General Lost ALL keys to my Seicento

[Bobnutfield]

Hello Everyone,

I have searched the threads about this topic, but thought I would try and find less expensive solution if there is one.

By way of an incredible set of circumstances, I have lost both of the keys to my car. I was out of the country (work related) and lost one of the keys in Switzerland. Upon arriving home, I used the spare key for only one week and now it too is lost. My car is locked and parked along a busy street (authorized free parking area), but the AA could not reach it to recover it to my home. So, the car is still there and emergency lock specialists locally are quoting more than the whole car is worth to create a new key for me.

I do not have the key code (bought it when it was already an old car).

Am I relegated to being raped by these locksmiths? I there any other solution? Even £100 is cheap compared to what I have been hearing.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards

Bob

 

[dave]

check your car and house policy see if you have key cover (it dont affect no claims bonus)

if not contact this guy https://www.fiatforum.com/ecu-immobilisers-solutions/255049-immobiliser-problems.html

or get new locks and ecu from a scrappy

 

[sei16v]

Universal keys...

 

[Bobnutfield]

Thanks for your reply, but even if I were to find the used parts I would be clueless in how to install. I have full coverage with AA, but it doesn't include key insurance. There are local auto lock specialists who claim they can create a new key at the roadside, but for the money they are quoting I would be better off scrapping the car and not spending a penny. Just thought I would see if there is a better solution.

Bob

 

[Bobnutfield]

Nice one, that will get me in, but it wont move the car..

 

[sei16v]

Nice one, that will get me in, but it wont move the car..

The screwdriver will.... lol

Im not a thief, but if you need to know how to start it to move it give me a shout... been in a similar situe...

 

[Eklipze3k]

Where in the world are you? New lock set and ECU from scrappy would be the easiest and most cost effective solution, and I'm sure there will be someone nearby who will be willing to assist in exchange for beer tokens. ponsaloti as dave mentioned is also very good at this stuff, the most expensive way would be to approach your local dealer and obtain your CODE card (approx £30) and new keys (at around £100-150 each I'd guess).

 

[Eklipze3k]

I should probably mention, hidden option number 3 is to install a new chip into your ECU to remove the immobiliser, than as long as you've got a key which will fit the ignition barrel the car will start. Of course, doing this will likely make your insurance increase due to the lack of security.

 

[Bobnutfield]

Thanks for your advice. Forgive my lack of understanding, but I am clueless, literally, when it comes to working on this car. This is a 13 year old car that I have simply used to go back and forth to the office. I couldnt even figure out how to tighten the alternator belt. I bought it three years ago and in that three years have replaced the fuel tank, two alternators, the front wiper motor, the hand break cable, the front and rear brakes and a number of other more minor irritants. The car has 80,000 miles on it and recently I was offered £200 on a trade. You can see why the £300 these locksmiths quote makes no sense. I live in Newbury, by way.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Don't be ashamed of ignorance, I bought mine as my first car 4 years ago having never even touched a sparkplug before, the easiest way to learn is by doing. The important question is - will it be cheaper in the long run for you to fix this car or to buy, insure and tax another car which is an unknown quantity and could well have even more issues?
jiminwatford breaks these cars for a living so may well have a lockset for sale.

 

[whitz]

what year is the car? do you know if it is mpi or spi?

either way its will be easier to get a lock set ecu and code box and key obv,

its also cheaper if you have opening side windows as there easier to replace

id pop the rear quarter window out (use packing tape pressed onto it firmly) and a centre punch to a corner of the glass

when in the car take the the steering column cowling off (4 screw) and you will see the lock mechanism, its held on by 2 shear bolts, either hammer and chisel the edges and turn them that way or try gripping with mole grips(harder way), when those 2 bolts are out pull the lock down and thats the steering lock off

the car can now be rolled and steered out of where ever it is to your house

thats how id do it

Ash

 

[Bobnutfield]

It is a 2000 model, don't know but it has a 899cc motor and power window and steering. The AA has come back to me and agreed to do it for £225. I don't want to break any windows or try to install new locks myself (don't have the time.) so I guess I will let the AA do it tomorrow. An absolutely ridiculous amount of money for work they will do. But I am under pressure to move the car. Lesson learned.

 

[dave]

what exactly are the aa going to do for the £225?

i'd hold out for at least a day a member still might come to the rescue

 

[Eklipze3k]

what exactly are the aa going to do for the £225?

i'd hold out for at least a day a member still might come to the rescue

This would be my question too, if you really need to get it moved then get it towed, £225 seems like a very low quote from the AA for them to come out and find that it's more difficult than they thought and it'll end up costing you a lot more. Getting a lock and ECU set will cost a hell of a lot less than that and - even doing it yourself - probably no more than a day's worth of labour.

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

Universal keys...

Seicento locks are incredibly resistant to this. Someone tried to break into my Sei in Manchester and all they managed to do was completely bugger up the locks and bend the door skins a little. They didn't manage to get in. When we found the car like that we opened the tailgate with the key and my wife climbed over to open the doors from inside. New locks from a scrappy cost me a fiver if I remember right. It does mean I now have a different key for the doors but I can live with that.

Ian.

 

[Bobnutfield]

This would be my question too, if you really need to get it moved then get it towed, £225 seems like a very low quote from the AA for them to come out and find that it's more difficult than they thought and it'll end up costing you a lot more. Getting a lock and ECU set will cost a hell of a lot less than that and - even doing it yourself - probably no more than a day's worth of labour.

The AA tried to recover it last night but couldn't. It is parked in a free parking area along the side. Because it is one of a very few free parking areas in Newbury, it fills up by six in the morning and usually not clear till 9 at night. There is a car parked at the front and rear of the car so a recovery truck can't get to it. I am stuck with meeting the AA key specialist there tomorrow morning. From what I understand, he will be able to pick the lock to get in, then can create a key and program it on the spot. When I asked why it was so expensive, I was given two reasons:

1. The equipment they use is very expensive and they must recover that cost
2. They know how to do it and I don't

I am not against a man making a fair living from his craft, this appears to be a gotcha racket. If this is what they plan to do to me, I wish they would have kissed me first.

 

[sei16v]

Seicento locks are incredibly resistant to this. Someone tried to break into my Sei in Manchester and all they managed to do was completely bugger up the locks and bend the door skins a little. They didn't manage to get in. When we found the car like that we opened the tailgate with the key and my wife climbed over to open the doors from inside. New locks from a scrappy cost me a fiver if I remember right. It does mean I now have a different key for the doors but I can live with that.

Ian.

haha... the bricks for the window... the screw drivers for the black box..

End of the day, a replacment set of locks and a rear quarter wont be expensive... just get a virgin ecu for the immob and fit something aftermarket.

Dont think its worth scrapping a car over as mentioned above

 

[sei16v]

saying that im sure the aa get in with a tennis ball type thing, which cups over the lock and they hit it... As for getting the car to move, it sounds like they can some how remove the immob :S

 

[cc1]

Fiat dealer for new key. Give reg and £xxx. Wait 2 weeks.

Battery drill and 6mm drill bit. Drill the boot lock. Get in and drill the ignition. Screwdriver to unlock steering lock to make the car available for towing.
Ebey for new ecu/lock set and transponder @ £80???

 

[Honeymonster]

Any decent lock smith should be able to get in with a pick gun or even a set of rakes.

It's a normal lock, hardly rocket science and shouldn't cost you a fortune. Then I'd remove one of the barels and take it to get a key cut (I've done this for loads of cars).

The ECU will be the problem I'd just get a chip. Very easy to overcome the fuel immobilisation, not so easy the spark. There maybe a way around it without software/pedal code but I doubt it. There are some devices that can de-imobilise quite easily, but they don't belong to the kind of chaps you want to borrow stuff from.