General CATASTROPHE! Missing body computer and key!

[kegless]

I have been having issues with a body computer and sent it off to an ECU specialist for repair, however it never reached its destination and is lost in the ether...

More pressingly, I now have a locked vehicle, with no keys in my possession or key card, and no body computer! What can I do? and likely costs of solutions please.

 

[corcai]

Year model etc is obviously going to drastically affect the price of a solution. Was the parcel insured? Cheapest solution will be get keys ecu and body computer from a scrappie and swap the transponders to your own keys or the blades to the scrapie keys. There's lots of variations of body computer so if yours is an oddity e.g. Automatic it may be hard to find at a scrapie.

 

[whine0]

If he gets a body comp from scrappie he will need engine ecu and instrument cluster with key but the proxy could be different in body comp causing all sorts of probs on vehicle Iv known abs lights to come on if proxy wrong a new body Computor from fiat are not that expensive around £120 You could fit it yourself because it’s already configured to vehicle but yes a new key will require purchasing and programming onto vehicle around £300 at dealer get a quote body comp key and programming at fiat what’s van worth

 

[corcai]

Sorry assumed he had sent the ecu with body computer if it's just body computer probably similar price to go to dealer.

 

[kegless]

Ok here is a thought, I have full copy of MultiEcuScan (MES), do you now if this could be used to programme the key stuff?

I am thinking I could purchase a code card from fiat which would enable me to get a 3rd party to cut a transponder key and therefore open the doors for access, I realise it wouldn't start vehicle until coded to the body computer. however wondering if it would be able to fire up the igntion on first click of the key turn needed to power up a virgin body computer and therefore enable use of MES and do the key coding part.

If body computer is bought new from fiat would it work with original ECU automatically or would ECU need tweeked to talk to body comp? Saw on stilo forum (i think) about an ECU only talking to first connected body computer or would maybe need to be 'virginised'.

 

[kegless]

Maybe a simpler way to put my last post:
Existing ECU, instrument cluster and locks on the van, a brand new Body Control Module from fiat parts and a key cut to my vehicle but as yet uncoded to the BCM and access to full version of MultiEcuScan.

Can i make this combo work?

 

[whine0]

Hi 1st question what year van because Euro 4 body comp separate from fuse board so if yours Euro 4 you’ll have to get body comp and fuse board that clips onto it,now code card for key programming £30 but let’s just think , if some owner has put a scrappie system in van before you had it the key , code, body comp and locks off fiat will be wrong ,however let’s say your van as it should be yes you buy key off fiat your in vehicle ok next you fit body comp and fuse board from fiat configured to your chassis ok you can put ignition on ok try to start of course it won’t because key not programmed ,give you another important bit info the key programs to engine ecu and not body comp on them meaning if I condemn a body comp at work fit new 1 I don’t even have to program anything van will start up as long as it’s all original remember the engine ecu is the master unit but I’m interested what was your original fault with body comp because they don’t often go wrong a lot of issues on them require updating with laptop any more question just ask

 

[kegless]

Thanks whine0, so it looks like my plan may work and just have to plug in the new BCM and programme a key with MES.

Incidentally has anyone programmed a key using MES from scratch i.e. no original key present, or indeed at all?

For info: The original fault was failure of the BCM to switch an easy to allow the headlights main beam to activate and the same for the wash wipe function. All earth's checked and good. Incidentally, besides MES, what do you use to update the BCM software?

 

[whine0]

Main dealer laptop just to remind any readers of this a lot of faults on ecus could be cured with updates from main dealers now before you start replacing ecus an 1hr diag time at main dealer could actually save you money

 

[kegless]

OK looks like a trip to FIAT garage it is. This is what the costs are:

New ignition key £278 for 3 button remote or non remote £205.
New body computer/bcm/bsi (back part of unit) £489 and
new fuse box (front part of unit) £99.
1hr of time for coding keys to vehicle £75. All prices plus vat.

Does anyone know if the fuse box at the front of the BCM is common to all vehicles the vehicles of the x250 or do I need a specific one for the vehicle for my version? Thinking get a body computer on ebay and remove fuse box front.

 

[portland_bill]

It is quite likely that there are several fuse box options. Models that have extras, like foglamps, have the fuse and connectors in the fusebox, but models that did not have those will have no connectors or wiring behind the fusebox. Getting one from Ebay could be difficult to ensure the right one.

Have a trawl of ePER to see how many variations there might be. The highest spec fusebox will probably fit all vehicles, as circuits not connected will not harm, but finding one might be more difficult. Sorry, no definitive answer, just more options.

 

[kegless]

So update on the situation. Got the parts from Fiat after a long way from Turin. Got the vehicle booked in to Ian Grieve, falkirk for coding and got my breakdown service to recover the van to the dealer. Expecting to be driving away about 20min later. On the phone I explained and it was booked in for 30 min apt. Quoted £59 all in. They then say it's going to take 2hrs as need to code the BCM to the vehicle with the vin and do proxi alignment, here we go... Then a manger of the service area rolls over and says that it could be up to 4hrs £360 and can't do it for 4 days! Also, as I recovered to a dealer 30 miles from my house as they could do it sooner I then we expected to make my own way home despite arriving with the vehicle on a recovery truck and their customer charter indicating that if it can't be done whilst you wait they will 'keep you moving', there was no intention to keep me moving and was shown the door, well aware of the barrel I was currently being bent over.

Has anyone on here got experience of getting a new body control module and new key to work? Surely the 4hrs quoted is just taking the ****.

Incidentally the new BCM solved my issues of the the wash/wipe and main beam not working when I put the key to the first position.

 

[whine0]

Hi the time quoted is bad the longest part can be swapping body comp because there are two shear bolts to remove ,body comp takes 1/2 hour to swap if bolts come straight out, code keys let’s say hour if laptop slow communicating ,proxy takes seconds the body comp already coded to vehicle from factory 2 hour job done would be correct they wouldn’t be able to claim 4 hours off fiat if it was warranty job all the times for repair and code keys are on fiat system sorry they have gave dealers bad name ask them to print time allowed off fiat times the only issue that could happen if laptop wouldn’t communicate with new body comp but restore vehicle configuration sorts this out I did recommend fiat dealer there not all like that sorry!

 

[kegless]

Ok, turns out the dealer was ok in the end and didn't charge a penny! The technician couldn't get any of the modules to initialise apparently. I could connect to the body computer and could scan for DTCs ok, admittedly there was a whole raft of DTCs more coming up that we not present on the previous BCM, but I also had a coded key then, so wonder if that is simply the reason. Anyway. Recovered again, now to a different fiat dealership to see if they can connect to it... Part 3,076 of the saga in the next installment.

 

[kegless]

Second dealer garage managed to code the key no problems. 1hr labour £100 and £40ish diagnostic connection charge.

The problems with the headlights and wash wipe have been sorted by the new body computer.