I'm after some pointers on how to swap the fold up key body on my wives grande punto?? I have the new plastic 3 button body fitted with a blank key blade is it a hard job to swap?

Anybody done this?

Really easy, you can buy new key cases off ebay.
Its a case of using a fingernail or a old credit card to slide around the top edge where the hinge for the key folds.
Thats is if you have a series 2 grande with the newer style key? it should just unclip. Then the back is prettty much the same

Really simple to swap it across, just don't be an idiot like me and forget to swap the metal contacts across then wonder why the remote locking doesn't work Prise the Fiat badge off (just stuck on), undo the screw below and that really is it. Remember to wind the key round before putting it back together to give it some springiness.

However, you can't swap between different styles due to the different button placement. It's a shame, I'd love to swap my square Series 1 one for the newer rounded Series 2!

I think you may be able to in theory but it wouldn't be an easy job and not worth the effort, i've not seen the insides of a series one key but i'm sure with a little bit of badgering about you may be able to force the innards into a series 2 key

james44422 said:

I think you may be able to in theory but it wouldn't be an easy job and not worth the effort, i've not seen the insides of a series one key but i'm sure with a little bit of badgering about you may be able to force the innards into a series 2 key

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The buttons on the S1 are diagonal (same key as the 2003 onwards Panda) so they wouldn't line up, without messing with the circuit board itself it's a no-go. Plus, the actual blade shape at the joint is a different shape. Damn Fiat and all the S2 changes!

I wonder if you could get a S2 key get it cut and then code it in using MES

Cadabena said:

The buttons on the S1 are diagonal (same key as the 2003 onwards Panda) so they wouldn't line up, without messing with the circuit board itself it's a no-go. Plus, the actual blade shape at the joint is a different shape. Damn Fiat and all the S2 changes!

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Yes I meant you would have to mess with the circuit board and put your soldering skills to the test. You can get blank s2 blades which you can cut as well so the joint wouldn't be an issue.

Its one of those anything is possible if you have the time, skill and patience things

james44422 said:

Yes I meant you would have to mess with the circuit board and put your soldering skills to the test. You can get blank s2 blades which you can cut as well so the joint wouldn't be an issue.

Its one of those anything is possible if you have the time, skill and patience things

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True. I think even my OCD doesn't quite go that far

Cadabena said:

True. I think even my OCD doesn't quite go that far

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The worrying thing is I think my OCD does go that far

Well I've learned something new today about keys! Can anyone clarify why I have a S1 key when my car is a 58 plate S2?

Lucky7 said:

Well I've learned something new today about keys! Can anyone clarify why I have a S1 key when my car is a 58 plate S2?

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Chances are you were one of the earliest S2 owners and they still had various S1 bits and bobs to use up, such as they key. Hopefully that'll be it, can't see you'd have any S1 bits on your car, but Fiat wouldn't surprise me...

Lucky7 said:

Well I've learned something new today about keys! Can anyone clarify why I have a S1 key when my car is a 58 plate S2?

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I looked at your car just to check if it was an S2. The reg would suggest an S2 (unless its been sat on the forecourt unregistered for a while) and the red badge also suggests an S2

But your lower grill is black not chrome which I thought was only on S1 cars (someone correct me if i'm wrong) or maybe you did this yourself?

Maybe you have a crazy mashup of the two versions, like an S1½

Steering slightly off topic I do love your car! Yellow looks so great on a GP, that one looks like a lovely tidy motor

Cadabena said:

Chances are you were one of the earliest S2 owners and they still had various S1 bits and bobs to use up, such as they key. Hopefully that'll be it, can't see you'd have any S1 bits on your car, but Fiat wouldn't surprise me...

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That sounds plausible, not to worry though . . i'm sure i'll live with not having a S2 key!

james44422 said:

I looked at your car just to check if it was an S2. The reg would suggest an S2 (unless its been sat on the forecourt unregistered for a while) and the red badge also suggests an S2

But your lower grill is black not chrome which I thought was only on S1 cars (someone correct me if i'm wrong) or maybe you did this yourself?

Maybe you have a crazy mashup of the two versions, like an S1½

Steering slightly off topic I do love your car! Yellow looks so great on a GP, that one looks like a lovely tidy motor

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The grill came black when I purchased the car. I'm unsure whether the previous owner changed it or not though as there is a little dink in the bumper (if you zoom on the pick you can see it) which may have damaged the previous grill.

Cheers mate, I fell for it as soon as i saw it gleaming in the distance the only issue that isn't visible in pictures is that there is loads of little stone chips all over the bonnet which i can only assume was the work of motorway miles by the previous owner (she has 70,000 on the clock)

Lucky7 said:

The only issue that isn't visible in pictures is that there is loads of little stone chips all over the bonnet which i can only assume was the work of motorway miles by the previous owner (she has 70,000 on the clock)

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Get yourself a touchup pen, only about a tenner for an official one. Mine arrived today, off to head out and make the most of the sunshine on the driveway now

Cadabena said:

Get yourself a touchup pen, only about a tenner for an official one. Mine arrived today, off to head out and make the most of the sunshine on the driveway now

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I was tempted to get one a while back but put it off as I've seen some pretty bad DIY attempts. Let us know how you get on, I may consider getting one if its not too hard of a job!

Cadabena said:

Get yourself a touchup pen, only about a tenner for an official one. Mine arrived today, off to head out and make the most of the sunshine on the driveway now

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Yeah I was gonna suggest that too, surely yellow cant show scratches and dings as much as black. I need a good sunny weekend to touch up a few bits of my car (no rude pun intended)

Don't but the 3 button key from eBay as it doesn't allow the key blade to open up properly!! Waste of time back to square one and dispute started