Got myself a Panda Sporting over the weekend and found the remote key won't disable the immobiliser :bang:

There seems to be some debate on Fiat forum over which FIAT keys can be cloned at places like Timpson’s, which can be cut and coded by good locksmiths and which need additional coding to the Car's ECU by FIAT or and auto electrician.

Has anyone any knowledge or experience of key copying for the Panda?

My local Fiat dealership in Cheshire quoted the retail prices as
Remote key £96.62
Non remote Key £79.90
Half hours labour to code £47.50

PLUS VAT!!! :bang:

They could do a little discount but not much as it's a VOR order (but I'm not off the road yet ).

So that’s just over £170 with remote, Just over £150 without.
Alternatively if I can find the blank key and someone to code it, the key card is £15 plus VAT.

Please help steer me in the right direction.

Thanks!
Louie.

£170 is actually not bad, £47.50 half hour labour is hilarious.

Really?

My last Fiat Key cost about £6.50

Although that was in about 1997. but 25 times the amount??

Is it price or the time it really takes to do that's is hilarious I'd guess it's a 5 min job with the right tools no?

pm sent
We can supply a working (none remote) key or get your existing remote to start the car. Approx £60 but we need the keys and the car.

Louie Bee said:

My last Fiat Key cost about £6.50

Although that was in about 1997. but 25 times the amount??

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not yesterday then!

Louie Bee said:

Really?

My last Fiat Key cost about £6.50

Although that was in about 1997. but 25 times the amount??

Is it price or the time it really takes to do that's is hilarious I'd guess it's a 5 min job with the right tools no?

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My guess is that key wasnt chipped.

Takes a bit longer than 5 mins.

I dont think most understand whats involved in trying to run a business.
We have to carry the blanks, remotes and the chips on the shelf. Many different types for many different vehicles.
In the shop we have 5 or 6 different keycutting machines (this is just for vehicles) plus the upto date key cutting code software on a computer.
3 dedicated computers for cloning/writing chips plus another that communicats with the vehicle. All of these also need regular updates.
All this dead money is just sitting there waiting for someone to come in and say " why is a key so expensive".
Its much, much more involved than this and I dont evan want to think about how much money I've invested in the auto key side, never mind the domestic/commercial side of the locksmith business.

Have a look on ebay and try to figure how much you would have to spend holding 1 key and 1 remote for every model on there.
It all gets a bit silly.

Sorry I’ve oversimplified your trade!!

The 5 min point was aimed towards the Fiat dealer who has ordered the OEM key which may be pre coded?? and only needs to update the cars ECU.

£170 for 1 car key is a mugs price! Ponsaloti's quote is about a third of the OEM retail price.

Just a shame he is too far away to code a new key to my cars ECU .


Unos don't carry a factory fit immobiliser did anything built in 1986? LOL

Louie Bee said:

Unos don't carry a factory fit immobiliser did anything built in 1986? LOL

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which is why they got stolen, rare for modern car to get pinched today without keys...hence lower insurance prices if it wasn't for us honest folk having to subsidise those f*cks who drive around without insurance

Louie Bee said:

£170 for 1 car key is a mugs price! Ponsaloti's quote is about a third of the OEM retail price.

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How is it a mugs price. The Fiat key is laser cut in Italy. The other isn't.

If it's to much then why not just use the other key :idea:

I concur

ponsaloti said:

I concur

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Out of interest what is your success rate? Do you ever have to redo a key where first cutting attempt fails?

If the cheaper key works, what is the difference between how or where its cut and coded

Good idea MEP, I only want the spare for piece of mind. If I don’t I’ll probably loose the only working key.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

How is it a mugs price. The Fiat key is laser cut in Italy. The other isn't.

If it's to much then why not just use the other key :idea:

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Sorry, but why does that justify it being so expensive? It's not like a Fiat dealer has to carry the full range of gear to cut keys for all cars.

You could always buy a machine yourself although it might cost a little more than £170...

I was quoted about £170 for too for a none remote one. I only have one key as I lost the spare, but I don't want to pay that much, so I live with it. Apparently if I loose it will cost around £200.

I do now have key insurance too.

I was told it was so expensive because

1. The dealer has to order the key from Italy
2. The key then has to be programmed to match the ECU
3. The ECU has to programmed to match the key
4. Any lost keys need to be programmed out of the system, so they will no longer work if a theif gets hold of it

The key itself was about over £100 I think while labour was about £70. I don't mind paying a local firm less than £100 to sort it, but I don't think anybody can do modern FIATs because the system is too secure, and one reason why the insurance group on the Panda is so damn low.

Geddes said:

You could always buy a machine yourself although it might cost a little more than £170...

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Brilliant suggestion . every Panda hould be supplied with one in the boot just incase lol

JD82 said:

... I don't mind paying a local firm less than £100 to sort it, but I don't think anybody can do modern FIATs because the system is too secure, and one reason why the insurance group on the Panda is so damn low.

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I had a top doller of about £70 in mind.

i'll let you know how I get on with mine , or if your near Essex contact ponsaloti who will see you right

Did you get a quote on the key card from Fiat dealer? i like the line in the handbook about the uk insurance behest...

What does it say about UK insurance?

It was a whole ago so I cannot remember but don't think I did a quote on the UK key card.

I live in Manchester, so no point going all the way to Essex just to get a key.

I might to do a new google search to see if there are any local people who can now do it, as it was nearly a year ago when I lost my key.

JD82 said:

...
Any lost keys need to be programmed out of the system, so they will no longer work if a theif gets hold of it.

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That, if you'll forgive the pun, is the key item there. I bought my 4x4 pre-owned and only got one key with it. Eventually I ordered a new one, paying not only the £170 dealer fees but also a further £25 (I think) to recover the security code and transfer the records* at the International Security Register (ISR), who's details are etched into every window glass. Without that code, the key can't be programmed. NOw I have two keys and the codes have been reset, so if the 'missing' key is out there somewhere, it will not be able to start the car.

Yes, its expensive, but it is also secure.

* When sold new, teh original owner details are sent to the ISR by the dealer. On selling the car, a new owner is supposed to send a 'change of owner' card, and £25, to transfer the details. I hadn't done this (didn't have the card), so had to do this before the new key could be programmed.

JD82 said:

I live in Manchester, so no point going all the way to Essex just to get a key.

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Same here.. I work in Salford so thats 2 of us that need Panda key work I have a local mobile auto locksmith to ring back. He was in the middle of coding something when I rang. will let you know how I get on

Trying to get a bit of savings going, so I suppose if the worse comes to the worst I will just pay to get a new key. I highly doubt the lost key will turn up by some theif though. It has been missing for a year.