You're probably not "harming" anything if you're using low range to plow , haul etc.
Maybe a slight increase in wear on the belt but plenty of people plow with older machines that don't have the different key modes .

 

On your bike, the only two modes available are performance, and normal.

I'd have to think you'd want full power available especially when plowing, for pushing those drifts, y'know?

IMO, the only time you might make use of a "normal" key would be like if you were to hand it to a co-worker or your kid, someone not as familiar with the machine as you are, in other words.

If you just want a backup "normal" key, I mean, that's only about a Benjamin at the dealer, last I had one done. Key was about $30, labor was $70.

 

Wow, the dealer lied to me. Who would have thought? Thank you very much for providing that information. I did not get a owner/user manual with my ATV.

So, does such a thing exist? Is there some device or method that will allow me to program the keys myself. I think I'd much prefer that to having to pay a dealer again.

 

Wow, the dealer lied to me. Who would have thought? Thank you very much for providing that information. I did not get a owner/user manual with my ATV.

So, does such a thing exist? Is there some device or method that will allow me to program the keys myself. I think I'd much prefer that to having to pay a dealer again.

You can download your owners manual on the BRP website, free of charge. That's where I pulled that screen grab from

The service manual is also available here on the site, free for download. Service Manuals hosted locally for Can-Am Forums

Dealer uses a program called BUDS, to communicate with your bike and program the keys. It is available to end users like you and me, but it's rather pricey for just an "occasional amateur use".

 

Also I was lead to understand that there was a limit of two keys being matched to the machine. Is that true?

 

You can program as many keys as you'd like, in either mode.

I suppose eventually there has to be a limit in BUDS as to how many transponder codes the ECM will store, but I haven't heard of it yet.

 

https://www.powersports-diag.com/en/brp-diagnostic-kits/1-brp-buds-buds2-mpi-3-diagnostic-kit-4-tec-e-tec.html

It's have license what need to renew depending how long you buy... if you buy 10 year its cheapest for long run..

2013 model use buds 1 and its much cheaper license:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32387227141.html

But you need that upper to run buds1..

 

Here's my vote:

Have one of your keys switched to work mode, as mentioned you'll need BUDS or a friend/dealership/shop with it to make the change. But you still want a spare key right?

You can use dooplicator to make a copy of whichever key you want. Want 2 performance keys? Scan the performance key and order a dooplicator key, it will work when it arrives and function exactly like the performance key scanned. If you want 2 work keys, scan the work key, same deal.

No trip to the dealership needed for dooplicator. Make sure to use the Can-Am Forum member discount if you go this route.


EDIT: Ahh, you have a 2013 which is not RF DESS. Disregard!

 

Just remember, guys, OP has an "old" 2013 bike, it doesn't have the fancy RF "bluetooth" key, but the old traditional "contacts required" DESS key.

I believe that older ECM is the limiting factor to what all modes are on the machine. Pretty sure it's just the two, on the early Gen2 bikes. They didn't start offering more power modes until later in the lineup.

 

Thanks so much for all the replies guys. I really appreciate them.