I am new to this site and am hoping someone can offer me help or advice about my car (apologies if I am posting in the wrong place)

Only had it 3 weeks and the head gasket (not sure if I have spelt it right but i'm a girl) went on it. Had that repaired and now the bloomin thing won't start.

Auto electrician said it is the key and that it has lost it's memory (I never knew cars even had a memory) he also mentioned the ECU (not got a clue what that is) and the message not getting through??????????

I haven't got the all important RED key and haven't got a clue what to do. Am guessing it aint gonna be cheap. Pleeeeeeeese can anyone help????

PS It's an X reg 1.1 sporting (if that helps)

The ECU is the main "computer" in the engine. it controls the whole running of the engine by monitoring everything via sensors. The ECU also controls the imobilisor. now when you put your key in the ignition the key sends a code to the ECU. if this code matches the code the ECU has it dissables the imobiliser and allows you to start the engine.

usually if you have the RED key you can recode your car. did your car definatly have a red key? some cars dont. look on your key, there should be a symbol of a triangle with rings around one point. if your symbol has a number 2 underneath you dont have a red key.

as for a fix, 2 options i can think of -

1. go a scrap yard and get a second hand ECU, lock set, and keys and just replace the whole lot.

2. go fiat and get ripped off in the hope they can sort out a red Key (if you have one) and recode yours.

Hope this helps! others may be along with other suggestions

luke

If the Sei has same ecu and lock set as a cento then....
I have a spare Ecu Red Key and Blue key along with ignition barrels and door/boot locks if you need them as ive just rolled mine =/

If your anywhere near bournemouth i can come and fit them for you aswell (no charge ) Other than that i have no idea other than getting it reprogramed at a dealer...

Hope this helps

Mark

ChinqSporting said:

If the Sei has same ecu and lock set as a cento then....
I have a spare Ecu Red Key and Blue key along with ignition barrels and door/boot locks if you need them as ive just rolled mine =/

Click to expand...

Nope. Only early models use a red key. The majority use the code2 system

For that reason and im 99% sure I believe you have the code2 key system (2 blue keys) on that suffix, therefore you wont need nor the vehicle ever had a red key so thats a small bit of comfort for you

AppleSei said:

I think you have been lucky and scraped in with a code2 key system (2 blue keys) on that suffix, therefore you wont need nor the vehicle ever had a red key so thats a small bit of comfort for you

Click to expand...

Yer, i was thinking that but couldnt remember when they introduced the code 2 system hence above post!

when i snapped my key, it was 30 odd quid for a new key and about 60 to get it recoded! ended up 96 quid!

Basically your ignition key has an electronic chip in it, there is a ring (induction ring) behind the dashboard round the ignition lock which picks up a signal from the key. This then sends a signal to the ECU, (Electonic Control Unit) that the code is correct for the car and allows the ECU to send the appropriate signals so the car can run. The ECU controls the car's fuel injection and ignition.

Changing the headgasket shouldn't interfere with this, the car should just start normally afterwards. It is likely more that something has been left disconnected than that the coding has become corrupted.

However assuming that everything is working and connected, you can buy a new chip for the ECU from McKritch, he's on the Forum. It is intended as a performance upgrade, but a happy side effect is that the code part of the key is disabled. The ECU then ignores the coding and the car will run, its forty something pounds from memory.

Jinxie said:

I am new to this site and am hoping someone can offer me help or advice about my car (apologies if I am posting in the wrong place)

Only had it 3 weeks and the head gasket (not sure if I have spelt it right but i'm a girl) went on it. Had that repaired and now the bloomin thing won't start.

Auto electrician said it is the key and that it has lost it's memory (I never knew cars even had a memory) he also mentioned the ECU (not got a clue what that is) and the message not getting through??????????

I haven't got the all important RED key and haven't got a clue what to do. Am guessing it aint gonna be cheap. Pleeeeeeeese can anyone help????

PS It's an X reg 1.1 sporting (if that helps)

Click to expand...

AppleSei said:

Nope. Only early models use a red key. The majority use the code2 system

For that reason and im 99% sure I believe you have the code2 key system (2 blue keys) on that suffix, therefore you wont need nor the vehicle ever had a red key so thats a small bit of comfort for you

Click to expand...

Thanks for that, and thanks for all the replies. So, now for the blonde question............ if there is no red key, how do you reset it?

Jinx

My ecu blew up and left me stuck in skegness. I had to have a new ecu and codebox. I never got round to having the key re-programmed. Cost me £350 in 2004

Cheapest and easiest way is to get a 'mckritch' chip. Saves all the hassle of chaning everything and is a 15min job to put in.

Have you got another key? If one key has lost it's code the other one should be ok. Wouldnt it??

Not sure how you reset it but the car will start by doing 'emergency start-up' . You will need your code from fiat. They dont give it you with the car from new

As far as im aware the Code two system is only reprogrammable by Fiat. however as Gaz_Wrexham said, the spare key should still work!

mog1571 said:

As far as im aware the Code two system is only reprogrammable by Fiat. however as Gaz_Wrexham said, the spare key should still work!

Click to expand...

Maybe that is why mine never got programmed. I left it with the garage who couldnt access the relevent part to be able to program. It gave me no problems so never went back

As it was a blank ecu any key that fitted the ignition barrel could start it

OK, so which kind of key do you have?

If you have the two blue keys, why are they coming to the conclusion (an expensive conclusion, mind you) that the ECU is faulty? I smell a rat!

Where is the car now, and did it run after the head gasket was fixed?

fingers99 said:

OK, so which kind of key do you have?

If you have the two blue keys, why are they coming to the conclusion (an expensive conclusion, mind you) that the ECU is faulty? I smell a rat!

Where is the car now, and did it run after the head gasket was fixed?

Click to expand...

I do have 2 blue keys, the car is outside my house at the min. It ran after head gasket was fixed and just cut out first time it was driven and then never started again. Maybe it is me getting wrong about the ECU cos it was just a word that was mentioned. I am rather thick when it comes to cars, I deliver babies for a living and it aint quite the same

A am soooooooo grateful for all the replies guys. You have restored my faith in human nature! x

have you tried both keys?

mog1571 said:

have you tried both keys?

Click to expand...

Yeah, neither of em work! It trys to start but doesn't fire up.

Jinx

Jinxie said:

Yeah, neither of em work! It trys to start but doesn't fire up.

Jinx

Click to expand...

ok now this is a tricky one. when you turn the keys to the accesory possition (second click before the starter motor turns over, when all dash lights are on) can you hear a motor noise in the back of the car? runs for about a second.

If I am honest I haven't even tried to start it. The mechanic who repaired it for me has been doing it (he is my neighbour). I haven't been near the car cos I have fallen out with it!

It's been nothing but trouble. First head gasket, the someone bumped into it overnight and drove of, now this. Now can you see why i'm a jinx??

Alternator might have had it?

AppleSei said:

Alternator might have had it?

Click to expand...

At this point, anything might have had it!

Comrades, let's proceed logically.

First thing ye mechanic next door needs to do is to try and start it (5 or 6 times) and, assuming it doesn't start, pull a spark plug and tell us whether it is wet or dry.

If it's dry it's a fuelling problem, if it's wet, it's an ignition problem.

Sorry for sounding dumb, but after the gasket was done, it was drivable and you had it out on the road? Or has it never been driven since? Not all that clear.

If you turn the key, does it sound like it is trying to start?

If so does it actually idle/tick over before you try and move it?

If it DOES idle/tick over does it die when you apply some throttle?

What lights are on the dash after the key has been in the first position for a few secs (and you heard the pump prime like mentioned)?

The more details you can give the better, but I bet the ECU is OK, and its (if it never ran since the head gasket) a wiring fault (im thinking coils/ leads) OR if it did run for a while before it broke again...well I'n not sure, 1 million things lol.

Kristian

Why no-one mentioned the code light? (Orange Key symbol) If it comes on and goes off after a few seconds then try everything else

If it dont go off or constantly flashes then it would point to possible ecu troubles