Technical Is it possible to just change the key lock cylinder on the door handle to a new one?

[Beth123]

Hi, any help/advice greatly appreciated. Car is 2015 500 Pop. Basically my bag along with my car key was stolen at work (hard lesson learned). My car wasn't taken thankfully. Got a autolocksmith to reprogramme the original key and new keys from the spare made - as figured it was the quickest way to secure it. The car can still be unlocked manually but it can't be started. The thief knows my work address and my home address (also won't be keeping my driving license in my purse in future). I haven't checked with my insurance yet whether they need the manual lock changing but I'm guessing this is the case and also I basically feel unsafe knowing that they could potentially unlock my car when I'm in it about to leave work for example. I got a quote and was told they would need to change everything including reprogramming new keys which was about £390+vat for parts and £300+vat for labour...which is a lot. My insurance will cover up to £500 after excess (£95) so I don't know whether to just go ahead it with as will probs effect value of car if I ever sell. Otherwise I don't need to change the ignition barrel because they can't start the car anyway so can I just have an extra key for the one manual door unlock? I don't mind the inconvenience of having an extra key but I don't know whether it's possible because of the remote unlocking?

 

[bugsymike]

Hi, any help/advice greatly appreciated. Car is 2015 500 Pop. Basically my bag along with my car key was stolen at work (hard lesson learned). My car wasn't taken thankfully. Got a autolocksmith to reprogramme the original key and new keys from the spare made - as figured it was the quickest way to secure it. The car can still be unlocked manually but it can't be started. The thief knows my work address and my home address (also won't be keeping my driving license in my purse in future). I haven't checked with my insurance yet whether they need the manual lock changing but I'm guessing this is the case and also I basically feel unsafe knowing that they could potentially unlock my car when I'm in it about to leave work for example. I got a quote and was told they would need to change everything including reprogramming new keys which was about £390+vat for parts and £300+vat for labour...which is a lot. My insurance will cover up to £500 after excess (£95) so I don't know whether to just go ahead it with as will probs effect value of car if I ever sell. Otherwise I don't need to change the ignition barrel because they can't start the car anyway so can I just have an extra key for the one manual door unlock? I don't mind the inconvenience of having an extra key but I don't know whether it's possible because of the remote unlocking?

Hopefully someone will give exact advice, but generally lock barrels can be changed over, your friendly local auto locksmith should be able to do it.
Just a small point, as has been mentioned here previously, simply speaking to your insurance company is enough to jack up your next years premium without actually making a claim!!! So bare that in mind

 

[Beth123]

Hopefully someone will give exact advice, but generally lock barrels can be changed over, your friendly local auto locksmith should be able to do it.
Just a small point, as has been mentioned here previously, simply speaking to your insurance company is enough to jack up your next years premium without actually making a claim!!! So bare that in mind

Thanks, I'm a bit too late on the insurance though might have to do compare the market next year

 

[Ralf S.]

The short version of a long answer is "Yes".

The lock barrel just allows the key to rotate the lock, that triggers the central locking micro-switch that then unlocks the other doors.
If you change the lock barrel, then you will need a new key that just manually unlocks the door, and your existing key just for the ignition.

If it was me, I would buy a door lock, a matching ignition barrel and a key from a breaker, so that you only have the one key. This works better for convenience day-to-day and also when you sell the car since you won't lose value for having a slightly bodged key system.

The ignition barrel has a sensor behind it that picks up the key code for the immobiliser, so you would need to transplant your current key chip into the new key body, or put the blade for the new key into your old key case (same difference) to retain the current chip even though the key blade is different.


Ralf S.

 

[vexorg]

Agree with Ralf, a new lock set is needed to be confident, but if the key has the remote locking then they could still get in, so that should be reprogrammed, likewise, if they force the ignition barrel, it would start if they hold the old key up to it.

I'd imagine fiat would be expensive, but reprogramming the immobiliser and remote locking is something I'd seriously look at. Not sure if it is a DIY option on MES, or whether needs more specialised equipment.

 

[Ralf S.]

Thanks, I'm a bit too late on the insurance though might have to do compare the market next year

That might not be a disaster.. someone T-boned my Stilo the other year, so I had to call up the insoorance just in case they received a claim... but in the end, no blame came my way (it would have been difficult, since I was stationary when I got hit). The Direct Line noted it on my renewal as an accident (zero value) and it didn't affect my premium according to them.

Ralf S.

 

[bugsymike]

That might not be a disaster.. someone T-boned my Stilo the other year, so I had to call up the insoorance just in case they received a claim... but in the end, no blame came my way (it would have been difficult, since I was stationary when I got hit). The Direct Line noted it on my renewal as an accident (zero value) and it didn't affect my premium according to them.

Ralf S.

I know of at least three separate instances where the car owner was indoors and either a car rolled into them or someone drove into their parked car and in all those the other persons insurance accepted liability yet the innocent parties insurance went up on renewal as they had "been involved in an accident" according to their insurers. Furthermore if you believing you are not at fault and don't declare on renewal the insurer may take your money for a policy but in the event of an accident your claim could be reduced as you failed to declare!
Remember Insurance Companies are multi billion pound businesses and they don't get there by being nice

 

[decappottabile]

Does this help? (video made by forum member @typecastboy )

 

[koalar]

Three part to the key

1:Immobiliser / transponder
2:Remote opening / wireless
3:Mechanical opening

3 is easy to circumvent in seconds whatever you do. Pull the top of the door back, reach in and open the door

Or

Smash a window

As long as they can’t start the car I wouldn’t be overly concerned


After all people with rag tops normally leave them permanently unlocked, saves coming back to a slashed roof.

 

[vexorg]

As long as they can’t start the car I wouldn’t be overly concerned

They have the original key, so the mechanical lock change wouldn't be very safe

 

[John202020]

Just buy a lock kit? Ignition door and petrol cap?

 

[koalar]

They have the original key, so the mechanical lock change wouldn't be very safe

When you program a remote key

Any key not added at the Same time is blacklisted ?

 

[vexorg]

The OP only discussed changing the barrel, that's a simple DIY job, changing codes for remote or immobiliser could be much more costly.

 

[koalar]

The OP only discussed changing the barrel, that's a simple DIY job, changing codes for remote or immobiliser could be much more costly.

From the original posters first post

“Got a autolocksmith to reprogramme the original key and new keys from the spare made - as figured it was the quickest way to secure it. The car can still be unlocked manually but it can't be started.”

Yes you can change the barrels easy enough. But it just seems like an extra expense.

Anyone wanting to enter the illegally doesn’t care about damaging it so would only take seconds

 

[jrkitching]

Any key not added at the Same time is blacklisted ?

Certainly is if done by a Fiat dealer using Examiner.

Not sure if done by an independent locksmith.

 

[vexorg]

I suppose it depends on the fiat system, I got a spare nissan key made for a later nissan micra, and the independent tools wouldn't program the car, but the tools allowed them to clone the key I had to give me a spare.