Multiple Vehicles, Multiple Remotes?

belchfire · August 6, 2009

Just wondering......

Mrs. BelchFire is looking at the Cash 4 Clunkers and seeing $4500 in her minivan. She's also drooling over a Traverse. I'm not anxious to go out and drop that kind of money right now, but she's a loving wife and all......

What would happen:

If I bought a Travers and programmed my Silverado for all four remotes. Then programmed the Traverse for the same four remotes. Would I have any sort of conflict? I know the vehicles wouldn't communicate with one another, but is there any sort of digital limitations on how many times a remote can be programmed? Anything I don't know to ask?

THEN.... Remembering that the locks on my Dodge pickup and her Dodge van are only reading off one side of the key...... If I bought 4 new keys and had each side cut to match ONE vehicle. The other side would be cut to match the other vehicle. Then I program each vehicle to recognize all four keys. To use it, I'd have to insert the key right side up in one vehicle and upside down in the other (assuming the Silverado and Traverse are only reading one side of the key at a time too). Would this work?

The object is to have one keyfob and one key in my pocket that would open and start either vehicle. Any obstacles?

Nick The Great · August 6, 2009

I don't really see how you could program for both vehicles.

I would think that if you 'programmed' for the Silvy, then 'programmed' for the Traverse, you'd overwrite the chip completely.

Now I learned that the key for her 07 Impala will go into the ignition of my 07 Silverado. Now obviously the chip didn't agree with the ignition, so it didn't start. But it would move the ignition. I wonder if you could slice open your key and her key, and somehow cram 2 chips into one key body. I have a feeling that would be theoretically possible, but nearly impossible to do. I have no data to back up my claim, just really talking out my ass!

I also wonder if there's any way to reprogram the ignition of either vehicle.? Or is there such a thing as an aftermarket ignition?

Good luck and report back. I'd consider doing myself if it wasn't a huge PITA

KCXLT · August 6, 2009

Just wondering......

Mrs. BelchFire is looking at the Cash 4 Clunkers and seeing $4500 in her minivan. She's also drooling over a Traverse. I'm not anxious to go out and drop that kind of money right now, but she's a loving wife and all......

What would happen:

If I bought a Travers and programmed my Silverado for all four remotes. Then programmed the Traverse for the same four remotes. Would I have any sort of conflict? I know the vehicles wouldn't communicate with one another, but is there any sort of digital limitations on how many times a remote can be programmed? Anything I don't know to ask?

THEN.... Remembering that the locks on my Dodge pickup and her Dodge van are only reading off one side of the key...... If I bought 4 new keys and had each side cut to match ONE vehicle. The other side would be cut to match the other vehicle. Then I program each vehicle to recognize all four keys. To use it, I'd have to insert the key right side up in one vehicle and upside down in the other (assuming the Silverado and Traverse are only reading one side of the key at a time too). Would this work?

The object is to have one keyfob and one key in my pocket that would open and start either vehicle. Any obstacles?

You could get the Advanced Remote Start kit from GM, the remotes in it can learn 2 vehicles.

I can't remember exactly, but I think when I was programming the Advanced remote on my truck, you could learn up to 3 more.

C. Charles Hahn · August 6, 2009

Just remind your wife that her minivan will have its engine locked and be crushed. If the minivan is still a good usable vehicle, that in my opinion is tantamount to criminal activity!

belchfire · August 6, 2009

Just remind your wife that her minivan will have its engine locked and be crushed. If the minivan is still a good usable vehicle, that in my opinion is tantamount to criminal activity!

I agree, but the $4500 is more than what I could expect any other way. That's one thing that has me hesitant.

KCXLT, I thought the learning was on the part of the vehicle, not the remote. And knowing that my Silverado can learn multiple remotes, what would it matter if the same remote was previously (or even afterwards) learned by another vehicle? But that's why I'm asking you guys.

Has anyone ever done this?

C. Charles Hahn · August 7, 2009

Just remind your wife that her minivan will have its engine locked and be crushed. If the minivan is still a good usable vehicle, that in my opinion is tantamount to criminal activity!

I agree, but the $4500 is more than what I could expect any other way. That's one thing that has me hesitant.

KCXLT, I thought the learning was on the part of the vehicle, not the remote. And knowing that my Silverado can learn multiple remotes, what would it matter if the same remote was previously (or even afterwards) learned by another vehicle? But that's why I'm asking you guys.

Has anyone ever done this?

I would think that if the two vehicles controlled by the standard remote were sitting next to each other, any button press would trigger both vehicles at once, as opposed to letting you choose which one you wanted it to apply to. The "advanced" remotes have the ability for you to choose which of the two vehicles it's paired with you want to control, by way of giving a different remote code to each vehicle, much like a garage door opener with multiple door controls.