The Volvo key is only used to pinch the circuit board, the circuit board is used for the door locks. This is commonly done if you don't have the key codes and need to program keys to a new module installed, instead of buying new Aston keys, you would get the Volvo key and swap the circuit board and use the Volvo key codes on package.

To start the car, there's a little chip inside the Aston key, separate from the circuit board. This chip is detected by the immobilizer ring which is in dash around the key slot. This immobilizer ring detects the chip and gives the green light to allow the engine to fire up. If you lose the immobilizer codes for the chip, a dealer tool would be required unless you had 2 or more working keys which in that case could program the start function yourself (unrelated to the door locks, dealer tool is required for that function to program a key)

If you needed a new chip in the Aston key, you might be able to cut apart the insert end of the Volvo key and extract the ship to try in the Aston key...but I've not tried this to confirm it would work. Judging your plastic key current state with buttons destroyed and exposed circuit, might be easier to buy a new one or even used off ebay without key codes and do the Volvo method to get a circuit board with key codes for your dealer to program.

 

Hi, check out Aston Martin Key Repair on Google and Facebook, they seem to be the only company out there that properly repairs the Aston Martin Keys (broken glass etc) and they also can provide new internals etc as well as new complete keys for less than AM. Quite a few positive reviews from around the world too.