The dealer i am buying from does not appear to include a red key with the car. The Punto is a M-reg ELX 90. Is there a way to find out if i need a red key for this car? The Handbook does not apear to be included either, so i am a little worried as to whether the lack of a Red key will be an issue.

I have spoken to the dealer, who says it will not be a problejm, but i have also spoken to other people, and a specialist, who says that it would be a problem if i ever needed to have the battery changed, or interupt the electronics.

Thanks for advice

Mark

welcome to the forum
early m reg are pre red key, they dont have a factory fit imobiliser. when you turn the key look on the dash for a little key symbol light it only comes on for a few secs, if it dont have this light, it has no imobiliser so does not need a red key,

Ok, thanks. The Car is not mine.. yet, lol. So i will check when i go to pick the car up, thanks. If the car doesn't come with the Red key, but does have the immobiliser, then is this a significant reason not to buy it? How do i get around the lack of red key?

hi fiat gueu here
if it needs a red key you'll have to get a full lock set,code reader and have code removed from the ecu by fiat

you proubaly wont need the red key, if you do we know several ways around it without going to fiat and with out replacing any locks,but dont let the seller know this try to get the price reduced by at least £175

Ok. I have spoken to the seller, and he says that it is a £15 job, but i dont think he knows much about it tbh, he is a typical second hand car dealer. I will have a look at the car and the dash when i start it today. Thanks for the quick replies.

Mark

M-reg ones are tricky.

L-reg all came without immobilser but on M-reg it depends on whether they were manufactured before or after February 1995. Mine was Feb itself and actually does have an immobiliser.

You DEFINITELY want the red key if it does have an immboliser. Fiat will charge you hundreds if it's ever needed for diagnostic mode. If a dealer's trying to cop it off as £15, he needs to be shot.

Thanks. I think the dealer is a bit dodgy anyway, he put the car through its MOT, and i havent heard from him since! Cant get hold of him on his land line or mobile. As for the imoboliser, if i do go for this car (or any other Punto) i will check with the owner for a Red key, and check the Dash for the "Key" symbol when the car starts.

i had a 94 M reg Punto - it didnt have a Red key so you should be ok

another thing you can do is look on the key, if imobiliser is fitted key will have a little triangle on it, asuming its one of the original keys.

dave said:

another thing you can do is look on the key, if imobiliser is fitted key will have a little triangle on it, asuming its one of the original keys.

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Hello, do both the red and blue keys have the little triangle on them and how would I be able to tell the difference between the red and blue key?

oughost said:

Hello, do both the red and blue keys have the little triangle on them and how would I be able to tell the difference between the red and blue key?

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welcome to the forum

the red key is red and the blue key is blue

dave said:

welcome to the forum

the red key is red and the blue key is blue

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Oh... My key is black though - no signs of red or blue.

oughost said:

Oh... My key is black though - no signs of red or blue.

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what year is your car?

dave said:

what year is your car?

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P reg 1997

sounds like you have just a cloned blue key then and no red,
cloned key is a key that has been cut and the chip info transfered to it by the key cutters.

dave said:

sounds like you have just a cloned blue key then and no red,
cloned key is a key that has been cut and the chip info transfered to it by the key cutters.

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Could it be a cloned red key? Is there a check that can do to know if it's a red key or not by putting it in the ignition?

not sure, i have had blues cloned from reds but never had a red cloned as a red. have you a problem with the key or starting? or are you just worring?

dave said:

not sure, i have had blues cloned from reds but never had a red cloned as a red. have you a problem with the key or starting? or are you just worring?

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I'm just worried I might get into the car one day and it won't start.

nar don't worry people very rearly(sp) need a red key