Bravo HLX Keys

[Paul Keeble]

Hi everyone,

I'm just about to buy a year old 1.8 HLX. The car has only got one key that operates the alarm/immoboliser system. I checked with the dealer who is selling the car and they confirmed that Fiat only supply one of these keys and a 'normal' spare for emergency use (that doesn't operate the alarm/central locking remotely).

Can someone confirm is this is true ?

Many Thanks

Paul

 

[JIM (UK)]

keys

When I bought my P-reg 1.8 HLX from a Fiat dealer (Reg Vardy, Birmingham, UK), it came with two remote keys (blue) and one red key (the master key that you MUST have... or else). Replacement of the red key costs £000's (yes, that many zeros). I don't remember what a blue key costs (obviously less though). I have heard stories of dodgy dealers selling Fiats without the red key, and this can often be a sign that the car was stolen. If I was you, I would check this with an approved Fiat dealership, or else contact Fiat (UK).

 

[Paul K]

Keys

Jim,

Thanks for your message. This does worry me a bit, especially as the supplying dealer is a UK franchise ! I spoke to the guy selling the car this morning and he said only one blue key fob is included, and never mentioned a red key at all.

I'll contact Fiat UK and confirm with them.

Thanks for your help.

By the way, the car in question is an s reg 1.8HLX. If it is in anyway dodgy, I'll let the Forum know.

Cheers

Paul

 

[robert bowman]

three keys

Paul,

Info is much as Jim's. The car should come with 3 keys. Two blue (both for remote locking & alarm) and the red master key (immobiliser etc. - hence the high replacement price, I think of the order of 800 quid!). This red key is ESSENTIAL!

If the one you are looking at doesn't have these, especially the master then complain - or better still walk away - if the previous owner could not look after the master keys - what care did they take of the car?? Does it have all the documentation (manual, FIAT aftercare booklet with original delivery and service stamps)??

good luck

robert

 

[Jim (UK)]

Curious

Just wondering... what was the end result here? Did you talk to Fiat UK? Did you buy the car? Or what?

 

[Paul]

Right Result

I finally managed to get to the bottom of the missing keys. It ended up with the supplying dealer replacing the complete lockset and alarm / ecu modules free of charge. The car was sourced through a dealer chain and the spare key (along with the brown one) never came with the car and subsequently lost.

Other than that, I am completely happy with the car, although the customer service from the dealer wasn't what it should be. I did get free CD changer fitted for the hssle though !

Regards Paul

 

[Anonymous]

Re: three keys

im going to be looking at a car that has one red key and also one blue not 2 like you mentioned.

I take it the second blue key is just a spare but how much should i ask for a reduction on the price of the car (100td bravo 1996) since it is missing.

cheers
adam

 

[zarmple]

.

.

 

[gcol]

re: three keys

My handbook says that you get 1 red, 1 blue(with remote) and 1 blue without remote. If it's the blue with remote I think they're about £80 from Fiat. If it's the blue without the remote button they're £20 from any branch of Timpsons.
Regards

 

[Andy Blackett]

Three

When I bought my 2001 HLX last year it came with 2 alarm keys and one red master key.

Andy

 

[chris]

f**ked keys

I have recently bought a r reg hlx.I never knew about the red key when i got the car so it was no questioned asked! recently though the remote central locking in my car has recently stopped working so i have just been locking it without the alarm being turned on.
I was given a 3 month warrenty with the car but am uncertain as to whether the locking system will be covered.
any information from you or anyone would be much appreciated as i would like to solve this problem as soon as possible.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Three

my local key cutter said they could cut a key with immobiliser and alarm button for 25 quid, so thats not too bad

 

[scottie]

Re: Re: Three

i bought a 2001 hlx froma main dealer nealry a year ago now.when i picked the car up he opnly gave me 2 blue keys.i questioned him on needing the red key and he said they did not need it...is this correct?or has he really taken me for a ride?
pls tell me..............

 

[scottie]

Re: Re: Re: Three

cos if he has wanged me ,then i am going to go there tomorow and give his ass and all theres asses a real bad whooping

 

[James]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Three

yeh i he's done you over scotty! you always need the red key!

 

[Dillinger]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Three

How many times does it need to be said on this post.
YOU NEED THE RED KEY.

with out it, your in for a world of hurt.

Dill.

 

[Barakka]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Three

Easy Tiger...

Scottie it is possible that you don't need the Red Key for your car with it being a 2001.

Fiat dropped the CODE system round about then for the CODE II system I think, which uses blue keys still, but not the dreaded red one. I have heard of Bravo's running the CODE II system in the past.

If I remember correctly the way to tell is the dash check lights. When you put the key in and turn the ignition on do you get a little orange key with "CODE" under it light up on the dash for a brief second ? If not then you may be OK... this I think is a sign of a CODE system, and the CODE II ones light up differently.

I may be wrong though, it was a good couple of years since this was discussed ....

 

[tomC]

keys

when I bought mine new about 4 years ago I got 2 blue keys which worked the alarm/remote locking and a red master key, plus three code numbers - electronic [5 digit], mechanical [1letter 'w', 4 digit] and 1 security [4 digit].

The local dealer seems to have problems with this and doesn't seem to know how to deal with them.

I'd be sure to get all these since it seems impossible to do any reprogramming without them [ and practically impossible to get anything done with them].

TomC

 

[Craig]

Re: keys

i was told by fiat....
if your key has a symbol with a triangle in a circle with the number 2 above it, you do not need a red key as this is the 2nd generation of fiats code system.

 

[scottie]

Re: Re: keys

finally got my red key sorted 2day for my hlx.i phoned up the main fiat people in uk and asked them should my car have a red key aswell.defianetel yes.ALL bravos ,i say ALL, have a red key.
i visited my main dealer where i got my car to confront them 2day and they told me to my face that is was lying,had lost the red key and was trying to get another f.o.c.it is there stringent policy not to sell cars if they dont have the red key with them..WELL........after a long heated debate,which nealry ended up with me flooring the salesman who sold me the car(the one who said i didnt need a red key when i question him when i bought the car) the said they would trace the red key on the car as it is logged with the car where ever it goes.they rung me back this afternoon,apologising greatly saying they had found the red key in another branch of theres!!!wtf! never sell a car with out it huh? tossers!

so please,if u are thinking of buying a bravo,get a RED key,they all have one.

rant over