[ReefBlueCoupe]

There's another thread here that mentions a new fob can be programmed in the car if only one existing transmitter is available (this was for a 2016 car) - That's awesome (thread is here: http://www.camaro6.com/forums/showpo...66&postcount=4) but it seems the information in the manual has changed.

Can anyone with a 2018 Camaro confirm that TWO working remotes are needed to program any additional remotes? There are plenty of misprints in owner's manuals, and I just want to see if anyone has been able to do this.

Here's why I am asking:

I bought my car December 2017. The dealer only had one working fob for my car when I bought it, and I've been delaying going back in for three months to get my second key (they insist I have to come in to do this) because I don't want my car back in the service department for any reason (it is FILTHY and looks like a WWII munitions factory, plus the inherent risks of a tech driving a low-clearance car in/around tools/lifts/etc - see the many threads on dealer-induced damage), but it looks unavoidable if I want my second key. If you only have one working fob, you can't do this according to the manual. You can program new fobs if you don't have two, but during that process, the existing one(s) you have stop working, so in my case, getting one fob from the dealer for me to program also means the existing working one stops working, and at the end I am still left with only one working key.

Can anyone who's had to do this with a 2018 confirm? Can it be done by the owner in the car with only ONE working fob? To require two in order to program a new fob seems illogical to me, since most people only have two, and really would need one additional one if one of those two were lost/damaged/stopped working.

From the manual:

[gr120994]

Be sure the dealer programs the keys as numbers 1 and 2. Automatic memory seats only work for keys 1 and 2.

[17rsvert]

I just programmed a third remote I bought on ebay using the first method, and it took a few attempts to get it right, but it worked. It seems that the second method will work if you have only one or no available remotes. I would assume that the working one you have will be reprogrammed to a new code along with the additional new one you have. The display on mine verified that the new one I programmed was number 3. In your case, you could make the assumption that the 2 you have will be re-numbered 1 and 2. I think the way they set this up makes sense from a security stand point; the 2nd remote that came from the factory with your car is assumed to be lost, and making new codes for your remaining remote and the new one will render the missing one useless.

[secondhandhero]

I have done it on my '17. Like you, I only got one remote from the dealer. I bought a second on amazon. The existing remote can be reprogrammed to the current code. Any old remotes that you don't reprogram will no longer work. so you will have two working remotes.
As far as this working when you have none, might be trickier since you need the "emergency" key to initiate the program.
The car will designated the remotes #1, #2, etc. based on the order that you program them.
It doesn't happen exactly like the manual says , but it's close enough that you'll get through it.
Good Luck, Tim

[ReefBlueCoupe]

Thanks for all the replies. I am getting a key this week and will give it a shot!

[ReefBlueCoupe]

Originally Posted by secondhandhero

I have done it on my '17. Like you, I only got one remote from the dealer. I bought a second on amazon. The existing remote can be reprogrammed to the current code. Any old remotes that you don't reprogram will no longer work. so you will have two working remotes.
As far as this working when you have none, might be trickier since you need the "emergency" key to initiate the program.
The car will designated the remotes #1, #2, etc. based on the order that you program them.
It doesn't happen exactly like the manual says , but it's close enough that you'll get through it.
Good Luck, Tim

To clarify, you started with your one good remote in the cup holder, used the procedure and removed your existing one from the cup holder, placed the new one in the cup holder and programmed it, which caused the existing one ("old" one?) to not work and to be reprogrammed during that process, which left you with two working remotes?

[secondhandhero]

Originally Posted by ReefBlueCoupe

To clarify, you started with your one good remote in the cup holder, used the procedure and removed your existing one from the cup holder, placed the new one in the cup holder and programmed it, which caused the existing one ("old" one?) to not work and to be reprogrammed during that process, which left you with two working remotes?

Correct, The one the dealership gave me with the car does work (and is considered remote #1 by the car), it just works on a different code now.

[ReefBlueCoupe]

Thank you.

I will report back once I get and program the new fob.

[mdhopt36]

I read the same "second method" in reading my manual a couple days ago that the OP shows. haven't tried it yet. Also stated in there, the battery is good for abt 10 years?!

[iPODFAN11]

2017 and newer you MUST have two existing fobs to program a third fob the way it shows in the book the first way. If you try it with one, both will function correct, but the car will be stuck in learn mode and "Service Theft Deterrent" will be displayed on the dash.

The second way, without recognized transmitters can be done if you only have one key and are adding a second one.

[ReefBlueCoupe]

I believe the key (no pun) part the manual leaves out for the second method, if I am understanding these posts correctly, is that even though it states once a new fob is programmed and old (existing) fobs stop working, the original one you have can then be programmed during the process after the new one, hence you have your two working fobs afterward.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong. Hope to pick up my blank fob today or tomorrow.

[secondhandhero]

Step 3 on page 34, the first part is saying that at that point the computer in the car has changed the code and no fobs currently work with it.
The next part is saying that through the rest of the process you can put the remotes that you have in the cup holder (one at a time) to have them synced to the car. It doesn't matter if they are new fobs or old fobs, and it does not matter what order you put them in. I did the old one first, that's why it's number 1.

[raidaru]

Originally Posted by iPODFAN11

The second way, without recognized transmitters can be done if you only have one key and are adding a second one.

Wait, so if I bought a car with no physical keys, but car has memorized 2 transmitters, I won t be able to program the new blank key fobs I ll be buying?

[ReefBlueCoupe]

I picked up my fob, but am taking the car out of town this weekend and don't want to risk messing anything up during the process before the trip, so I'll be waiting until I get back next week.