Important Smart Key Programming Advice (SSM63817)

General Best Practices

Observe general best practices for all work involving SDD, including; use of Midtronics power supply, vehicle battery condition, ensuring SDD is properly maintained, and following all key cycle prompts etc. These factors are of greater concern whenever programming keys or any security related component.

Vehicle Health Check

Ensure vehicle is in good state or repair, with all control modules fitted and operational. While key programming operations are directly reliant upon on a few modules, complete CAN BUS integrity is required to support robust functionality using SDD for various reasons.

If working to replace control modules, ensure the current diagnostic session is started with the old/original control modules fitted.

Ensure there are no security related DTC's for hard faults that need repair, especially any DTC's that indicate there are problems with the RF receiver.

Is it a New or Existing Key? - Know what you know, and know what you don't know

Ensure you know the status of the keys you are working with. When prompted by SDD for new/existing keys, always enter the correct details.

• For keys you have indicated as being "NEW":  SDD assumes they are "virgin" or "successfully recovered" keys. It is strongly recommended that keys supplied by your parts department which are not obviously new/virgin keys, be recovered to a "new" state before attempting to program them to the current vehicle. (Note: this recovery option is not possible on Type 1 smart keys)
• For keys you have indicated as being "EXISTING":  SDD assumes they are existing and currently functional keys for the current vehicle.

Any keys of an unknown state, previously attempted for programming on current or any other vehicle should not be used for key programming  . You must know the status of the keys you are trying to program.  If you need assistance with resolving this issue, contact the Jaguar or Land Rover Technical Helpline as required.

Fine tune your unlock key press actions

During key programming steps where SDD prompts to press the unlock button on the smart key remote transmitter.

• Ensure you follow the EXACT instructions on screen and execute the remote unlock button press within 5 seconds of acknowledging the instructions and clicking the "green tick". This timing is critical to success.
• Hold the key within the confines of the passenger compartment during any unlock button press to ensure clear transmission path to the RF receiver.
• PRESS AND HOLD the unlock button for the full 5 seconds allotted to press the unlock button.

Always have at least one key in the vehicle

When prompted to process keys by leaving them set on the center console, you will be prompted to exchange key one for key two etc etc,. When swapping single keys for testing during this process, always have at least one key in the vehicle at all times  .

Example - Programming 2 keys: When swapping one key for the other, bring the second key into the vehicle BEFORE, removing the first key to a place over 3 meters/10 feet away. 

If programming more than 2 keys, repeat the process for each swap, ensuring you bring the NEXT key into the vehicle before removing the previous one.

When SDD displays "Key Programming Successful"

The diagnostic software developers often have to write procedures against less than perfect component specifications and capabilities. SDD has some limitations for how it is able to interpret key programming results. The fact is, SDD tends to be "optimistic" and can report success during key programming steps, which actually failed.

What you need to know about this issue:

• (For all vehicles EXCEPT X150) Instead of following SDD's advice regarding key programming success, listen for the "confirmation chirp" from vehicle's horn during key programming "unlock press" steps as confirmation that key was learned to the vehicle. (X150 does not support a confirmation chirp during key programming)
• Keys that were not successfully programmed should not be used for any subsequent process steps for locking keys or validating keys. Just set them aside and do nothing when prompted to perform other tasks during that key programming attempt.
• Tag keys that have been programmed to keep track of which keys will need to be treated as "New" or "Existing" during other programming attempts to complete vehicle repairs. If a key failed to program/chirp horn, make sure you do nothing else with that key until next time you attempt key programming and treat that key as it was still new.
• If you must repeat key programming, re-evaluate key status again before indicating key quantities when prompted by SDD. You may have started with 2 NEW keys, but now actually have 1 NEW and 1 EXISTING key. Remember the advice "Know what you know and know what you don't know".

Results during SDD Key Validation Steps

During the various SDD key programming routines, there will be a final "Key Validation" step that is intended to provide users with a somewhat automated and authoritative result for the recently attempted key programming. Unfortunately, there are circumstances where negative results are reported when keys are otherwise correctly programmed and operational.

Additional key programming, recovery or other control module programming must not be carried out solely based on negative results during a "key validation" process using SDD.

When SDD reports negative results during key validation, make the following manual checks to directly validate key operation for each key expected to be supplied to the owner.

First verify the following RF based features are operational. (as required based on vehicle specification/features)

• Verify remote operations are possible using the buttons on the key to remotely lock and unlock the doors.
• Verify passive entry is possible. (Test each key separately, keeping all other keys over 10ft from the vehicle)
• Verify passive start is possible. (Test each key separately, keeping all other keys over 10ft from the vehicle)

Next, disconnect the RF antenna to continue with validation of the vehicle's back-up "active starting" system.

• Verify each key can be used to actively start the vehicle using the key docking station/starter control unit (Type 1 smart keys) or locating the key in the appropriate location to be detected by the hidden immobilization antenna as per the WSM or Owner's Manual. (Type 2 smart keys)

Any keys that fail one or more of these tests will require additional diagnosis and/or programming before returning the vehicle to your customer.

If all keys tested fail one of these specific tests, it is very likely that one of the vehicle components associated with that system/feature is at fault. Additional Key programming should not be attempted before confirming the vehicle is otherwise fault free. 

Erase All Existing Keys (Type 1 smart keys)

This function must be used with great caution and only under correct circumstances. Failure to know the implications of this routine, when not used correctly will often lead to the inadvertent scrapping of otherwise healthy keys.

Any currently existing keys not available or not included  when running this process will become orphaned and scrapped. There is no process available on SDD to recover Type 1 keys that have been scrapped. Since Instrument cluster replacement requires all existing keys to be erased before they can be programmed to the replacement cluster, the same concern applies.

When working through key programming or related control module replacement difficulties, you may decide that performing an Erase All Existing Keys procedure will help you "reset the vehicle" to a good starting point, which may be useful in some cases. However, it's important to remember the "know what you know, and know what you don't know" rule, because if you have any keys that have already been programmed to the vehicle but not included with the Erase All Keys procedure, they will be scrapped.

Key Recovery vs Key Replacement (Type 2 smart keys)

Since all Type 2 smart keys can be recovered to a like new condition, and reprogrammed to a vehicle, there is no risk for scrapping key hardware. But unless the differences between the Recover Programmed Keys and Replace Lost/Faulty Keys procedures are understood, technicians may not understand the current status for the vehicle and/or keys when trying to resolve smart key or related control module programming failures. It's important to understand these details when considering the "know what you know and know what you don't know" rule.

• Recover Programmed Keys - will recover any existing keys included in this process to a like new condition without affecting the status of other keys currently programmed to the vehicle. 
• Replace Lost/Faulty Keys - is a 3-step process designed to protect the security of the vehicle when a key is lost or needs to be replaced, and it works like this.
  1. All existing keys currently included during this procedure are recovered to a like new condition.
  2. All existing key data including data about the lost or faulty keys are erased from the KVM.
  3. Any recovered keys and additional "new" keys are programmed back to the vehicle.

Stay Informed

Service information is constantly under review for improvements, and new publications are released often. Do not rely upon a single publication alone since new information is often required to cover new/unique circumstances. For example; Information explaining vehicle or replacement component specification changes, issues, or revisions to SDD diagnostic software.

Use the "What's New", and search options on TOPIx regularly to help you stay informed as a qualified and professional Jaguar Land Rover service technician.