Why is it that some places charge a bomb for replacement central locking keys and others don't?
Original Equipment (OE) will always charge more.
Others will charge whatever they think they can get.
Also, depends what is inside.
Some places will clone an existing key, others will do it properly and program it as an additional key, as OE will do.
Opened the case my main key was in (the buttoned one) and found the case completely empty.
My assumption here is that you've not had the vehicle long, or it has never worked. The previous owner appears to have bought a replacement casing and not transferred the contents of the old one across. These replacements are intended to replace the buttons when they wear out, so the electronics are transferred across, as that is what is expensive.
If there is nothing inside, not even the tiny glass phial with the immobiliser chip in it, does it start the car? If it does, the immobiliser chip is probably taped to the antenna on the lock barrel inside the column cowling. So not an effective immobiliser any more.
If the original remote key was lost, they may have obtained a new casing, put the chip from the second key into the cowling, to give the impression that all is well, then sold it on. Or the second key is not lost and will be used to steal your car sometime. Was the seller trustworthy?
Options:
1. Contact previous owner and ask if they have the original remote key, in whatever condition. You may be able to rescue the electronic contents.
Ask them where the second key is.
2. Live with it.
3. Get a full ECU and lock set from a breakers and swap it over. Must get the full set, from an identical spec car, as both engine and body ECU have to agree the chip signal.
4. Get a new lock set from Fiat and have the dealer programme it. Mortgage probably needed.
