Key cutting and remote starter in L400

[saulgoodman]

Hey everyone. Couple questions. I have a 2001 Spacegear and I've been told I can only cut a key that will work with the doors but not the ignition because it is chipped. I'm curious if there is a way to inexpensively cut an ignition key because I plan to install a remote starter and the key fab for those usually have the lock/unlock button on them. I don't want to deal with the expense of getting a specific key with lock/unlock if it would become redundant with a remote starter fab. I was told minimum $100 by a local lock company to cut a key and even more if I go to a dealership.

Also, has anyone installed a remote starter? Any issues with installation? I had a GM years ago that was all sorts of headache with the passlock module once the starter was installed. I'd like to know if the technology is better or if anyone has one that works exactly as it should. Should be as simple as taking it to a shop that installs them but I want to hear your horror stories if you have any.

[pj_jazzy_janz]

We got a remote starter installed pretty much immediately after we bought our van ('94 Space Gear) last summer. The only issue we've had is that the turbo-timer (which keeps the van running after you've turned it off to allow the turbo to cool down) has crapped out on us three times. First time we brought it in and something had been reset when the battery died. Took some figuring, but they got it back up and running. Second time, we did nothing, and it started working again, but recently died again.

Starter and lock/unlock have always worked perfectly. A couple of times in the real cold it would start and then die, but she just needed a little personal love and attention (cycle the glow plugs 2 or 3 times), and she fired right back up again. Not the starter's fault. We got this little baby.

I say go for it. We've only had it a year, but it's been awesome.

Don't know anything about cutting keys, though. Sorry.

If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, send $1 to Sorry Dude, 742 Evergreen Terrace.

[thelazygreenfox]

Mine came with a non working chipped key and I cut several standard keys for it. Go see a good locksmith and ask em .
MD

[Growlerbearnz]

I used to work for the AA (cars, not alcoholics), and one creative "solution" we saw all the time was people taking their old, broken key and gluing it inside the steering column housing near the ignition switch. That way they could just use plain keys, and the ignition module would always see the original RFID chip nearby.

It's an ugly hack, but it's inexpensive, and might allow remote start to work.

[FalcoColumbarius]

That's a very clever idea. Duct tape strikes again!