Hey all, I recently lost my main key fob for my 2014 Chevy Equinox, and unfortunately, the electronics in my backup fob are not working. Does anyone know if there’s a way for me to program a new fob without having a working one? I’d really appreciate any advice on how to handle this without going to the dealer!
I just checked your owner’s manual on the Chevrolet website, and yes, you can program a new RKE (remote keyless entry) fob without any working ones. All you need is the physical key that goes into the ignition. The process is in the manual on pages 2-4 and 2-5. You can find the full instructions on chevrolet.com or use your physical manual if you still have it. It takes about 30 minutes, but it’s totally doable!
@Oli
Thanks for checking that! I still have my physical key, so this is great news. I’ll definitely check out the process in the manual. Do you know if this will wipe out the old fob that isn’t working?
@North
Yep, when you go through the process, all previously recognized fobs will no longer work once you’ve programmed the new one. Just make sure you have all the new keys you want to program with you during the process.
Oh, and if you’re in Canada, it’s a bit different. Canadian regulations require you to go to a dealership for key reprogramming, so unfortunately, you wouldn’t be able to do it yourself there.
I had a similar issue with my 2014 Equinox. I followed the same procedure Max mentioned, and it worked like a charm! Just make sure you have enough time, since it’s about a 30-minute process.
Hollis said:
I had a similar issue with my 2014 Equinox. I followed the same procedure Max mentioned, and it worked like a charm! Just make sure you have enough time, since it’s about a 30-minute process.
Thanks for the confirmation! I’ll make sure to set aside enough time. Glad to hear it worked for you!
Just a heads-up, if you want to avoid any issues during programming, make sure your battery is fully charged before you start the process. The last thing you want is the battery dying midway!
Felix said:
Just a heads-up, if you want to avoid any issues during programming, make sure your battery is fully charged before you start the process. The last thing you want is the battery dying midway!
Good tip! I’ll make sure my battery is all set before I get started. Thanks for the heads-up!