Today my car started OK. But shortly after I set off and I tried to restart the engine. But a fault came up on the dashboard which stated that it was unable to read the key. I have tried using the other key but it's just the same. Both keys still unlock/lock the doors ok and I can still use the radio. Unfortunately the steering is locked so I can't even push the car out of the way. Also the drivers window is completely open and I can't close it!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

It's a 2005 2.2 petrol Croma

Have you tried the manual key override to at least turn the ignitition on?

You should then be able to close the windows. You could also (as the remote works) try pressing an holding down the remote lock button. Than should also close the windows.

For the driver window no problem (don't you know this function?) close and lock the doors, than keep pressed the lock button on the key for some seconds: all the windows that are open will close.
(The same to open all windows together...keep pressed the unlock button on the key)
For the main trouble....maybe you have broken the key code recognising....I've no experience with that...maybe connecting a diagnosis (eg. Multiecuscan) could help...at least to understand

Thank you I closed the window this morning. The problem is that the car's battery has failed. The car now runs ok

Luckily!
Infact it was weird...never heard about a similar failure.....

The Croma and many modern cars are extremely sensitive to poor condition batteries. All sorts of errors can occur.

Change the battery is often a first port of call when all other logic fails

(Tip - buy shares in battery companies as battery issues account for so many silly or not so silly problems these days and I can't see it getting any better)

s130 said:

The Croma and many modern cars are extremely sensitive to poor condition batteries. All sorts of errors can occur.

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I agree with you, infact on mine the "swirl valve" error had occurred the last two times I was with low battery at starter.
Fortunately I've Multiecuscan to delete it. After I've changed or recharged battery and deleted the error in ECU memory: no more.

The problem is the alternator is not working properly. It is not a battery fault after all.

Hi, I have cleared the window fault on the car. Thanks for your help. The problem with the battery is actually the alternator isn't working properly.

matthewcb said:

Hi, I have cleared the window fault on the car. Thanks for your help. The problem with the battery is actually the alternator isn't working properly.

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You're welcome! (I suggest you also the yellow smiling emoticon on the bottom-right of anyone posts)

Anyway....unfortunately the alternator is, togheter with EGR valve and DPF, the Achilles heel of Croma. I bet it's the alternator rectifier. Unfortunately its diodes go easily out of order cause of the alternator position and high temperatures.
in my experience....every 100-150.000km.
Infact this alternator was 120A on the first Cromas. Only after Fiat substituted it with a 140A one.
On 400.000km I've changed or overhauled the alternator 3 or 4 times.
Fortunately you can find online quite cheap 140A alternators or alternator rectifiers and the substitution on car is not so difficult (in this case you have not to follow the working manual instructions, which are very complicated: I had pulled out the old alternator from the upside of the engine with no difficulties and other operations written on eLearn, which consider pulling it out from the side)