I spent a bit of time writing this guide for clubpolo.co.uk and I thought that it maybe useful to some people on here as well.
Here is how to add remote central locking to a VW Polo 9N with NO CODING and using OEM VAG parts, which means you do not have to cut into door wiring as you do if you are fitting the after-market ones.
At this point, you now have a key that can manually unlock the doors and start the engine and the car is capable of receiving a remote signal, you now have to pair your new remote key with the Comfort Unit. *See Note 3
That was it, job done.
Total cost around £72. However, when it is pouring with rain outside and you can check if the car is locked from your window or when you have your hands full of shopping bags and you need to unlock the car, that is £72 well spent
The only thing that does not work is the boot-release, but even if it did work, you would still have to pull the boot up anyway, so not a major issue.
The remote has a good range and the indicators flash on lock and unlock. The Comfort Unit which I bought had a pre-programmed setting to lock all doors when going above around 7/8mph. This seemed like a nice feature, so we have left it on. There are a few more settings you can play with, but I would not invest in the VAGCOM equipment when it is far easier to find your local independent specialist who should ask for 'beer money' to reconfigure the unit for you. E.G. To Turn off auto-locking, or going from 2-door locking to 4-door locking etc, as it really is a 2 minute job.
I hope this helps someone else and thanks to the original poster 'StringsOnFire' on clubpolo.co.uk (http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=200919) for all of part information and proving that it can be done.
Notes
*Note 1
If you purchase a Comfort Unit that was installed in a 2-door car and yours is a 4-door, you will need to get the unit recoded, which is where the VAGCOM process comes in. I did not want the hassle of doing this, so I made sure the unit I bought was from a 4-door car to match our 4-door Polo.
*Note 2 - Timpsons
They will not cut a HAA / flip key unless you buy one directly from them. They say this due to cheap eBay keys being made of poor quality metal which can damage their machines and the lock in the car, so they will not guarantee it. However, when you ask how much one of their HAA key blanks is along with cutting, you quickly realise why they do not want you coming in with a £1.99** HAA key blank then paying them a low amount to cut the key, when they can tell you a load of rubbish to get you to buy one of their key-blanks and also pay to have it cut.
I am sure you could argue that paying a low amount to get a 'Cheap Chinese' key cut against paying for a Timpsons key cut, which hypothetically could be £5 Vs £50, Timpsons has decided that it is not worth absorbing all of the potential issues of keys breaking off in locks, people suing them for key broken in ignition etc. That is Timpsons' commercial decision to make. However, I have an official 'UK HAA Blade' and a 'cheap Chinese' blade, both of which have been cut and they work absolutely fine whilst looking identical. I really do think it was a move to make more money from the average consumer against the rise in cheap, accessible parts online and knowledgeable customers who have researched first.
It's a shame you can't scientifically prove where Timpsons source their HAA key-blanks from. I would be willing to bet it's a country in the East.
**HAA Key Blank on its own
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Audi-S...AA-HU66-/360468834534?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Safety_Security&hash=item53ed9de8e6
*Note 3
I think there has been some confusion with this in previous posts I have read regarding this topic. The Transponder in the key has nothing to do with the remote locking process, it controls the engine immobiliser, but not the doors. Once paired correctly, the remote key sends a signal to the Comfort Unit which then unlocks the doors. Once the key is in the ignition, the Transponder sends a signal to the immobiliser sensor to turn off. The sensor is usually located near the ignition barrel.
This guide is for educational purposes only, I am not liable if you blow-up your car or step on a kitten whilst attempting to follow it.
Here is how to add remote central locking to a VW Polo 9N with NO CODING and using OEM VAG parts, which means you do not have to cut into door wiring as you do if you are fitting the after-market ones.
- I purchased a flip-key from eBay with part number: 1JO 959 753 DA for around £20: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1J0-959-7...e&si=NOdHn7vD1ByAYu7vCKYTpA05gCs%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
- I then purchased a Comfort Unit (Central Locking Unit) with part number 6Q0 959 433 E, again from eBay for about £45. The one I purchased was from a 5 door Seat Ibiza. *See note 1 below.
- The Flip key arrives uncut, so the first thing was to get it cut. Do NOT bother with *Timpsons see note 2 below. I called my local automotive lock-smith who had a van with a work-shop set-up in the back of it. I gave him the keys and he cut them for about £7 each if I remember correctly.
- Next, I took the transponder out from the existing spare key ready to put it into the flip-key (Note, no recoding of the transponder is necessary as it already belongs to the car, it is already paired with it).
- I followed this guide to fit the newly cut key-blank into the flip-key, and whilst the key was open, I fitted the transponder from the point above:
- So, by now, the flip key should have all of the functions of the original key, minus the remote locking. It should open the doors and start the engine.
- Next step is to add the remote locking function, which means fitting the 'Comfort Unit'. This is a right bitch to get to, on a RHD 9N Polo, it is located under the dash, so you have to get into the footwell and look up to spot it. It is slightly angled and nearer the centre console than the door if that helps. I found pushing the drivers chair all the way back helped. Once you get the old one out, simply plug the new one in.
At this point, you now have a key that can manually unlock the doors and start the engine and the car is capable of receiving a remote signal, you now have to pair your new remote key with the Comfort Unit. *See Note 3
- To pair the remote key with the Comfort Unit, I followed this guide:
That was it, job done.
Total cost around £72. However, when it is pouring with rain outside and you can check if the car is locked from your window or when you have your hands full of shopping bags and you need to unlock the car, that is £72 well spent
The only thing that does not work is the boot-release, but even if it did work, you would still have to pull the boot up anyway, so not a major issue.
The remote has a good range and the indicators flash on lock and unlock. The Comfort Unit which I bought had a pre-programmed setting to lock all doors when going above around 7/8mph. This seemed like a nice feature, so we have left it on. There are a few more settings you can play with, but I would not invest in the VAGCOM equipment when it is far easier to find your local independent specialist who should ask for 'beer money' to reconfigure the unit for you. E.G. To Turn off auto-locking, or going from 2-door locking to 4-door locking etc, as it really is a 2 minute job.
I hope this helps someone else and thanks to the original poster 'StringsOnFire' on clubpolo.co.uk (http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=200919) for all of part information and proving that it can be done.
Notes
*Note 1
If you purchase a Comfort Unit that was installed in a 2-door car and yours is a 4-door, you will need to get the unit recoded, which is where the VAGCOM process comes in. I did not want the hassle of doing this, so I made sure the unit I bought was from a 4-door car to match our 4-door Polo.
*Note 2 - Timpsons
They will not cut a HAA / flip key unless you buy one directly from them. They say this due to cheap eBay keys being made of poor quality metal which can damage their machines and the lock in the car, so they will not guarantee it. However, when you ask how much one of their HAA key blanks is along with cutting, you quickly realise why they do not want you coming in with a £1.99** HAA key blank then paying them a low amount to cut the key, when they can tell you a load of rubbish to get you to buy one of their key-blanks and also pay to have it cut.
I am sure you could argue that paying a low amount to get a 'Cheap Chinese' key cut against paying for a Timpsons key cut, which hypothetically could be £5 Vs £50, Timpsons has decided that it is not worth absorbing all of the potential issues of keys breaking off in locks, people suing them for key broken in ignition etc. That is Timpsons' commercial decision to make. However, I have an official 'UK HAA Blade' and a 'cheap Chinese' blade, both of which have been cut and they work absolutely fine whilst looking identical. I really do think it was a move to make more money from the average consumer against the rise in cheap, accessible parts online and knowledgeable customers who have researched first.
It's a shame you can't scientifically prove where Timpsons source their HAA key-blanks from. I would be willing to bet it's a country in the East.
**HAA Key Blank on its own
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Audi-S...AA-HU66-/360468834534?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Safety_Security&hash=item53ed9de8e6
*Note 3
I think there has been some confusion with this in previous posts I have read regarding this topic. The Transponder in the key has nothing to do with the remote locking process, it controls the engine immobiliser, but not the doors. Once paired correctly, the remote key sends a signal to the Comfort Unit which then unlocks the doors. Once the key is in the ignition, the Transponder sends a signal to the immobiliser sensor to turn off. The sensor is usually located near the ignition barrel.
This guide is for educational purposes only, I am not liable if you blow-up your car or step on a kitten whilst attempting to follow it.
