The wife had here bag stolen at Morrison on Sunday and I am now trying to figure out what we should do - she lost here licence so whoever has her remote car key also has our address - local Fiat dealer (Desira) quoted us £785 to buy and fit a 'lock pack' which I gather will change all the locks and computer codes etc and provide her with a new remote key and spare - it seems a lot and we could claim on the insurance but they would want their money back over the next couple of years I am sure ! Any ideas (no pun intended) for cheaper ways of achiving the same end or any other ideas would be welcome.

Thanks

Do you have the code card? If so what area are you in with this for the short term someone with fiat ecu scan can wipe the old key out of the system for the short term at least meaning yes the car will unlock but it won't start

That's gone up a lot since you last had the key stolen in 2008.

ramses505 said:

The wife had here bag stolen at Morrison on Sunday and I am now trying to figure out what we should do - she lost here licence so whoever has her remote car key also has our address - local Fiat dealer (Desira) quoted us £785 to buy and fit a 'lock pack' which I gather will change all the locks and computer codes etc and provide her with a new remote key and spare - it seems a lot and we could claim on the insurance but they would want their money back over the next couple of years I am sure ! Any ideas (no pun intended) for cheaper ways of achiving the same end or any other ideas would be welcome.

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Depending on the type of security system in the Idea, you may be able to get the stolen key disabled from the system. That would prevent the engine being started with the stolen key, but the key blade would still be able to open the doors. If the car has a compatible system, the key can be disabled with the Fiat Examiner equipment or anyone with a licensed copy of Multiecuscan.
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check house and car policy to see if you have separate key cover, some times its like windscreens and don't affect ncd.

If not get new lock set, ecu and body computer from a scrappy make sure its an exact match spec car, shouldn't cost more than 100 quid these days.

find a fuse or a relay that has some thing to do with starting the car and remove it when not using car.

did you check bins at and around morrisons? some times crooks will search and remove money n phone and dump the rest

Davren - well spotted and yes, it is the second time. First time we eventual handles it by swapping cars (we don't live together) - I also had a Fiat Idea. It does seem she is not destined to be the only person who can open her car !

It is parked in the church's car park at the moment which is a little way from home - hopefully not somewhere anyone would think to look.

Will check out the other suggestions tomorrow.

Thanks for looking everyone.

Please NOTE! FiatECUScan / MultiECUScan can ONLY code new remote key fobs. It CAN NOT code new smart key chips into the system. Also this function is only supported on certain models and as far as I can see it is not supported on the Idea

This means that regarding your stolen key then the Remote Unlock will not work but the physical metal key will unlock the car and the smart chip will allow the car to be started.

You have some options:

1) Go to a Fiat dealer and ask them to delete / reintroduce any keys you still have. This will stop the stolen car from being able to start the car although physical access via the metal key will still be possible.

2) Having had 1) done then get a clone of the remaining key made. If you lose / get another key stolen then it is definitely new key from Fiat time

3) Doing 1) incur charges. A charge for the keycode card / NVSR code request process (unless you have a very nice and friendly dealer who want's to maintain your custom)

4) Skip 1) do 2) and have an *additional* immobiliser fitted to the car. Physical access will still be available to the lost key but they won't be able to start.

5) Find an Idea/similar car in a scrap yard where they have at least one key and then fit these locks and then do 1) and 2)

6) Find a fellow Idea driver with same problem and do lockset change and exchange the metal key blades but keep existing fob/chip hardware. Now do 1) and 2)

A minor complication with a DIY lockset change is that you have to remember not only are the door locks involved but also the ignition key lock barrel as well. I don't have an ignition key barrel on my Croma. Don't know about the Idea.

LASTLY be very aware of any insurance implications of NOT have a complete lockset change done. If you car is stolen or removed, even if this is done by a drive by pick-up and run merchant who never had access to the stolen key then you may find you insurance company won't pay up.

Modern car security has certainly reduced casual theft, increased theft by force for those expensive in demand luxury models, and bloody well increased the cost recovering from a lost/stolen key.

I have key cover on my car insurance and also on my Sentinel Gold card/key policy. Not sure if my car keys are covered on my house insurance policy under "all risks" or "stolen from home" sections.

Check every insurance policy you have for cover and claim on the policy (if any) that does the least damage to your insurance costs.

Best of luck.

Thanks to everyone who answered. New lock set being fitted - £800 lesson (well learned, we will see !). At least it is sorted (or being done as I type) - all in price of losing a single (small) 'bum bag' - about £1200 including glasses, keys, phone and £100 cash (not to mention the other 100 items that cannot quite be recalled). A salutary lesson.

Thanks again.

PS We did not have 'Key Insurance' - would that have paid up for the lock pack etc ?

yep covers locks ecu and house locks n keys normally up to about £1500, just google key cover

ramses505 said:

Thanks to everyone who answered. New lock set being fitted - £800 lesson (well learned, we will see !). At least it is sorted (or being done as I type) - all in price of losing a single (small) 'bum bag' - about £1200 including glasses, keys, phone and £100 cash (not to mention the other 100 items that cannot quite be recalled). A salutary lesson.

Thanks again.

PS We did not have 'Key Insurance' - would that have paid up for the lock pack etc ?

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Expensive - but I would love to see the look of disappointment on the face of the toe rag who stole the key if they ever turn up to try and steal the car only to find that they have been foiled....