hi. I am a new member and this is my first post. I am desperately looking for help as I am not very savvy with cars.


right first things first, I drove my seicento a couple of days ago with no problems, I tried to get back in the car half hour later when it wouldn't turn over and the key CODE symbol was appearing but slickering slightly. a box on the right hand side under the bonnet was rattling. to cut a long story short I had someone looking at it and he checked the battery and it was low, we charged the battery for a while and then the car started with no warning lights. we disconnected all cables from charging it and turned the engine off. the car started again a few times with no problems or warning lights. I left the battery charging for an hour or so then started the car fine and drove a 20 minute journey home. I figured it was the low battery that was causing the immobiliser to kick in. the next morning I had the same problem, CODEkey symbol appearing, car wasn't attempting to turn over. I got it to the garage where we found a snapped earth cable. reconnected this, the car was turning over but not firing, we tried a new crank sensor but no joy. now the CODE symbol stays on at all times while the ignition is on. I don't have the master key to override the system nor do I have the 5digit code to insert.


sorry for the long essay but I felt I had to give u all info I had, and hope for some good advice?


thankyou in advance

I have just called fiat and hopefully they can request the code for £25, she is looking into it and calling me back. even if I get the code im not in the clear because there is a chance I have burned out the ECU driving the car back home after the code was appearing the first time

Hi,

as you'll have figured out ..the KEY CODE is the immobiliser stopping the fuel pump + sparks = non start,
the LOW battery wouldn't have helped there..BUT I'm suprised if it needs the master key..??,
what year and spec is the car ?,


AFAIK everything after 2000 is "any key will do - tastic,"

disconnect the battery ( charge it..off-car)

with batteryoff, put the 2 x battery cables toghether for a few mins to dissipate any power left in system,

after an hour - or longer, reconnect battery,
turn ignition to MAR.. see what lights come on.. then go off,
does it all look normal?,
if o.k.,
KEY should come on..then go out,
leaving only oil and battery + yellow engine light,
then start her up..!!

if it's still KEY -Coded let us know,
Charlie

chanty89 said:

I have just called fiat and hopefully they can request the code for £25, she is looking into it and calling me back. even if I get the code im not in the clear because there is a chance I have burned out the ECU driving the car back home after the code was appearing the first time

Click to expand...

between £15 and £30 depending on dealer..

BUT it's actually coding a new KEY that costs the money..,

try a battery off FREE reset, 1st,

where are you based..??

Charlie - Oxford

thanks for your reply. I have 2 blue keys for the car but not the red master key. if I get the code which will cost me £25 from fiat will I not be able to put that code in will I not be able to use the original keys I have?


also I have never heard of a battery free reset before can you explain a little more please?
I am based in bristol

Hi,
what age is your car..??

still not convinced you need a RED key..that's OLD technology..!!

your cars ECU "adapts" as it drives, and the battery power helps store such "learnt" info,

when you disconnect the battery for a while ( I tend to do "overnight")

it then uses it factory settings ... and "re-learns" from there,

whipping off the battery leads for a while can clear all sorts of daft stuff, restoring original function.. as I said it takes 2 hours at home ..and it's FREE!!,

I'll try and post pics of different age FIAT keys so you'll know what is what..!!,
Charlie

https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecento-seicento/339877-key-chip-programming.html

no pics but valid info ; - }

thankyou very much for your help. as of this morning I was under the impression I could get the red master key to override it or find the unique 5digit code that come on a credit card type thing with the car which I didn't have. so as I understand it now if I can find that code (which fiat can tell me after I pay £25) I can insert the code and my blue keys should work again....

in the garage where the car is now the last thing they done when I left was disconnect the battery so hopefully they have the same idea as you. FIAT said it sounds like it could be a problem with the immobiliser and I would need to take the car to them to plug into the diagnostics machine. that will be hard to get the car there and cost me a fortune. I just really hope your battery reset works or buying the code for my car will enable me to use my original keys

hi,

the CODE is applied to the CHIP inside the KEY,
you do NOT type it onto the car - as such,

be VERY wary of what gets done !,

start the car SEVERAL times,
then get out and lock it.. wait a few minutes,
unlock and re-start again a few times.. just to make sure before paying..!!

my wife paid @£120 to have the keys re-coded , with a similar issue,
it was actually WORSE after.., we had to find and fix the actual problem ourselves..

mention of a RED key here..!!

https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecento-seicento/336172-aquired-sei-sporting-2.html

Charlie

The CODE card that FIAT refer to is not supplied with vehicles by agreement with UK insurers as it's too much of a risk, folk would leave them in the car making it far too easy for thieves to steal the vehicle.
The code itself is hard coded into the ECU, and the likelihood of the ECU losing it is incredibly small, it's only used to program new keys.

I'm a little unclear, but does the car start and drive fine when the battery is fully charged? If so, it seems to me either a charging issue (alternator) or just a general fault with the battery (age for example).
Despite being asked twice, I still don't know what year your car is, this'll help identify whether it's a CODE1 or CODE2 system. This can also be ascertained by looking at your key blade and if it has a circle with a triangle in it and a 2 this is CODE2.

it says in the manual that if the CODE warning symbol appears you either need the other key or manually enter the 5 digit code found on the credit card type thing. I read though it and you have to turn the key round to MAR and put your foot on the accelerator and wait until another symbol starts to flash, then release the accelerator after the number of flashes corresponds with the first number of the 5 digit code. then do this sequence for all 5 numbers and bobs your uncle. at least that's the plan anyway. I will double check with Fiat when I go and get the code that that's what needs to be done.

I know the car is elsewhere. with it's 1 x key,
but the year of Reg. will give us a BIG clue..,

Charlie

chanty89 said:

it says in the manual that if the CODE warning symbol appears you either need the other key or manually enter the 5 digit code found on the credit card type thing. I read though it and you have to turn the key round to MAR and put your foot on the accelerator and wait until another symbol starts to flash, then release the accelerator after the number of flashes corresponds with the first number of the 5 digit code. then do this sequence for all 5 numbers and bobs your uncle. at least that's the plan anyway. I will double check with Fiat when I go and get the code that that's what needs to be done.

Click to expand...

that's if the CHIP get's broken.. it's the EMERGENCY procedure,
you can't use ANY key after that it all has to be reset

so what's the cars age..??

Charlie

As said, without knowing the year of the car, or without you being able to look at the key, we're pretty much flummuxed. See here for more stuff on key identification.

Early systems (not code 2) are easy enough to get running without a great deal of work. Your garage may not know this if they're a generalist. You could always ask them to start a thread (but, FCS, in the Cento/Seicento section).

But, we really need to know the year of the car and -- if possible -- the ECU type.