Should I Worry?

[SamirD]

Apparently my wife lost one of our fobs at the gym. But we also suspect it may have been stolen.

What could be the possible problems from this? We've only seen one other Kizashi in town and almost no other Suzukis, so the car would be easy to spot if someone has the key. Is there a way to lock out a key? What about the cost of a replacement? Will insurance cover it?

[SamirD]

So no one had to replace a fob?

[KuroNekko]

I actually don't know the answers to this and it seems that only a dealership or contacting Suzuki could give you definitive answers. Maybe that contact you have at the Suzuki dealer could help you out.

As for key fob insurance, I think it all depends on your insurance plan. Allstate even offers "Sound System Insurance" that covers the stereo components. If they can offer coverage for that, maybe they and other insurance companies offer key coverage given electronic keys/fobs can cost hundreds to replace and program.

As for definitively locking out your car against someone who has the fob: use a mechanical anti-theft device. I recommend something like the AutoLock that goes on your pedals. I've used one for years, but now with the fob system and manual transmission, I don't bother (many thieves don't/can't steal manuals because they are worth less and many of those who steal cars are young and don't know how to drive stick). The AutoLock was designed by a cop who claimed that the Club and many others that go on the steering wheel can be easily defeated. The AutoLock attaches to the brake pedal on Autos or clutch pedal on Manuals and offers these two benefits:
1) It prevents the car from even getting started or shifting into gear. For autos, you need to step on the brake to shift out of Park. In manuals, you need to step on the clutch to start the car. The AutoLock prevents one from stepping down on a pedal and prohibits either of these. Even if one did get the car started, good luck driving without the use of the brake pedal or clutch pedal.
2) The AutoLock attaches to the pedal stem which for the brake is full solid steel and one of the stronger parts of a car. On the contrary, steering wheels can be easily sawed through in seconds as they are just hollow metal tubes encased in plastic or leather.

So if you really want to protect your car against someone who could otherwise drive it with the fob, get the AutoLock or something similar. I've never had my cars stolen and I often leave my car parked in some of the worst neighborhoods you can imagine because of my job. However, I credit my man trans as the #1 deterrent.
http://jalopnik.com/5940410/once-again- ... ansmission

[krell]

Hey KNekko.. You wanna take a ride to brooklyn?

[KuroNekko]

Hey KNekko.. You wanna take a ride to brooklyn?

Not particularly as I have quite a few things going on and it's rather far from the DC area. More importantly, why?

[krell]

Park the car in Brooklyn and then do some sight seeing....just messing with you.

[Speed_Racer]

I've had this fear myself. When I bought my car (used), the dealer said they had two keys, but never gave me the spare. When they skipped town with the car title, I was afraid they'd steal the car too. Luckily I moved states shortly thereafter and stopped worrying.

Is Suzuki able to reprogram the keyless system to reject the old fob/code and recode to your remaining fob? Though if thief knows there's a hidden key in the fob, you'd have to get the locks changed too.

[SamirD]

I actually don't know the answers to this and it seems that only a dealership or contacting Suzuki could give you definitive answers. Maybe that contact you have at the Suzuki dealer could help you out.

Thank you for replying even though you didn't have any firsthand knowledge.

I called Steve at Ray Suzuki earlier today.

It's $260 for the fob and programming. Unlike a lot of cars that have 'write only' slots for keys, the Kizashi seems to have read-write slots, which is nice.

Each time any key is added/removed, all keys must be present to relearn.

The Kizashi is the only Suzuki that uses this particular fob, so you know it goes to a Kizashi.

Steve didn't know if these were commonly covered by insurance or not. That's going to be a call to homeowners and auto insurance later.

I'm waiting to hear back from the gym as businesses have general liability insurance (no matter what they say about 'not being responsible'). I know their deductible will be higher than mine, so they'd be out of pocket. But better them than me.

[SamirD]

Is Suzuki able to reprogram the keyless system to reject the old fob/code and recode to your remaining fob? Though if thief knows there's a hidden key in the fob, you'd have to get the locks changed too.

From my understanding, if you simply have a dealership relearn the fobs, that will remove the old code since the fob isn't present. As far as the hard key, sure they could get in, but they still couldn't start the car or take it out of gear.

[Woodie]

Steve didn't know if these were commonly covered by insurance or not. That's going to be a call to homeowners and auto insurance later.

I'm waiting to hear back from the gym as businesses have general liability insurance (no matter what they say about 'not being responsible'). I know their deductible will be higher than mine, so they'd be out of pocket. But better them than me.

No wonder insurance rates are sky high. So now, when I lose my cigarette lighter, I should flail around looking for someone to sue?

Buy a fob off Ebay for $50 and program it yourself, the instructions are in the owner's manual. Make your wife pay for the next tank of gas, that's about even.