What's in my key?!

[prothwell1985]

Hi guys! Just picked up a 2015 Berlingo this evening. Drove it home fine, but when i tried to lock it, nothing was happening. Locked it with the key for the time being and just guessed the battery might be dead. So took the key indoors and opened it up, and it has the below in it?! What on earth is it? There's no PCB or battery in there, just some weird little tube thats held in with blu tac. Any ideas?

[Peter Palmer]

Looks like something that's been smuggled through customs or something, its obviously not part of the key. Looks like a liquid, try a bit and see what the reaction is, might be worth a fortune.

[Mike]

Have you just got the one key?

[prothwell1985]

I have got another key, but haven't opened it up yet. He said not to use it as it sets the alarm as the battery is flat or something. I haven't tried it as I don't want to risk setting the alarm off and not being able to stop it at this time of night.

[michaelg]

Strange one!

There should be a transponder chip in there to start the van, is it starting without the chip ?

[Lighty]

That tube is a Transponder chip, and if you take it out, the van will not start.
Someone who knows keys has fitted that & programmed it in to start the van.
Usually the work of a tight fisted car sales company asking for the cheapest option.
Could be that your van doesn’t have remote locking (some don’t ).
Worth looking at the other key to see if it works, or is the same inside.

[Tomcat3]

AS Lighty says who ever sold you the motor is being creative with the Key. If this was sold by a dealer you need to check if you have central locking fitted if yes the circuit board is missing from the key and it will never work, some one has coded a chip to start the car. Check your other key to as im starting to smell a rat.

[polar]

Lighty and Tomcat are spot on mate.

I suspect you have central locking and they have done you over