.................I need help to finish what my hired locksmith started but could not finish making it work. (If you want to skip the long story, SKIP TO the NEXT PARAGRAPH) OK ...........Automotive locksmiths in Seattle are all over confident they can make any key. I called twelve Locksmiths who advertised as Automotive Certified Specialists and told them I lost my only key-fob and I am looking for someone who can make one for my 2004 unlimited and they "ALL" assured me they were very good and that they could make me a key. After awhile I started replying back to them very politely with, "I don't think you can". But they all insisted they could and took my number and information & within a few minutes, ten of them called me back with various excuses why they could not make a key for Crossfires. Two locksmiths were sure they could stating they were specialized with making key fobs for expensive cars. One wanted $850 and the other quoted $350. I could not afford either so I went with the $350. A day later Mr $350 called & said he could only make a key with a chip (transponder) in it. Not a fob, just a working key that I could start & drive the car with. I think that is what is referred as a valet key............ Please don't tell me, "I told you so" .................(

NEXT PARAGRAPH): The locksmith arrived and pulled the SKEEM out and measured out the key cut code from the door lock and took the SKEEM home with him. When he returned he had two keys with chips and said he retrieved the data he needed out of the SKEEM and programed the new keys into the SKEEM. He said his computer confirmed the keys got programed in the SKEEM successfully. All we got was the two starts & dies and unhook the battery for two minutes for another round.

I noticed he did not install the ring antenna around the ignition switch (red flag). He installed the ring and again we get the same thing. He hooks his computer to do a diagnostic and his computer is not communicating with the SKREEM. I asked if his computer was the DRB-III scanner & his reply was he has the best scanner with OEM data that can work on all new makes and models & OBD2 cars.

So my question here is: Is the DRB-III scanner the only scanner that can program new keys into the SKEEM? Have you heard of other newer computer programs that can do it? He claims he retrieved the data out of it so should he be able to correctly program the new key in it? Can you give me any other things that could prevent the car from running more then two seconds. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks

Edited to make it readable. --Pizzaguy

 

Contact GannyX..here ....He works for MSS and I'm sure he can resolve this problem !!!
He can certainly make keys / Keyfobs for Crossfires and it sounds as if you might have a defective SKREEM after all of this anyway
He can resolve issues with SKREEM modules too

 

Sounds like they didn't program the keys right.

Cheaper options are no always good.
I would of told you to come to us.. when we do an all key lost we always do a skreem repair and do around 30-50 cranks to make sure it good

 

I had 2 keys made by a local mobile locksmith. Both work, but could never get the original fob to work again. He spent a lot of time working on that. I’m sure he lost money on that job.

 

Could I have the name of your locksmith or phone number? It might be helpful. Thanks

 

OK thank you, before I lost all my keys it started up every time no problems for six years. I don't doubt that the skeem or skreem is faulty now. The locksmith I suspect just did not have the skills to do this. I fear he did something to mess it up. I know you have to be about sick of reading these key, skreem, and imobilizer issues over and over. I have read about 50 threads on this forum and should have known to get a hold of Aganny at MSS ,....Anyway thanks

 

No scanner can program fobs including drbIII. different hardware different monster

 

What the locksmith said was he retrieved the data out of the SKREEM and measured out the key cut from the door lock. He made 2 keys with chips in them. No FOB. He added the new 2 keys with chips to the SKREEM, Claimed his computer confirmed the new keys were successfully added to the SKEEM. After installing in car we just got the two starts. He then hooked his computer to the OBD2 plug for a diagnostic check and found his computer was not communicating with the SKREEM.

 

You have one option: Listen to Ganny.
I'd bet he will tell you to pull the SKREEM and ECU and mail them and the keys to him - they will come back working properly.

 

Hi Waynesk2,
Just a suggestion, but if you do end up sending your keys, the SKREEM and ECU to MSS, you might to also send the antenna since that will be out of the car anyways. That way MSS can check all the parts together. Also, I would suggest labelling all your components with your name before sending them.
-Jerry

 

Thank you for the advice .

 

Well here is an update to what I found when I took out the skreem out of my car (locksmith installed it) Look at the picture. The worst outcome he burned up the skreem.

3 pins burned off circled in red. The orange arrow points at solder bridging the two pins. The blue indicates continuity between the pins. The 3 pins must have burned off when the locksmith turned ignition over. This cost me $350 for him to mess it up.

 

https://themercedesswapshop.com/?page_id=211

 

That's terrible! You should have him pay for your repair!

 

Let hope he didn't damage skreem data,

 

Here is the my situation, I drove this car as my everyday driver, I use to drive it 33 miles one way to work for 6 years 5 days a week. I loved this car. I no longer am working and I lost the only key fob I had. I spent 2 months backtracking, searching, rearranging, raking, dismantling, and even sifting the ashes of a backyard fire pit over and over not just once but TWICE and some locations THREE times looking for that fob, for the fire pit I just wanted some clarification and was hoping to find the key blade. I never look for something ever this much. I can't afford to drive this car anymore,....I'm broke,... but through desperate measures I acquired some money for a fee and I reached out to a local key smith who assured me he specialized in this and he would be able to make me two working keys. It was heart ranking to see how fast his professionalism turned into a tantrum when it would not start. He shouted with his hands in the air, "WHAT DO I DO NOW"....."MY COMPUTER SAYS IT WAS GOOD" I told him your free to go, I will put my car back together. He says he has all the data that he retrieved in his computer. But I don't know if this skreem is going to work ever again. I will keep you posted after I show him this picture. P.S. I seen somewhere here on a post someone talking about buying selling this kind of new chip. Just for an option if this one is gone are they easy to find. ONE LAST THING TO ANY ONE WHO LOSES THERE CROSSFIRE FOB-KEYS. Do the smart thing and contact this member (GannyX) or MSS and save yourselves and save your crossfire from being a parts car. I never imagined I would have a car turned into that from loosing a key and that is starting to look where it is going now. Thanks

 

Hi Waynesk,
Sorry to hear your plight. There is one other option since you have a key that fits your locks, you can send your ECU to several vendor who will reprogram it to bypass your SKREEM. Unfortunately, it costs a couple hundred dollars, and after they bypass the SKREEM, any key that fits the locks will work. Depending on how damaged your SKREEM is, the fob may or may not work after the reprogramming.
Good Luck, sincerely
Jerry

 

Thank you

 

I returned the Skreem unit back to the locksmith and he tried fixing what he messed up, it didn't work. I am still getting 3 starts and then no crank. As for now the best I can plan for is that another generation finds it in a barn. Thanks

 

If the locksmith???, did not install the screem matching RFID chip from the original fob, the car will not start and run. Have you contacted MSS, Mercedese Swap Shop, for assistance?