Yeah, the bending makes me nervous, but I want to give it a shot.

It's weird, it's like it just won't accept the key. I have a manual, so nothing fancy like remote start either. Are these the programming steps you followed?:

 

I followed the steps in post #6 above, if I recall, and it worked.

 

Yeah, that's what I did as well. Was hoping I was missing something. Idk, I'll give it another shot tomorrow.

 

I bought the same keys as the OP off of Amazon, but the way that they are configured, the plastic part of the fob was in the way so that the key blanks couldn't be punched out, so I had to attempt to take the whole thing apart first. However, I couldn't figure out how to take it apart, but eventually got one of them out (and nearly destroyed the fob in the process. Got it cut at a local locksmith, but it would not work either in the door lock or the ignition. The locksmith took a basic blank key off his shelf and cut it, and that one worked fine, so there was something wrong with the aftermarket key.

I then bought a second set of similar key fobs off Amazon that actually just use the circuit board and battery from the original key fobs, so there is no programming required. I got one of these keys cut at the locksmith and it works in the door lock and the ignition. However, now the problem is that when I move the insides of the original key fob into the new flip key, it starts the engine, but then the immobilizer turns it off. The remote buttons (lock/unlock/panic) work fine, but the Jeep won't run with the key. If I put the insides back into the original key fob, it works fine. Any ideas why it won't work in the new key?

 

Is the actual chip on the circuit board that you're swapping over? My belief is that things these are extremely sensitive. If the chip isn't in teh exact same position, I can see that causing an issue. Even then, could be talking difference in plastic thicknesses. That seems like a stretch but never know. I would say the fact that the immobilizer is killing the engine points to the jeep not seeing the chip in the key for one reason or another.

 

Yes, it's the entire contents of the key that is swapped over. I've been in contact with the seller and gone back and forth a few times, and they suggested that it might be because it's just a slight amount further away inside the new key than the original, so that's probably what's happening, which is a bummer.

 

I've had to go to a locksmith to program keys for the kids' cars before, and I got a decent schooling on how tricky those chips can be. It sure seems like buying off ebay or amazon is hit and miss, but it's not just us. Locksmith even said they bought an entire batch of keys and chips were fouled in all of them. Trash. It's tough. They said sometimes they're just not placed properly, sometimes the signal is weak, sometimes it's even the wrong signal.

That flip key I bought on eBay and took to get cut....those guys had a heck of a time cutting it. They didn't want to try and I told them it was a $12 key or whatever, and if they messed it up I wasn't going to care. They got it close enough to work.....until I bent that damn blade randomly.

 

Nope, still haven't been able to get it programmed...

 

Thanks!It works!

 

I believe there is only 10 key spots you can program. I had a used 2008 and ran out of spots to program keys in. Had to have the dealer clear the spots and start over.