help please regarding those bloody keys

[gcol]

Just bought a 98 HGT last week (private sale) and am very happy with it. Ok, now the bad news, the red key supplied with the car does not fit any of the locks! As i've only got one blue key, i would like to get a spare cut. I got no manual or paper-work with the car regarding codes etc. So how do i go about getting a spare made from this blue key? Is it possible to have a spare made so that the remote central locking still works?
Thanks

 

[Schumaniac]

Hi there,

I think thats quite some bad news if the red key doesnt fit the locks. Why?

To start off with, it is only Fiat that can reproduce another key for the car. The standard key incorporates the Fiat Code which is read by the ECU milliseconds before the car fires up. Now the red key(which os called the Master Key) is there to be used only in the case that you need to make some spare keys, whereby your specific Fiat Code which is read from the red key and is copied into the new everyday key. Infact the manual states that if you lose the red key and need to cut new spare keys the only way out is to renew all door locks, starter lock and you will also need a new Fiat Code programmed into your system.

Check this out:
After two weeks of Bravo ownership I had sh*t. By accident my keys fell into a pile of dust and mud and I didnt clean it properly. When I tried to start the engine, fuel was cut off and car couldnt fire up. I didnt no what the cause was, so you can imagine my panic just after two weeks ownership. After alot of brainstorming, I swapped the key with a spare one (luckily I was at home)and I off I went. After cleaning up the other key properly it worked ok.

 

[Tim]

I had similar prob 2 u so i got some bad nes i'm afraid - i have got a brava and one day 4 no reason at all when i tried startin the car wiv a blue key the orange code light stayed on n it wouldnt turn over. I tried the other blue and the red key and nothing happened. It went back 2 fiat n turns out that the code ECU (bit that matches the key 2 the immobilser) had screwed up and cooked itself then blew the main ECU. Both code and main ECU needed changing and bill came to around £800. If u dont have the red key ur goin 2 need a new code ECU and new set of keys but DONT need any locks or ignition barrel changed. Expect 2 pay around £150 for parts n labour.

 

[cathal]

I was in the same position as you with my 1.4 97, I rang fiat to try and get a spare key, they asked me for my chasis number and they seemed to have the codes they needed on the computer and he told me that he could get me a key the following week but just needed to ring fiats main office to check if I neede a key code card also. He rang me back and told me then that he couldn't help me but gave me the number of someone who could clone the blue key I have for 40 bills, Did that and everything seems fine hopefully

 

[Nick]

Timpsons, the high street key company can clone a blue key from your existing blue key. I had mine done a couple of years ago for about £20 and it works fine. No need for a red key or anything else. So don't panic. You will probably never need the red key as it only allows new Fiat supplied keys to be programmed into/out of the system, nothing else. No special Fiat diagnostics, no special hidden procedures, only learning new blue keys.

Its true that to get a new red key you will need to fit a new ECU and a matching code module for about £800, but there is at least one company that can supply a new ECU for the 1.4 at least that does away with the whole red key fiasco anyway and so is much cheaper, but if you really must have a new red key, don't bother getting a new red key until you need it.

Hope that helps

Nick

 

[Anonymous]

Key Stuff

It sounds to me like you've got the right red key but the locks have been changed. Check it out with HPI in case its been stolen/recovered. By what I'v seen it is quite possible to make a key which will fit your locks and have the right code. Either by cloning it, like they do at Timpsons or a Dealer may still be able to add you a new one on the current ECU, they must have done this some how if at some time the locks have been changed, assuming that the red key does belong to your car. If the red key never did fit your car, where the hell has it come from? Even if it belongs to another car Timpsons will clone your blue key so don't worry too much.
I'm trying to negotiate a discount with Timpsons for fiatforum.com members which I'll talk to paul and ben about soon

The Mighty

 

[Nick]

Using the 'wrong' red key

If the locks have been changed but its the original red key than this can be checked by getting a normal key cut (no chip - any key shop), inserting it into the ignition , and holding the red key on the new key so that the red part is in about the same position as it would be if it was operating the ignition. Then turn the ignition on and see if you can start the car. After the code has been read (successfully hopefully) you can take the red key away as it is only asked for its code when you turn the ignition on. Once the engine is running you don't need the transponder bit any more until you want to start the engine again.

Hope thats of interest