Not a definite answer, but my $0.02:
I just had a new key made for a '98 convertible I bought recently. It has an alarm, but I don't think it matters. When I asked the dealer's parts guy about the immobilizer, he said yes, the key has an immobilizer chip in it. That was technically correct - the key probably does.
He then explained to me that what I needed to do to get the key to work in my car was to start it with the old key, turn it back off and then start it with the new key so that the computer would recognize the new chip and allow it to start the car. He said if it didn't work that I would get an error message on the SID saying that the key was not accepted or something like that. I would then have to bring the car to the dealership so they could program the computer with the key's chip info.
So, when I picked up the key and took it home to my Saab, I ignored all of his advice and put the new key in and the car started right up. If the car required the chip to be authorized, it should not have started...at least that's how I understand it.
So my guess is that you don't have an immobilizer in the car but that they will still make you pay for a key with a chip in it because they don't make any other kind.
The worst case is that you will try to start the car and it won't work until you get the computer reprogrammed. That's an acceptable risk to me, but it's your decision.
I just had a new key made for a '98 convertible I bought recently. It has an alarm, but I don't think it matters. When I asked the dealer's parts guy about the immobilizer, he said yes, the key has an immobilizer chip in it. That was technically correct - the key probably does.
He then explained to me that what I needed to do to get the key to work in my car was to start it with the old key, turn it back off and then start it with the new key so that the computer would recognize the new chip and allow it to start the car. He said if it didn't work that I would get an error message on the SID saying that the key was not accepted or something like that. I would then have to bring the car to the dealership so they could program the computer with the key's chip info.
So, when I picked up the key and took it home to my Saab, I ignored all of his advice and put the new key in and the car started right up. If the car required the chip to be authorized, it should not have started...at least that's how I understand it.
So my guess is that you don't have an immobilizer in the car but that they will still make you pay for a key with a chip in it because they don't make any other kind.
The worst case is that you will try to start the car and it won't work until you get the computer reprogrammed. That's an acceptable risk to me, but it's your decision.
