I have a 2006 Kia Sportage that I bought used. It had a Black Widow aftermarket security system installed. I’ve never particularly cared for it (the system, not the car.)
I recently lost my key fob. While I still hold some hope that it will turn up (I lost it in a big box store – it HAS to turn up eventually, right?!?), I’m formulating Plan B.
How hard would it be to disable the aftermarket system and return to the OEM system, using a remote from eBay? I really don’t want to pay a kajillion dollars to a dealership for a new remote. Since I don’t have (and have never had) the original Kia remote, I don’t have any code to program a replacement remote. Is this something any car mod place that sells keyless systems would be able to do – hopefully rather inexpensively?
Certified Master Locksmith, here. Auto remotes fall into three broad categories: (1) factory-installed systems where new remotes can be programmed “on board”, (2) factory-installed systems which require a special device connected to the OBDII port to program remotes, or (3) after-market systems. Cars in group (1) are the easiest; you can buy a remote on the internet and follow the instructions to program it yourself, maybe get the whole thing done for $30. Cars in group (2) generally require you to go to the dealer and end up paying $80 to $160, or you can go to a locksmith and pay about 30% less money. In group (3) you have to go to the company that installed the system and I have no idea what that costs.
The 06 Kia Sportage falls into category (2), requiring a special programming device. The average dealer price is $151 for a new remote. Beware, if you call the dealer, they might say “This remote only costs $86.” and then when you get there they tell you that’s the cost of the part only, plus the labor is another $65 to program it. Make sure you get the price of the remote with programming. If you go to a locksmith to get a remote for an 06 Kia Sportage, expect to pay between $90 and $160 including programming. So you might save a little money that way. But the $30 internet option won’t work for this car. Sorry.
However, your situation is more complicated because you already have an aftermarket system installed. The hard part will be figuring out how to disable and remove it plus making sure that when they installed it that didn’t somehow damage the factory system or then you’d have to repair that damage.
Long story short, you’ve got a hard row to hoe, and the dealer’s high price is the least of your worries.
Bumping this to report…my keys turned up, so I did not need Plan B!
Some kind soul found them in the big box store, and instead of taking them to the service desk, noticed that I had a loyalty card from the nearby grocery store and turned them in there. They looked me up by my card and called me to say they had my keys.