Barchetta Our Barchetta is home at last!

Both car and house look great Kate! As much as I enjoy historic tours, I would prefer the Barchetta tour with lunch in a Bistro with a pichet or two of vin rouge!

Well done on getting it back, I think offering rides outs is a good idea. A friend of mine operates a B+B in Scotland and also hires out his classic cars. Check out his website on http://www.caledonianclassics.co.uk/

Lovely idea, lovely car!

I'd go for the 'B tour' too!

Stunning example of the barchetta, looks brand new. They are a beautiful looking car. Fiat need bring this beauty back into production.

Thanks for the kind comments everyone.
Technical question for you:
Since getting the car home, my husband has cleaned it thoroughly, in order to get to know it, which included under the bonnet where the engine was quite mucky.
Since then, and it may not be related (!) the key code light is coming on when I try to start the engine, but it is not cancelling out and thus the car won't start. Engine turns etc, but it won't kick in. Then after a few tries, it works fine. Any thoughts?
Thanks, Kate

Hi,
sounds like it may well be related..!!,

do you have 2 keys?, are they BOTH doing the same thing??,
Charlie

We sometimes have a similar problem with ours. Although we have two keys we only ever use the red one as the blue/grey has almost worn through. Put the red key in the ignition and if we don't wait for the code light to go out the engine will start, but the light stays on until the ignition is turned off. Wait a couple of seconds and it goes out and starts ok. No idea what/why, we just work round it.
That's the problem with these modern cars, too damn clever for our own good...
If a warning light stays on either remove the bulb or cover it with tape.

Crachat said:

We sometimes have a similar problem with ours. Although we have two keys we only ever use the red one as the blue/grey has almost worn through. Put the red key in the ignition and if we don't wait for the code light to go out the engine will start, but the light stays on until the ignition is turned off. Wait a couple of seconds and it goes out and starts ok. No idea what/why, we just work round it.
That's the problem with these modern cars, too damn clever for our own good...
If a warning light stays on either remove the bulb or cover it with tape.

Click to expand...

Hi,
IIRC the RED key is the MASTER key and the Blues are "slave keys",
constant use of the RED key could lead to ECU issues,
that's my understanding.. - I'd forgotten how "old" the B's are,needing the 2 types of key!

Charlie

I'm hoping that I don't get this problem but if you do a search of the threads there is quite a lot of info to help solve it.

I'm guessing if water has got in the engine bay then after it dries out it could go away, could be that the battery doesn't have a good charge, could be that there's a poor connection on the neg lead or the earth lead on the engine block - all these are suggested in 'key code' search.

Hope you can fix it!

my 1st EASY test is to move the steering column up + down to see if it's a poor connection in that area,

that's where the wiring for the AERIAL that reads the Keys CHIP is located,

https://www.fiatforum.com/bravo-brava/98577-remote-key-programming-5.html?p=3329255

Charlie

Yup my first try would be replacing that reciever ring around the steering lock.
Small part and easy to replace.

Thanks to all for the suggestions re the key code problem. We now have all the keys and the problem is the same with each key.

We have charged up the battery, driven the car quite a bit so nothing should be damp anymore after the cleaning job.

We cannot rely on the car to start every time until we solve this problem - I sat on a garage forecourt last weekend for 15 minutes waiting for the key code to respond! Other times it just starts straight away.

So the next thing is to change the steering 'ring'. Does anyone know if you have to buy new or if secondhand will work? (If secondhand, can Bollie69 tell me if he has one?) If we have to purchase new, does a Fiat Punto one fit? (Bollie - when would suit you for us to drive up to visit you?)

And another question for you: the rear windscreen needs replacing (very crazed plus small hole covered in clear tape?) Can we fit a replacement ourselves or is it better to give it to an expert? Is there anyone who you would recommend to fit one?

Many thanks,
Kate

Hi everyone
Just to report that we have now replaced the receiver ring today and the car is now working perfectly once again. So many thanks to everyone for their ideas and input.
Now to enjoying the local roads!
Kate

Glad you got it sorted, enjoy!

Great news Kate

Happy motoring!

I like the wheels on your car, they look good on the B!

Regards
Giorgio