Chip IDs Decoded — Practical Guide to 4D, 46, 48, 8A and More

Chip IDs Decoded — Practical Guide to 4D, 46, 48, 8A and More

Written by: Kevyn Olguin

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Published on

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Time to read 1 min


You’ve worked with chips long enough to know there’s no universal fix. This is straight, practical advice from the field — what works, what breaks, and how to avoid costly mistakes.

Quick rundown
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4D

Common in older Toyotas, Nissans, Isuzus, etc.
Reliable, inexpensive, and easy to clone or generate. Most handheld cloners and generation tools handle these without drama. Keep a stock of cheap blanks and practice on spares.

46 (ID-46 / GM-46)

Widespread on GM vehicles and some imports.
Cloning can desynchronize vehicle systems and erase memory. When possible, use generation or dealer-style add/key-programming routines to preserve sync and avoid customer headaches.

48 (ID-48)

Found in VAG cars (VW, Audi, Skoda).
The trickiest: many tools can read/copy them but will produce unusable keys unless you use unlocked ID-48 blanks (the red ones) or the correct super-chip. Prefer generating via OBD routines when your tool supports it. Cloning is high risk — avoid unless you know what you’re doing.

8A / 8C / 8E and similar

Older, low-stakes chips.
Cheap aftermarket blanks and mid-range tools usually handle these fine. Straightforward work, no surprises.

Cheat sheet

Chip Typical vehicles When to clone When to generate / avoid cloning Recommended tools
4D Toyota, Nissan, Isuzu Clone or generate — simple — VVDI, Xhorse, RW4
46 (ID-46) GM + some imports Only when generation unavailable Prefer generation / add routines to preserve sync VVDI, KM100
48 (ID-48) VAG group (VW, Audi, Skoda) Only with unlocked/red blanks (and experience) Prefer OBD generation; avoid raw cloning KM100, VVDI with super chip
8A / 8C / 8E Older / aftermarket models Clone — easy — Generic super chips / mid-range tools

Real-world wisdom (what actually happens)

  • ID-48 on VAG cars is the most common disaster: mid-range tools + locked blanks = bricked keys or clusters. Generate when possible.

  • 46/46E chips (GM flips, some Fiats) often lose sync if merely cloned; generation preserves sync.

  • Technicians frequently bail on German jobs after bricking clusters — if you’re not trained and properly equipped, don’t gamble on expensive German electronics.

No-BS practices that work

  • Avoid brand-locked blanks. Buy quality unlocked/red ID-48 and ID-46 blanks and use open tools where possible.

  • Know when cloning is “enough” and when generating is safer. If the vehicle uses add/OBD routines, prefer those.

  • Always carry a few quality blanks of each common chip type. Practice on donor cars or junk keys — never learn on a customer’s only working vehicle.

  • German cars: pass unless you’ve specifically trained for them and have the right equipment. A $200 shortcut can become a $2,000 disaster.

  • Treat the job seriously — you’re protecting people’s vehicles. Build skill, train on Junkers, learn OBD add routines, and be honest about your limits.


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