Hi, recently purchased a 2011 500 twin air, only came with one key and I would like to purchase a spare, it will have to be the blipper type as the non blipper will not operate the boot, contacted two dealers and got conflicting advice, one stated bring the key card and they will order one, second dealer says fiat no longer issue key cards after pressure from insurance companies, no key card came with the vehicle, vehicles previous owner has returned to Poland so no help there, if any member can advise I would be most obliged.
Thank you
petemark

petemark said:

Hi, recently purchased a 2011 500 twin air, only came with one key and I would like to purchase a spare, it will have to be the blipper type as the non blipper will not operate the boot, contacted two dealers and got conflicting advice, one stated bring the key card and they will order one, second dealer says fiat no longer issue key cards after pressure from insurance companies, no key card came with the vehicle, vehicles previous owner has returned to Poland so no help there, if any member can advise I would be most obliged.
Thank you
petemark

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Hello and welcome :wave:

Some questions just keep coming around again ... you're not the first to ask this, and you won't be the last.

Whoever told you FIAT doesn't issue key cards in the UK at the request of the insurance industry is correct.

The dealer will order the electronic code from the registrars in Bristol, a key blade from FIAT using the vehicle's VIN, and a replacement remote fob. When all this has arrived, you need to take the vehicle to the dealership for the car's body computer to be reprogrammed to recognise the new key. You need to bring ALL the keys with you as any existing programming will be erased at this point.

Make sure you are sitting down before you ask the price of all this. You will have done better than many if you come away with change out of £200.

I notice you are from Torquay. The alternative method for starting the car, which I believe is favoured by some Torquay residents, is to give the vicious bastard a damned good thrashing....

I don't quite get why you say you need the "blipper" type though for the boot. Can't you just use the handle?

RobinPJ said:

I don't quite get why you say you need the "blipper" type though for the boot. Can't you just use the handle?

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I havent played with a 500 before but i have a grande punto and the only way of opening the boot is from inside the car on the button or from the remote key.
No handle to open it with and no lock to insert the key to pop it either.
Are they the same?

Sweex said:

I havent played with a 500 before but i have a grande punto and the only way of opening the boot is from inside the car on the button or from the remote key.
No handle to open it with and no lock to insert the key to pop it either.
Are they the same?

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No, the 500 has a handle which will open the hatchback if the central locking is unlocked.

However, there is no keyhole in the hatchback, so to open the hatchback with the non-remote key when the car is locked, you first have to use the key to unlock the driver's door.

That's if everything is working as it should be. The whole system is prone to malfunction due both to microswitch faults in the handle & wiring faults in the loom where it enters the hatchback. Both problems are well documented on here.

Hi again, thank you for the advice, I loved the basil fawlty tip but don't think i will try it, my 500 has no boot lock and no handle so the only way to open it is to clamber in the back, remove the parcel shelf and press the button on the lock, not something to do on a regular basis, so I'm going to bite the bullet an order a new key.
Thanks again
petemark

petemark said:

Hi again, thank you for the advice, I loved the basil fawlty tip but don't think i will try it, my 500 has no boot lock and no handle so the only way to open it is to clamber in the back, remove the parcel shelf and press the button on the lock, not something to do on a regular basis, so I'm going to bite the bullet an order a new key.
Thanks again
petemark

Click to expand...

The 500 handle operates the electronic lock by means of a microswitch in the handle. If you cannot open the hatchback by hand from outside the car when the car is unlocked, then you have an additional problem (which is by no means uncommon) with either the microswitch or the wiring.

Start by reading this thread and this thread.

This post tells you how the hatchback latching mechanism works.

500's were supplied new with one remote key and one non-remote key.

jrkitching said:

the 500 has a handle which will open the hatchback if the central locking is unlocked

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petemark said:

my 500 has no boot lock and no handle

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RobinPJ said:

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In fairness to the OP, someone new to the 500 could be forgiven for thinking there isn't a handle, as there isn't much to see or feel externally if the electrical latch isn't working and there isn't a key operated boot lock.

jrkitching said:

In fairness to the OP, someone new to the 500 could be forgiven for thinking there isn't a handle, as there isn't much to see or feel externally if the electrical latch isn't working and there isn't a key operated boot lock.

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In fairness to RobinPJ, this is the first time someone has ever not realised that there's a handle on the back of the car....

In fairness to Fiat, it is quite unlikely that they would put a handle on the back of all the 500s they make, apart from the OP's.

RobinPJ said:

In fairness to Fiat, it is quite unlikely that they would put a handle on the back of all the 500s they make, apart from the OP's.

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Why be fair to FIAT? If they'd made the OP's car with a durable wiring loom & a decent microswitch, the OP would likely have realised he had a handle .

jrkitching said:

Why be fair to FIAT? If they'd made the OP's car with a durable wiring loom & a decent microswitch, the OP would likely have realised he had a handle .

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Well, that could be the case, I suspect they just didn't try though.

jrkitching said:

Why be fair to FIAT? If they'd made the OP's car with a durable wiring loom & a decent microswitch, the OP would likely have realised he had a handle .

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In fairness to me, no, because the OP has not even tried yet:

Sweex said:

I havent played with a 500 before but i have a grande punto and the only way of opening the boot is from inside the car on the button or from the remote key.
No handle to open it with and no lock to insert the key to pop it either.
Are they the same?

Click to expand...

RobinPJ said:

In fairness to me, no, because the OP has not even tried yet:

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In fairness to Robin, the OP could also have got this information by using the search function. There are plenty of threads about it!

I'm still not prepared to be fair to FIAT, though. Some folks here have been treated disgracefully over hatchback wiring/microswitch issues.

Back OT, OP, you'll get Fiat to obtain the code card at £15-£35+vat.

Total you're looking at for a remote key supplied and coded is about £200-£250 all in.

you should be able to get a replacement or new flip key cheaper from a local auto locksmith service .

if a competent auto locksmith then they will not require the code card at all , they will come to your vehicle and plug into the vehicle then

1) extract the pin code and precode the key with your vehicles specific chassis precode data
2) then program the new key to the car

it is important when you have a new key made that you give the auto locksmith all keys you have for the vehicle as these must be recoded at the same time as the new key , any keys not present get deleted from the system .

even when all keys lost a competent auto locksmith will pick and decode the lock and cut new keys .

in our area we average 30 minutes when all keys are lost to pick and decode the lock , cut , precode and program the new keys and normally same day or next day . this will be same for local auto locksmiths where you are based.

expect to pay between £140 and £180 for a genuine remote key or around £100 to £120 for an aftermarket key generally.

You think he's still looking for that key after 8 years?

Not at all , but many find these threads and rely on the info on them , the info was well out of date , so is now up to date for others who come across the post and can benefit from it , rather than being of little help as too far out of date .
so as old posts are not deleted and searchable online , its better they are up to date and give accurate advice to those finding them .

nottingham car keys said:

Not at all , but many find these threads and rely on the info on them , the info was well out of date , so is now up to date for others who come across the post and can benefit from it , rather than being of little help as too far out of date .
so as old posts are not deleted and searchable online , its better they are up to date and give accurate advice to those finding them .

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Hmmm not sure why I didn’t add smilies, but that genuinely wasn’t me being a knob

unless of Course it was a grumpy day in which case I was definitely being a knob.
non intended, sorry!