C5 X7 replacement key cutting

[wheeler]

Think the OP already said they had tried swapping the blade over, not sure why this wasn’t an option however aftermarket blades/cases may not always be the same shape at the base where it fits in.

[MattBLancs]

Ah understood. I must have been lucky in my case then!

Previous owner/ car dealer I bought from had also tried to replace the key case recently - they'd tried to swap the entire metal component, either realised part way through wasn't going to work or were particularly hamfisted but ended up with (pristine buttons and) a floppy key blade that neither sprang out nor stayed folded in properly.

[aerodynamica]

Ah understood. I must have been lucky in my case then!

Previous owner/ car dealer I bought from had also tried to replace the key case recently - they'd tried to swap the entire metal component, either realised part way through wasn't going to work or were particularly hamfisted but ended up with (pristine buttons and) a floppy key blade that neither sprang out nor stayed folded in properly.

Yes, I did try to swap the blade over in the first instance but it was not the same fixing - like 90% same but differed in the small working details for the flip - out mechanism. The replacement is a pattern part off ebay. But now after a week all is well. I have a brand new looking keyfob, the blank blade cut to the original and the internal electronic board with its code and remote were simply swapped over. Only final detail was that the new fob had a blank square instead of the Citroen logo but I found these also available for a couple of quid and now the logo is replaced too. As good as new!

Re. floppy keys. I found last year that replacing the battery on the remote refitting the half of the fob saw the same problem. Looked like my flip out key needed --adware link removed-- but it turns out that the little plastic bit around the flip button inside the key blade pivot has to be twisted and held while the other half of the fob is clicked home. I found the spring of the flip out springs nicely strong after that little detail. It is quite difficult to do if the little retaining bit of glue has gone but can be done if you hold the button down in the twisted position using something like a thin screwdriver through the flip button hole in the half of the fob while you push the half home.

I'll probably forget how I did it by the time I have to open it again to replace the battery next time

[MattBLancs]

Sadly in my case the new key case was badly butchered so beyond repair by previous owner/dealer. They are cheap enough so I bought another new case - for the more common head lamps on middle button variants!

I couldn't find a cheap boot opening middle button replacement, so that niggles about my otherwise lovely new key.

Like you I ended up with an anonymous empty square handily fixed by a stick on Citroen badge bought separately.