Hi all, I have a 1997 Fiat Marea and have lost my one and only key to the car. It was the blue key too. Luckily it's unlocked but I have spoken to a fiat garage who tell me that to get a new key I need the red key which I don't have. They said even if I got a barrel and key from a breakers, I would need the ECU etc. Is this really the case?

The car has 10 months MOT and I think after that, it will be good for spares but little else. I REALLY need to get this back on the road just for another 10 months! Can anybody help! I always leave it unlocked anyway and never keep anything in it!

Thanks for any advice. I am getting desperate now.

The key/immobiliser programming is all tied up with the ecu so to get yourself out of this hole you may need to buy the ecu and matched key(s), You can usually find them on ebay. I do not think it is possible to start from the ecu and read the immobiliser codes then program a new key.

All those people out there with only one blue key should get themselves to a Timson's or similar where they can get a spare cut and programmed from their existing key, it will cost £35 or so but is much cheaper and easier than the alternative if you lose your only key.

logicred said:

Hi all, I have a 1997 Fiat Marea and have lost my one and only key to the car. It was the blue key too. Luckily it's unlocked but I have spoken to a fiat garage who tell me that to get a new key I need the red key which I don't have. They said even if I got a barrel and key from a breakers, I would need the ECU etc. Is this really the case?

The car has 10 months MOT and I think after that, it will be good for spares but little else. I REALLY need to get this back on the road just for another 10 months! Can anybody help! I always leave it unlocked anyway and never keep anything in it!

Thanks for any advice. I am getting desperate now.

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Where are you.

ponsaloti said:

Where are you.

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I am in Mid-Norfolk. I have spoken to some other Fiat Garages now who are all telling me the same thing. All I need to do is to get it going for another 10 months, so I am now considering hotwiring it and then sticking a switch underneath just so I can start it! I never lock it anyway and never keep anything in it, so not too fussed. I have just removed the cover to the ignition and have unplugged two electric blocks from the ignition end so will see what I can do.

Hmm, I can get the car to turn over but not start. I guess this is the imobiliser ;-( Also, I forgot about the steering lock! I suspect I could break the ignition barrel off to free this. I am getting really desperate now ;-(

Any pointers appreciated.

It will not start without the transponder in the key being near the ignition switch, as you say that is the immobiliser doing its job.
Unless you can find the key the only way is with an ecu/key swap.

Ah ha, I see now. Damn. I did not realise that there was something in the actual key plastic itself! I can see a small lead coming off the top of the ignition just where the key goes in, I am guessing that's it. So even if I bypassed the immobiliser, it still would not start? Looks like I have written off my car then ;-(

bpetersb said:

It will not start without the transponder in the key being near the ignition switch, as you say that is the immobiliser doing its job.
Unless you can find the key the only way is with an ecu/key swap.

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JUmp onthe net, i read of a guy, that you can send your ecu to and your Boot lock or any lock or ignition barrel and he will be able to bypass the imobiliser and cut you new keys incl a red key think its about £100

As rat20v says, there is a way to deafenately bypass the immobiliser, as it was done on my old Marea when I had a Clifford alarm installed.
But I have no idea how the garage did it and it all worked fine and ran on the Clifford immobiliser.

** STOP PRESS ** I have found the key and hotwired it!!! It works as long as the key is near the sensor! However, my steering lock is on! This is the only thing stopping me driving the bloody thing now! HELP!

Ok, this is embarassing. I have just found the key, BUT, the ignition barrel is now shot due to trying to force it (yes, stupid, I did not know it had an imobiliser!). I am still completely shafted? Is there anyway I can now put the key into the barrel so it's close to the sensor and then hotwire it to start?

What a tit. Thanks.

Check with the Fiat parts department to see if you can get a replacement barrel.

Ford used to do replacement barrels which came in bits so you would assemble the springs and tumblers, put your old key in to the assembled barrel then grind off the excess bits of the tumblers which were poking out of the barrel leaving you with a new barrel that matched your own key.
Perhaps Fiat do something similar.

The alternative is to replace the barrel and have the new keys programmed to your immobiliser code. Timsons, among others probably, do that, they have a little box which reads the code from your old key then transfers it to a new one.
Good luck

If you carefully open the key you'll find the transponder inside, it's just a dark greyish looking block or just tape the key inside the housing??

Thanks, yes, the key is now taped to the housing which is allowing me to start the car with no problems. HOWEVER, the steering lock is still on ;-( I need to remove the entire barrel housing but it looks like it has some kind of security bolts on it so I cant get to the heads to remove it! Once again, any help appreciated.

Notorious131 said:

If you carefully open the key you'll find the transponder inside, it's just a dark greyish looking block or just tape the key inside the housing??

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Ok, to summarise, I have managed to remove the barrel and grind away the steering lock bolt and put it back, but now when I try to hotwire it with the key in (but not turned) the CODE light does not go out so looks like the car is still immobilised for some reason. IT was working/starting fine before I took the barrel off, so looks as though I may have damaged the sensor around the barrel, or just somehow got the immobiliser stuck on ;-(

The car will now be sold for spares or repair if anyone wants it! It was a cracking car too ;-(