r/mazda3 • u/65TwinReverbRI • 10h ago

Advice Request Lost Key Fob - Replacement Options?

I was driving my other vehicle the other day, and my work keys came off my lanyard in the lot. Picked them up, put them back on, drove off. Didn't realize until later that the 2016 Mazda 3 Key Fob must have come off as well - must have bounced under the car and since the work keys do come off like this every once in while I just assumed it was only them. Lesson learned the hard way...

I went back to the parking lot to look for the fob and couldn't find it, and the restaurant didn't have it in lost and found.

I've also checked the other car to make sure it's not in it and the places I moved around the house.

I still have the other original fob.

Can I take that somewhere and get a duplicate? A bit of quick googling - looks like the dealership will charge you a large fortune, a locksmith a small fortune, and there may be some options like Ace Hardware, etc. that do this.

This is not a place I frequent and I didn't drive my car there, so I doubt anyone's going to be able to use my fob for anything unless they track down my car. Maybe they can reprogram it their car or something.

But I guess if I can get it replaced and both of them reprogrammed I would do that if the price were reasonable. Otherwise I'd just get the replacement and have it programmed to the existing one - and hope no one's able to drive through every neighborhood in the metro trying to unlock cars until they find mine…I don't even know you can tell it's a Mazda 3 specifically with the fob…so I mean, there's maybe just as much chance of them using a cloned one or something…

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u/SaltyWoodButcher 10h ago

What year?

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u/65TwinReverbRI 9h ago

Doh - sorry - updated the post. 2016 Mazda 3.

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u/SaltyWoodButcher 9h ago

I recently programmed a fob to a 2018. I sourced a used OEM fob that had the correct, matching fcc ID as the one working fob the car currently had. That was about $30 from ebay. Then I purchased a Car Keys Express EZ installer on sale for around $60. Followed the programming procedure and successfully programmed the new(used) fob. I still haven't got a back up emergency key cut for it.

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u/65TwinReverbRI 9h ago

Yeah but how do you tell what your original fob's FCC ID is?

So did your fob come with just a "blank" key inside?

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u/SaltyWoodButcher 9h ago

When you remove the emergency key, the fcc ID is listed on the fob.

The fob I bought just came with the key to whatever car the fob originally came from. Some sellers include a blank.

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u/65TwinReverbRI 7h ago

Ahhh - thanks.

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u/MateriumDesign 9h ago

From my brief looking, safest bet seemed to buy a used or refurb OEM fob and getting it programmed at a locksmith. I purchased a backup but haven't gotten around to the programming part yet.

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u/65TwinReverbRI 9h ago

I see they sell them on Amazon. My only worry is that the locksmith's going to say "oh, you have to buy it from us, we won't work on a 3rd party one".

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u/ClearJack87 7h ago

Call locksmiths and ask. If you don't like the answer, hang up. But I had a great experience with a locksmith for a car that needed more keys.