ignition, then get a spare key cut and move on with your life.
For those about to mention insurance I'd be interested to hear about a likely sequence of events that would lead to the insurance company knowing about such a mod.
I did think of that, but I am pretty sure that the chip has to be pretty much exactly in the position it is in when a chipped key is in the ignition
I tried holding the chipped key in positions around the ignition whilst using my spare un-chipped key, but it wouldn't start
If I'm wrong, I'd really like to hear where you can put it.

EDIT: Sorry, just refreshed browser and the last posts appeared
 
RAVE says within 20 mm the transponder should work, gonna try today:
Imobiliser Ring.png



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Unfortunately the chip seems to have been glued into the key, so I havent got as far as I wanted to, but I did find that it worked next to the unchipped key head but only if I took the chipped key head appart so that the chip sat right against the unchipped key head, and also just inside the round rubber ring around the ignition. Anywhere else, especially outside the ring, no matter how close, it didnt start.
I think it will work if I remove chip (I'm scared of this since its glued in and I dont want to break it) and glue it just under the ignition but inside the ring:
Imobiliser Ring.png


I would really like to put it hidden, inside the steering column cowling, I will experiment more when I get the chip out
 
Chip removed very carefully from key, it had been superglued in - I bet it was me - DOH!

I did notice that the chip is asymmetric and shaped so that it can only fit in the recess in the key head one way up and one way round.

signal-2024-10-30-214037.jpeg


I am guessing that this means that the alignment of the chip with the ring could also be important
I know the key goes in either way up, but the same face (the totally flat one) of the chip will always be closer to the centre of the ring, and the same end (the narrower end) closer to the ignition.

Tomorrow I will take the chip out of the key and experiment with it's placement with respect to the ring with some bluetack.
 
OK, its done!

I epoxied the chip just outside the ring, between the plastic ring cover and the rubber ring cover

The chip did have to be aligned correctly - it had to be parallel with the key shaft or it wouldn't work (but any rotation about its longer axis made no difference, it just had to be parallel)

Pictures below

Now I don't need to worry about getting another chipped key made - all my un-chipped spares now start the car
I am not worried about people stealing the car as I have arranged my own secret immobilisation system, which doesnt require >£500 if I loose a key!

1. Blue tack experiment inside ring perpendicular to key shaft - Does not start
signal-2024-11-01-142813.jpeg


2. Blue tack experiment inside ring parallel to key shaft - Does start
signal-2024-11-01-142813_002.jpeg



3. Blue tack experiment outside ring perpendicular to key shaft - Does not start
signal-2024-11-01-142813_005.jpeg


4. Blue tack experiment outside ring parallel to key shaft - Does start
signal-2024-11-01-142813_004.jpeg


And with plastic cover back on - does start
signal-2024-11-01-142813_006.jpeg


And with exterior rubber cover on as well - does start
signal-2024-11-01-142813_007.jpeg


5. And then plastic and rubber covers taken off and chip epoxied to outside of plastic cover, then when cured just pull rubber cover on
signal-2024-11-01-142813_009.jpeg
signal-2024-11-01-142813_011.jpeg
signal-2024-11-01-142813_010.jpeg


6. And finally, plastic and rubber covers with chip in between them simply clicked back on around the coil - Ta-Da!
signal-2024-11-01-142813_012.jpeg
 

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Might look for a nice FL1 to nick if I head to Lisbon sometime ;)
😁
1. I make sure she is never clean enough to look nice
2. "I am not worried about people stealing the car as I have arranged my own secret immobilisation system ..."

I am very relieved with my solution
I am far less worried about someone stealing her than me loosing the key, I know myself.
 
Good to hear you got it sorted. One of the things I like most about my FL1 is how unlikely it is that anyone would steal it.
It would be fun to see them try even if they had a key. 😋
 
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