How to Reduce Your Saab Key Replacement Cost You can save a significant amount of money by having your spare key made prior to the time you lose the one you have. When you only have one key, it's usually 2X-10X the cost to make the new one. It's cheap, easy and simple to replace the battery in your SAAB 9-3 remote. Here's how. Cost of a Key Replacement The SAAB 9-3 03-11 is a fantastic vehicle however the ignition key is susceptible to wear out. The case could become slick and the buttons may be pushed out. This could be a issue while driving. This is why it's a good idea to replace the key fob as quickly you spot any issues. This can save you lots of money over the long term and is more beneficial than putting off the task. Replacing the SAAB key fob isn't difficult and you can do it yourself for less than $100. You'll need the replacement key fob that is compatible with your vehicle and an additional battery. To replace the battery, you'll have to carefully remove the electronic components of your SAAB 9-3 keyfob. After this is done you can easily put the new battery and then restart the key fob's synchronization to your car. SAAB keys with remote start feature require special care because they contain a transponder chip that must be programmed to your particular vehicle. To achieve this, you'll need a dealer-grade tool called the Tech 2 or the equivalent to your particular model of Saab. This tool is able to read the code from your existing keys and use this information to program your new key. If you don't have a spare key available, this process is a bit more complex and can cost up to $500 from the dealer. A good suggestion is to locate locksmiths who work on Saabs. These experts will be able to create keys at lower cost than the dealer. They also provide other services like key replacement and duplication so that you have another key in case yours gets lost or damaged. Most European cars made after 2000 are equipped with immobilizer systems that rely on a microchip embedded inside the key to identify and start your vehicle. These keys are more expensive to duplicate because they contain chip. However, there are some exceptions. https://www.thekeylab.co.uk/saab-car-keys/ , for example (which are mechanical and have a resistor inside) don't require programming and can be duplicated relatively inexpensively. The majority of BMWs, Mercedes and Porsches produced after 2000 will require a dealer for key duplication. This is because these brands do not allow dealers to join NASTF, which is the group which makes the tools other locksmiths in the automotive industry make replacement keys for their customers. Cost of Replacement Remote It is crucial to have an additional remote or key if you have a Saab with keyless entry. This way, you will have one in the case that your original key is lost or damaged. The cost of a replacement remote could be quite costly, and if you have an insurance policy that offers key add-on protection, then this can help reduce the cost. Most car keys for cars manufactured after 2000 are programmed by the dealer or a locksmith. These keys are usually stored in a tiny EEPROM that can only read by a computer designed for this purpose. If you require to replace the key in your car, you'll need to visit the dealer. The good news is that the dealership will not cost as much as locksmiths. Saab 9-3s are beautiful cars and a lot of them are still in operation in the present. The ignition key is probably the biggest problem with these cars. The key is small and not a great design and is known to break or become stuck easily. Many people have a non-functioning key within a couple of years of owning the car. It's not difficult to find an extra key for your SAAB. First, you must remove the emergency key. It's a simple task that you can perform yourself, and you don't require any tools. You must be cautious, however, because if you force it too much, you might harm the electronics inside it. In the meantime, you'll be required to find a retailer that offers an OEM keycase replacement for your SAAB. It is possible that you won't be able to locate these cases easily, but if you know where to look, you should not have any difficulty finding one. Once you've found a new key case, you'll need to have it cut and programmed to your car. The process of obtaining the new key for your SAAB isn't cheap, but it is definitely worth it in the long run. It is much cheaper and faster than having replace the entire vehicle. So if you're down to one working key then it's recommended to replace it as soon as you can. You don't know when it could be lost, which can cause a lot frustration and expense.