Technical battery change required

[spigwig]

Hi,
I've got a 2001 marea weekend 110 sx jtd 1.9. I've started to have a few problems starting due to low power in battery. I need to change it, but a friend of mine says if i do that I'l need the red ignition key or it'll never start again. I've only got a blue key. is he wrong, or if he's right what can I do?

 

[bandido41]

He is wrong you will be able to start it dont worry.

 

[spigwig]

Thaks Bandido,
Are you absolutely sure because he reckons that it's something to do with the ecu. without the red key I'd have to change the ecu costing about £600!

 

[bandido41]

Yes i have 2 bravo's a 1.9 td and a 1.6 hlx and i have disconnected and changed the batteries a number of times and the only time i ever used the red key was when i replaced the ecu because i broke on of the clips (nothing battery related)

 

[FDF]

Hi, I replaced the battery on my '97 Marea 20v a few years ago, didn't need a red key. I think the red key is only needed if you're having a problem with the immobiliser or alarm. Take the car to Halfords, or any garage and, 5 minutes later they can have a new battery fitted for you. I got a super heavy duty battery for my Marea, it starts first time, every time.

 

[Renegade_8]

It's in the archives, the ECU resets to factory defaults and then re-learns your driving style. It does not need the red key. I also found the radio did not need re-coding. Its an easy job to do yourself and your can clean up any corrosion while you are there. When you have it in put some vaseline over the terminals to stop electrolytic corrosion

 

[mountainmachine]

It's in the archives, the ECU resets to factory defaults and then re-learns your driving style. It does not need the red key. I also found the radio did not need re-coding. Its an easy job to do yourself and your can clean up any corrosion while you are there. When you have it in put some vaseline over the terminals to stop electrolytic corrosion

Yup never needed it when changing battery's or disconnecting, have needed the red key for other things though.

 

[mitchy]

Yup never needed it when changing battery's or disconnecting, have needed the red key for other things though.

What other things though?

I too don't have a red key for my Marea. Infact the guy i bought it from didn't know what the heck i was on about.

 

[mountainmachine]

https://www.fiatforum.com/bravo-brava/121658-unusual-code-problem-bravo-hgt.html?p=1268893

I've got an immobiliser fault, now i've found my red key it should be an easy fix, but without it it would have been a pain in the neck.

 

[jug]

What other things though?

the red key only has 1 purpose, teaching the immob blue keys.

if you lose your blue keys you need the red key. way to avoid that problem is keeping at least 1 spare blue key in the house. blues can be copied at timpsons for £20 with no need for any programming so get copies made.

 

[OilBurner]

When I bought my Marea two plus years ago it only came with a single blue key... I didn't even know there was a red key missing until I joined this forum!

However, I fitted a new battery about this time last year and had no problems whatsoever with it starting afterwards.