Hi everyone, been lurking around the forums for a bit, ever since I got a 2004 Sebring Sedan not too long ago, and finally had a reason to sign up here.

Anyway, here's what I'm hoping to get some ideas on. I called the local Chrysler dealer and had them run my VIN to see if my Sebring came equipped with keyless entry, after which I ordered a replacement fob and blank key on eBay (I only got one key with the car, and no fob). Took it all in to the dealership this afternoon, and after about two and a half hours of waiting in their lobby, found out that they had only cut the key I supplied plus an extra, but hadn't been able to program the fob. The reason, as they explained, was that there is no SKIM module installed in the car, so apparently even the transponders in the keys are useless. My question to you fine folks is, firstly, why would that make the keyless entry unable to work, and second, is the SKIM something that can be replaced? I did some research online, so I think I understand what the SKIM does, I'm just not sure what it has to do with keyless entry, I guess.

Thanks so much in advance!

 

I'm pretty sure all Sebrings came with remote entry and the fob that worked it. There were two types of keys. One was a grey key with a circuit inside that was associated with the SKIM. Not all Sebrings had the SKIM. Cars without a SKIM had a black key with no circuitry inside. The remote entry has nothing to do with the SKIM. If your original key was black, then your car would not have a SKIM. If your original key was grey, then you do have a SKIM. If you have a grey key but no SKIM, then your grey key is not original and the circuitry inside it is just occupying space but doing nothing.
Since your car is now 11 years old, it's possible that the techs at the dealership are not familiar with the old technology and/or don't know how to work their computer to program the fob. You might try a different dealer.