Amber warning light for check vehicle protection system comes on and everything works fine but can't remove key from ignition. Have to lock car with spare key and leave other one in ignition. Any thoughts!

Check /reset all the windows top and bottom limits. There should be a warning message for the windows but its a very complex security system . Change the battery in the key stuck in the ignition might be an idea.
If you have a reader get that plugged in and check for issues. Best of luck .

It is not a good idea to leave your key in the ignition. Insurance companies tend to mention this come claim time if the car is stolen.

There is a slot beneath the ignition switch which allows the key to be removed. I have attached PDF of croma handbook which explains it on page 131 (or is it 132?)

Appreciate the advice, although dont see many people wanting to steal a croma lol

Ps. How do you reset system.

duncan11 said:

Appreciate the advice, although dont see many people wanting to steal a croma lol

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Well if they did it wouldn't be hard to track down. Jus look in the car park of the local mental hospital.

Since removing the key, is it all now back to normal (starting, running and subsequent key removal)?

Here is my thread when I had a CVPS problem and how a new correct power output battery saved the day.

https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/321087-check-car-protection-system.html

My first post in that thread also has some links to a couple of unfortunate owners who had to pay out a little more than the price of a battery.....

Hopefully not the issue you are having.......

duncan11 said:

Appreciate the advice, although dont see many people wanting to steal a croma lol

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Not for joy riding or wealth improvement but as a cheap source of spares often in demand your little baby could be a good target.

Where do you live? House number & Post Code please in a PM so I beat others to the spares supply

I was just going to steal the key case* and leave the car.

* I've tried to replace mine and have discovered how much rubbing down the Chinese ebay one needs, currently awaiting the second truck-load of wet-or-dry paper.

Problem righted itself. Thanks all.

duncan11 said:

Problem righted itself. Thanks all.

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Any ideas how? Can you share?

Literally no idea. Removed key by inserting end of it into slot. After doing this a couple of times warning light dissappeared and alls well.

Well, some updates on mine......

2 weeks ago (after a period of not using the car for just over a week), I went out and cleaned the map sensor - something I had been meaning to do for a while. It looked like a block of coal, but after a good clean so it looked like new, put it all back together and thought I would take it for a spin.

Sit down, insert the key, but cannnot activate the unlocking of the steering lock, resistance against turning the key, only central locking, radio, cd changer and interior lights working. Dash displays the 'padlock' icon and the old 'CHECK VEHICLE PROTECTION' wotnot. BU**ER!

Battery check meter I have only shows 25-75%, so put it on charge overnight.

Refit battery next day (now showing 100% charge), still the same. BU**ER!

Check and replace fuses by the battery. No change. BU**ER!

Plug in the basic reader I have to hand - cannot connect. BU**ER!

Right, had to go out so decide to look at this at the weekend. In between time, thinking back to the previous occurance I remembered that through fear of the battery going down while the car was locked and having trouble getting into her when the recovery vehicle arrived, I had left her unlocked for a couple of days (and then she started!).

So, went out and unlocked via the fob (car was at the back of the drive so shouldn't attract attention).

Went back to the car 2 days later, put the key in, all works perfectly, no dash message. Plug in reader (which now connects) to reveal no error/fault messages.

Take car for a run for 20+ miles, runs perfectly - low down is much better since the map clean.

Car has been fine since.

So thats twice in 13/14 months this has happened and the only connection in it righting itself, is that leaving it unlocked for 48 hours = car starts.

Thoughts????

Confused (but somewhat relieved) of Essex

Hi everyone, I have a problem with my Croma, I had a new alternator fitted and approx four weeks later I am having a problem with the ignition ( check car protection system ). At first I thought it may be the key but even the problem persists with the spare. At first it just happened in the mornings occasionally, the key would go in but not turn, then if removed and then re-inserted it would turn and the padlock icon appears on the dash and ' check car protection system' comes up, if you then remove the key for the 2nd time and re-insert. the key turns and the fault light disappears and the car starts as normal and continues to be fine most of the day unless left for a while. After looking online I thought it may be the battery so went down to Halfords and they did a battery check, the print out said the battery was good but needed a re-charge so I purchased a newer charger. Upon charging the full charge LED light came on only after 3-4 mins so how can the battery need re-charging. I don't even know if the battery is the problem. The car protection problem is now happening more regular and on a daily basis and if not used for a number of hours the fault appears again. The steering lock mechanism also seems to be making a different noise now. I do like my Croma but I have had a driveshaft problem, and new alternator in the last 6 months and now this. Could this mean a new ignition and steering lock as i have read yesterday

Hi Jaffacake1966, how old is the car battery?

The saga of the Check Car Protection warning on the dash continues. I have lived with this fault for a number a months, it requires the removal and then re-insertion of the key to reset the fault. After a few recommendations on the probable causes I took the plunge and purchased a new battery after it seems the old battery was 6-7 years old. Anyway I installed the battery and great the fault disappeared and I was well pleased.....BUT a week later and guess what, the Car Protection symbol is back on the dash with the key problem. ..could this be a possible alternator fault. As previously mentioned the original fault occurred only 4-5 weeks after a new alternator was fitted back in September, just cannot understand what is causing the problem, if it was the electric steering lock or body computer surely a new battery would not have made a difference and the fault would have been there still after a new battery was installed.

jaffacake1966 said:

The saga of the Check Car Protection warning on the dash continues. I have lived with this fault for a number a months, it requires the removal and then re-insertion of the key to reset the fault. After a few recommendations on the probable causes I took the plunge and purchased a new battery after it seems the old battery was 6-7 years old. Anyway I installed the battery and great the fault disappeared and I was well pleased.....BUT a week later and guess what, the Car Protection symbol is back on the dash with the key problem. ..could this be a possible alternator fault. As previously mentioned the original fault occurred only 4-5 weeks after a new alternator was fitted back in September, just cannot understand what is causing the problem, if it was the electric steering lock or body computer surely a new battery would not have made a difference and the fault would have been there still after a new battery was installed.

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hi, does sound odd,
:idea: cheap and easy test.. take the battery from the car, bench charge it for a few hours - (as necessary) then refit,
IF all is o.k. for a few days again..then it's definitely due to a power supply issue

worth checking all the "tagged-on" cables on the battery clamp terminals are tight and clean..could be one of those extra's powers the parts that's playing up..

Charlie

Thanks for the info and sorry for the delay in responding. I did charge the battery and the problem went away for a week but now has returned so must be linked to the alternator or charging.