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[Joe the fish]

Hi all,
I am the proud new owner of a 2002 2.2 Auto Omega. It ticked the boxes during an urgent car hunt.. Big, 12months MOT cheap.. goes and stops. I like to look after my cars myself so like any responsible owner came and found the forum... after reading lots over the last couple of days I have a couple of questions if you would be kind enough to point me in the right direction...
Its in better nick than I expected which is a nice surprise but still has a list of jobs I want to do, all of which are raising questions for me as Vauxhall is not a make I have owned before.

First on the list is a full service, cambelt and autobox fluid and filter change, is there a general consensus on where to get parts? If possible I would like to order the whole lot from one place and any consensus on where I should be buying genuine parts and where copies are acceptable? Normally I would go with genuine tensioners and water pump, quality belts, oils and filters etc.
Think I have found suitable guides in the common fixes section for all the above... but any extra pointers appreciated.

Second on my list is getting a spare key.. reading on here am I right in thinking the best route is to buy a blank from Ebay, get it cut locally, and then find a willing member with Tech2 to code it for me? I do have the key code card thingy. While I am on keys, the one I have is looking worn but functioning fine, can I simply buy a new 'outer' for it from ebay and swap the guts over?

Last on my list is tyres, it has four all relatively new, but all different makes and tread patterns. Is there any tyre recommendations or similar, and where is best to get a good deal... local tyre place or online? Ive always gone local but wondered if I was missing a trick!

Thanks
Joe

[TheBoy]

Some things MUST be genuine, other parts the better pattern ones are fine. As always, don't buy branded from dubious sources such as ebay, ECP etc

For genuine parts, do some homework on Tradeclub (better than trade prices from your Vauxhall Dealer).

Key - yes, bang on , and nasty outers available for about £3, but tend to be hard. If your rubbers have gone, it might be switches are failing - easy-ish solder job.

[Joe the fish]

Thanks for that,
The rubbers on my only key, and the outer case are a bit battered and tired is all, still all works as intended. I imagine it will become my spare key when I get a new one sorted so probably not too worry.

As for things that MUST be genuine... is there a list anywhere?

Off to google Tradeclub now and see whats what, thanks for the heads up.

[omega2018]

the cheap new 'rubber' keys -  yes they are hard. soak the rubber/plastic in something like amorall plastic protector and they soften up a little. after 4 years...

[TheBoy]

Having the full diagnostic gear here, I personally never bother to fick around with ebay replacement rubbers, and just buy a new fob (about £25 trade), and program it in.  So can't comment how well those hard rubbers wear.

[Joe the fish]

Cheers guys,
Whats the price on a new key and fob trade? Havent checked if there are any stealers near me but there is bound to be, unless there is a reliable forum member to go to direct instead? Replacing the rubber on my current fob is bottom of the list (if it aint broke, dont fix it) but getting a spare working key is somewher enear the top. No issues with paying slightly over the odds (stealers) if its easier and going to be the correct one etc. Although I suspect the main stealers will be somewhat more than slightly over the odds!
Mine is a 2002, three button fob, no markings etc on the back to suggest maker though.
Cheers Joe

[TheBoy]

The fob will have markings on the back - on the bit where it looks like they should be - but very hard to see, let alone read.  Try looking under different lights, or using a phone to take picture and zoom in.


As I've always said:
Blade and transponder - egay £10
Fob - Dealer £25ish
Programming - ??

[tunnie]

The fob will have markings on the back - on the bit where it looks like they should be - but very hard to see, let alone read.  Try looking under different lights, or using a phone to take picture and zoom in.


As I've always said:
Blade and transponder - egay £10
Fob - Dealer £25ish
Programming - ??

The issue I've found with this approach is many key cutters won't cut the key, as they did not supply it. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Use some imagination... Buy one of their blanks and get them to cut your one... You need to give them some sort of incentive

[omega2018]

take the chip out of the existing key and fix it securely next to the ignition barrel.  then you can get as many keys as you like cut without doing any programming and they will all start the car. 

before gollum or anyone else jumps in i will add the downside is a thief could hot wire your car but (a) they won't know the chip is next to the barrel so would assume it wasn't hot wireable and (b) not many thieves are going to bother trying to hot wire an old omega.

keysinthepost.com will cut you a key from a photo for about a tenner.

[Doctor Gollum]

Actually the chip is irrelevant

[Lazydocker]

take the chip out of the existing key and fix it securely next to the ignition barrel.  then you can get as many keys as you like cut without doing any programming and they will all start the car. 

before gollum or anyone else jumps in i will add the downside is a thief could hot wire your car but (a) they won't know the chip is next to the barrel so would assume it wasn't hot wireable and (b) not many thieves are going to bother trying to hot wire an old omega.

keysinthepost.com will cut you a key from a photo for about a tenner.

Wrong programming... It refers to the fob

[omega2018]

op wants a spare key, existing key works, as said just needs to get one cut no programming required if existing and working chip is attached to the ignition barrel .

[Lazydocker]

op wants a spare key, existing key works, as said just needs to get one cut no programming required if existing and working chip is attached to the ignition barrel .

So needs the remote fob programming via tech 2 So may as well get the immobiliser chip programmed at the same time.

Unless he wants a key that needs turning in the lock to unlock and sets the alarm off.

[omega2018]

op wants a spare key, existing key works, as said just needs to get one cut no programming required if existing and working chip is attached to the ignition barrel .

So needs the remote fob programming via tech 2 So may as well get the immobiliser chip programmed at the same time.

Unless he wants a key that needs turning in the lock to unlock and sets the alarm off.

i have 2 spare keys both never programmed and both with no chip, they work fine as spares i.e. they unlock the door when turned in the keyhole and they start the car. they don't remotely open the doors or the boot, or remotely close the windows and they don't switch on the alarm but they switch it off when put in the ignition.  so basically they do everything i need from a spare key.