I've just been out to a friends broken down Ducato and found the part of the ignition barrel that turns the lock and switch has broken off. I've been quoted well over £200 if he has the master key, which he is not sure about, and over £300 if he doesn't have it. There was also mention of possibly needing the new ECU at several hundred pounds more.

Does he have any other options? It seems a lot of expense just for the barrel. Of course, he has the option of using a screwdriver to start the van, as long as he holds the key near the sensor whilst starting it, but I'm not sure how that would be viewed when the MOT is due.

The van is a W (2000) reg diesel

Martin.

just buy ignition lock/switch....bout £65, easy to fit it yourself.

What about the key code? How will that affect it/be affected?

ahh its not the steering lock section/switch thats broken but the 'bit' the key goes into? Hows a part of that broken off?

I haven't had chance to investigate it fully yet as I was concentrating on getting him home and I won't see him again till tomorrow. I gave him some instructions over the phone and he managed to remove the barrel. When he took the barrel out, he noticed there was something broken off the end of the barrel. This piece that was broken off locates in the steering lock to lock that, and, I assume, to turn the ignition switch contacts, when the key is turned. As it needs a new barrel at the very least, it will obviously need a new key too, which would presumably have a different code. Or would Fiat be able to supply a barrel with key, and program that key to work with the van?

From the prices I have been quoted, (through my usual supplier, and not direct from Fiat), it seems they need to, or want to, sell us everything, including ECU.

if you can get a pic & post it up

Cheers, I'll try to do that tomorrow. Thanks.

If its bit i'm thinking off you can just swop it for good one on fuel cap.

You can see where the lugs have broken off the end of the barrel. These two pieces are still in the steering lock, so I'll have to remove that to get them out.

Is the barrel in the fuel cap the same, with the two lugs? If so, how do you get the barrel out of the cap? If it means destroying the cap, that's no problem, as long as it will do the job.

Thanks for your help.

I see.......mmmmmm cheapest option would be lockset but only fitting the ignition barrel. Obviously means seperate keys for locks & another for ignition but cheapest way...keys would need programming.

What's programming the keys involve? A main dealer? Cost?

To be honest, it looks like I'll end up making some sort of key out of an old screwdriver, and tape the original key to it so the code works.

First the clutch pedal snapped, then the side door handle snapped, then the rollers for the side door slider fell apart, now this. And to think he bought this van because someone told him they were reliable. LOL

Thanks again for your help.

From what the dealer has said there is a master key (red I think) you need to program any new key to the ECU. The keys can't be programmed, they come pre-programmed, then they are paired to the vehicle. Was used on vans in the 90's. If you can get a new barrel, you can get a blank key cut, with no transponder, then as long as the old key is on the keyring, the ignition lock will pick up the old transponder and fool the system into starting.
The other way was to break the immobiliser off the fuel pump. This system was changed later to a programmable key, as no-one passed the master keys on, as they all kept them safe then couldn't find them.

I've been reading about these red and blue keys, but the only key he has is a black one.

curls said:

To be honest, it looks like I'll end up making some sort of key out of an old screwdriver, and tape the original key to it so the code works.

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I agree..I would do the same.

NO, NO, NO. All you need to do is get a locksmith to build the new ignition barrel to your old key, no programming needed.
He (we) should charge under £100 for total job, supply and fit.
Hope this helps.

ponsaloti said:

NO, NO, NO. All you need to do is get a locksmith to build the new ignition barrel to your old key, no programming needed.
He (we) should charge under £100 for total job, supply and fit.
Hope this helps.

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Unforunately that'd mean sending the key, which he only has one of, and he uses the van every day for work, so not really feasible. Looks like sticking with the old screwdriver idea.

Having said that, he's a self-employed plasterer, and sometimes work dries up ,'scuse the pun.

If your going down that road then just file/grind tumblers off new barrel so you can use old key.

T14086 said:

If your going down that road then just file/grind tumblers off new barrel so you can use old key.

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I like your thinking. If I've got this right, any barrel with them ground off would do the job.

Hiya,

was thinking along the same lines as Ponsaloti, the actual barrel, as in your pic. has no electrical contact, so the transponder in the red key is not going thro' the barrel. You need to check out what your local locksmiths can do, as if you don't have the right tools it will be difficult to change it yourself, assuming you can source one anyway,. By co-incidence, I was working with a guy today whose father runs a Ducato and had exactly the same problem, BUT he was lucky, it was in a garage being repaired when the ignition barrel was broken. They replaced the barrel and gave him a new key, but he has to have the red key on the same keyring to enable starting, it appears my van is the same, tho' to be honest i haven't tried to start it without having the red key on the same keyring.I would think it unlikely the fuel cap barrel would be identical.
If you do obtain a new barrel and decide to fit it yourself it may well be held by a fine circlip, you will need to remove the whole ignition switch in any case as the barrel will be fastened from the back of it.
regards Doorman.

If he gets a locksmith to copy his key to a steel blank (£6), he can use the van while locksmith is building the new barrel to the steel key he has copied.