Ugh. I bought the Jeep Tuesday and hadn't made copies of the key yet. Now, I can't find the stinking thing. I need to know:

1. Is this a transponder/chip key?
2. Can I just take the vin down to the dealership and have them make me one?
3. Can I just buy one online if it has the same pattern or something?

I really don't know a lot about this but this is a BIG problem.

 

I think it's just a regular key, nothing fancy. Have the dealer make one up for you, hopefully the locks have never been changed.

 

Your profile says it is a 1999 Jeep.

I also have a 1999 and the key is a smart key that must be programmed to the car. I suspect that you will need to have a locksmith come out or have the car towed to the dealer to get this resolved.

I had extra keys made for mine and it tool the locksmith several hours to get it done as the computer glitched and lost the old keys and new keys. They all needed to be retaught to the car.

If you have AAA try giving them a call as your jeep is stranded it should qualify as a service call and may get you a big discount on having a lock smith come out and make you some new keys. They may be able to handle the remote as well.

Good luck.

 

If you don't have AAA, check with your insurance because a tow may be covered. My insurance reimbursed me when my wife locked get keys in her car once.

 

definitely check with you local Chrysler dealer. They should be able to hook you up. What part of KY are you from?

 

In Lex now but I've lived all over it. Was just over in your neck of the woods last weekend doing a little ride out to Cave Run. It's beautiful out there.

Thanks everyone for the help. I read at the link below that some of the keys since 1999 were not the Sentry/RFID/SKIM keys or whatever. This (and it's fleabay so it could be wrong) says that if it's one of the gray keys it's RFID, if it's a black key it's not. My key was a black one and didn't look like a smart key. It looked like a walmart special to me actually. Here's the link.

http://reviews.ebay.com/JEEP-RFID-CO...00000000900106

 

This is true. The gray keys are the chipped keys and black are not.

 

either way, the dealer can get one with the VIN and proof of ownership without having it towed down there