Ok, so I got tired of being poked and stabbed by my car key. I decided to take it apart and see what could be done about it. Let me first vent about what an amazingly STUPID DUMB REDICULOUS INSANELY RETARDED design the key thing is. Where to start...
Forget replacing your battery yourself... ever. Not only is the keyfob (sp?) glued together like all get out, the standard sized 2032 battery is point welded to the contacts inside!?!?!?!
Most folks will have to have the dealer order them an entirely new key when the battery dies.
But that is ok, because the micro-switches (push buttons) inside are of such low quality that half the time they don't work unless you hit them just right, and will probably wear out in a year or two forcing you to buy a new key anyway.
The fact that the contact pad which hits the micro switches only travels like 1 millimeter will forever force you to mash the heck out of the things shortening the life span even more. (anyone else having these problems or is it just me?)
Anyway, a quick look will tell you that the actual "key" part of the GTO keyfob can be seperated by removing just 2 screws. this is the only real metal and is robust enough to crank over the ignition column without the fob part. As many of you know the fob part holds the security chips which turn off the starter kill feature of the GTO. The metal dome thing on one side of the fob makes contact with the steering column to identify itself so you kinda have to have it in order to start the car.
(ok, so I found a series of events which will permit you to do away with the fob security all together, but I will never tell since avoiding security measures is not really in anyone's best interest. Besides the fob also locks/unlocks the doors/trunk so you have to have it around anyway).
back to the being stabbed ... what did I come up with? Here I show it disasembled and reasembled after the operation. http://www.gtoforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/564
If you can get it apart without destroying it, just dremel out the top side a bit, and only put 1 screw back in. The machine screw will lock into the metal key and swivel in the plastic hole. You now have a flip-open key fob. Plan on super-glueing the thing back together and don't expect it to be water resistant ever again so don't drop it in rain puddles or in the toilet!!
I know it doesn't look super great. The Key thing isn't totally hidden when it is folded. It also isn't spring loaded like the ones I have seen but it was free! I will never again get poked in the ouchy parts by the stupid thing so I'm happy. Thoughts??
Forget replacing your battery yourself... ever. Not only is the keyfob (sp?) glued together like all get out, the standard sized 2032 battery is point welded to the contacts inside!?!?!?!
Most folks will have to have the dealer order them an entirely new key when the battery dies.But that is ok, because the micro-switches (push buttons) inside are of such low quality that half the time they don't work unless you hit them just right, and will probably wear out in a year or two forcing you to buy a new key anyway.
The fact that the contact pad which hits the micro switches only travels like 1 millimeter will forever force you to mash the heck out of the things shortening the life span even more. (anyone else having these problems or is it just me?)
Anyway, a quick look will tell you that the actual "key" part of the GTO keyfob can be seperated by removing just 2 screws. this is the only real metal and is robust enough to crank over the ignition column without the fob part. As many of you know the fob part holds the security chips which turn off the starter kill feature of the GTO. The metal dome thing on one side of the fob makes contact with the steering column to identify itself so you kinda have to have it in order to start the car.
(ok, so I found a series of events which will permit you to do away with the fob security all together, but I will never tell since avoiding security measures is not really in anyone's best interest. Besides the fob also locks/unlocks the doors/trunk so you have to have it around anyway).
back to the being stabbed ... what did I come up with? Here I show it disasembled and reasembled after the operation. http://www.gtoforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/564
If you can get it apart without destroying it, just dremel out the top side a bit, and only put 1 screw back in. The machine screw will lock into the metal key and swivel in the plastic hole. You now have a flip-open key fob. Plan on super-glueing the thing back together and don't expect it to be water resistant ever again so don't drop it in rain puddles or in the toilet!!
I know it doesn't look super great. The Key thing isn't totally hidden when it is folded. It also isn't spring loaded like the ones I have seen but it was free! I will never again get poked in the ouchy parts by the stupid thing so I'm happy. Thoughts??
