Hi there,

First post on this forum so please forgive me if its the wrong area.

Basically I picked up a bargain and bought a '53 plate Active Sport (the facelift version) through my Dad (who's a mechanic) for only £250. The guy selling it just wanted it off of his drive so sold it on cheap as my Dad has helped him out loads over the years. It's in very good condition and has 53,000 on the clock.

Anyway I digress. Basically it only came with one key (a blue one). I have already had a normal one cut so I can open the doors in an emergency. But I also want a spare that can start the engine.

As its a microchipped key is it only a main dealers? I've googled already but had conflicting information. I know places like Timpsons can do microchipped keys, but not sure if their equipment can read this particular key!

I really don't want have to pay a main dealer silly money, but I do need a spare key! Help!

Thanks

Jack

I can't give you a definitive answer to this, but a word of caution.
My son had an extra key cut recently, and the guy did it by taking the relevant chip from the car body computer, extracting the information so that he could copy it on to a new key. He then replaced the chip.
Everything was fine until I unwittingly disconnected the battery to put a new one on, and the car was immobilised. After several days of trying everything, including buying the code 2 number from Fiat, I ended had it confirmed that the body computer had been corrupted. It is impossible to say that this was totally the fault of the key guy, but it seems very probable.
I ended up replacing the ECU, body computer, ignition switch and all door locks.
Given that you have grabbed a bargain, if the car has all its orginal locks and computers and ecu in place, and you are planning on keeping the car, it might well be worth going to Fiat .
Just my opinion toi do with what you will

Visit a decent Autoelectrician with Examiner

He should be easily able to plug in and recode the new key in

However
Warning
When you ask him to program a new key in, make sure he DOESN'T delete the original one

So make sure you tell him you want BOTH keys to work

Mum had this with her picasso, replaced the main key due to failures, i thought i'd test the spare non remote key to find
Transponder Error on the dash
Yup! He deleted all the keys and reprogramed just the new key in

Ziggy

yes remember dirt cheap deals are bad deals
if person doing keys wants cash guv then dont deal because under consumer law you have no rights and rightly so
find a key man your local car auction uses its usually run by a man who knows his keys
people like your local cobblers normally talk it too and have probably invested in a cheap chinese clone machine that can do basic stuff but not fiats

s and b said:

if person doing keys wants cash guv then dont deal because under consumer law you have no rights and rightly so

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Rubbish, if you've a receipt or confirmation in writing then you've protection, regardless of how you've paid. And I'm not sure why you're tarnishing people who deal with cash?!

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Rubbish, if you've a receipt or confirmation in writing then you've protection, regardless of how you've paid. And I'm not sure why you're tarnishing people who deal with cash?!

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are you serious
asking for cash is a sign of the black market and undercuts people paying taxes
someone asking for cash invariably is saying they dont want to put it in their books so you wont get a receipt
but then you know this really

I can't believe your attitude tbh.

I'm self employed and have a small shop. ( I won't go into details of what I do/where/etc). I only accept cash. I don't want the hassle and extra expense of a card machine, and I can't trust cheques.

I put EVERYTHING through the books, no exceptions.

Dom

Dom you've beat me to it!

s and b you're always banging on about using a local garage, keeping the economy going etc. You come across as a one man and his garage that he's trying to keep in business. You of all people should know about trying to keep expenses low - card transactions will give you bigger overheads = less profit = high prices to make the same profit making you uncompetitive.

As Dom has said, your attitude Isn't the best. We're not operating in the 80s and early 90s still.

I always pay my mechanic cash, have done for the last 7 years, same with my body shop man, who always gives me a receipt. If they're operating n the black market then they're either doing it very well and haven't been caught yet, or perhaps are honest hard working people, like Dom.