HERE'S THE SKINNY ON ADDING RKE KEY FOBS IF NOT PROVIDED WITH NEW RAM CLASSIC
I will recap the whole saga here for anybody else who did not get remote keyless entry (key fobs) with their new Ram.
I bought a new 2023 Ram 1500 Classic Tradesman sight unseen. I assumed it had the same standard features that my previous Tradesman did, but learned no hitch, no carpet, no Sirius radio, no RKE key fobs, no bedliner - it was totally bare, unlike my 2016 purely stock Tradesman.
I could not live without the hitch and the keyless entry, so set out to do them on my own. The hitch was a breeze, $89 bolt on from Summit Racing or many other sources, 20 minutes, piece of cake (assuming you have the right hex driver which I did).
The RKE was an ordeal. My dealer quoted me $750 to install RKE, and I wasn't falling for that. Many thanks to Athlium, who is the only guy in the whole web world who had any knowledge about DYI remote keyless entry and wrote good instructions here in the Ram Forum.
Athlium said, correctly, that all Rams with electric door locks are factory equipped with everything you need to do RKE key fobs - all that is required is the key fobs and some programming (the remote tailgate lock is NOT included.) He provided OBD programming instructions that had worked for him, confirmed by others. So I ordered cheap key fobs and the required security bypass cable online, and got a $59 OBD interface from Harbor Freight. I downloaded the free AlfaOBD software, plugged everything in and went to work, but I was not able to get a good consistent connection to the body computer. I bought the $49 full-service AlfaOBD app and tried again. Good connection, but it would not access the RFHUB. So I bought the AlfaOBD MX+ interface and thought I was in business. My dealer had given me the four-digit pin code, and I was able to access everything in the truck's system. But when I got to the RFHUB to change that setting, it required a "rolling code 5-digit PIN", and the AlfaOBD app said that was not supported "yet". AlfaOBD tech support had no knowledge of this.
Back to square one. I called Spartanburg (SC) Ram and they were very helpful. Most Ram service people know about the regular four digit pin but are clueless about the new rolling 5-digit pin, which changes every 12 hours. It is a theft deterrent. BTW, I talked to a lock and key shop and they were just as clueless, but quoted minimum $500. The Spartanburg Ram dealer knew exactly what to do and quoted me $175. I got an appointment and two days later they did the required programming in 20 minutes and only charged me $135. That's what I paid for the AlfaOBD programmer, which I am returning.
IN CONCLUSION - If your late model Ram Classic truck does not have RKE, you really can't do it yourself without buying an $800 OBD programmer! And your local locksmith probably can't do it either. My local repair shop says they have the programmer but have to pay such an exhorbitant fee every time they use it that it is cost prohibitive too. Really the shop that sold you the truck should do it for free plus the fobs, but don't let them charge you over $150 for this quick and easy job!
Thanks Ram Forum, I finally got this done!
