Technical Key programming

[cnut]

The one and only key has a dying transponder on my fathers 2004 Panda.

My father took the key to cloned onto a new key at Timpsons but they were unable to read the key, I tried using it to start the car today and it looks like it’s completely dead now.

We have the immobiliser code so are they able to create a new key from this?

Failing that I have read that AlfaObd and MES can program new keys? Is this possible with the Panda?

Thanks

Phil

 

[koalar]

You need to find someone able to do Fiat all key lost
Mobile auto locksmith can come out. Read the code for the transponder out of the body computer via the obdii port and programs the key for you
for a cost

 

[koalar]

Failing that I have read that AlfaObd and MES can program new keys? Is this possible with the Panda?

Only a preprogrammed key bought from Fiat

The software will not program the key

 

[cnut]

You need to find someone able to do Fiat all key lost
Mobile auto locksmith can come out. Read the code for the transponder out of the body computer via the obdii port and programs the key for you
for a cost

Is there software avaliable that I could use to do this myself? Or is it specialist that costs £0000s?

 

[koalar]

Is there software avaliable that I could use to do this myself? Or is it specialist that costs £0000s?

For a none remote

To read the body computer using one machine
And Write to the transponder using another

It was approximately £120 so not that bad and probably be cheap if you wanted to do three keys that’s last time I looked at cheap China clone machines

You would need a transponder chip as well not very expensive

To do a remote it was over £1000 for a China clone of a £4500 machine

It’s been a couple of years since I last looked

Prices and equipment may have changed

 

[cnut]

For a none remote

To read the body computer using one machine
And Write to the transponder using another

It was approximately £120 so not that bad and probably be cheap if you wanted to do three keys that’s last time I looked at cheap China clone machines

You would need a transponder chip as well not very expensive

To do a remote it was over £1000 for a China clone of a £4500 machine

It’s been a couple of years since I last looked

Prices and equipment may have changed

Thanks, I think for how much the equipment would cost, he would be better off getting a locksmith to make a new key instead.

He purchased the car cheap so is looking at the most cost effective way to get this sorted. I guess another option would be to buy a 2nd hand ECU, BCM and key set? Or even see if I can get the ECU modded to disable the immobiliser?

 

[koalar]

Thanks, I think for how much the equipment would cost, he would be better off getting a locksmith to make a new key instead.

He purchased the car cheap so is looking at the most cost effective way to get this sorted. I guess another option would be to buy a 2nd hand ECU, BCM and key set? Or even see if I can get the ECU modded to disable the immobiliser?

Auto locksmith can plug into the obdii port and directly read the body computer and program a mechanical key fairly easily they use to be £40-£80 for cash 10 years ago

Having the CODE does not help. It is only allows you to add an already programmed key. Anyhow a locksmith is able to read the CODE directly from the body computer in a few seconds

Shame it’s too late now as a clone of a working key is a very trivial task. I got the other half to hide a spare somewhere safe and not to use it

It’s very rare for a transponder on an original key to fail. I haven’t seen any. The antenna did use to fail on the Puntos although I haven’t seen one fail on the Panda which is strange as it’s the same part. Some third party key are marginal and do fail. Without another key or an antenna tester there would be no way of knowing.

Normally you can take a dodgy transponder chip out off a third party key and tape it right on top of the antenna to get you by in the short term till it can be sorted.

When you phone up they know your desperate and the price goes up. Explain your in no hurry, it was a cheap car and so on and the price might come down.

I don’t know how much Fiat charge for a preprogrammed mechanical key. I know for the remote you need a mortgage, might be worth asking

 

[cnut]

Cheers, really helpful information. So am I right in saying that the emergency immob code I received from Fiat cannot be used to create a working key at a auto locksmith?

Yeah we really should have got it cloned whilst it was working, well working 9 times out 10. It could be completely unrelated but it's only really stopped working again since we had this hot weather...

I forgot to mention I replaced the antenna with a brand new spare I had purchased for my Alfa 147 which coincidently has immobiliser problems too but this is unfortunately ECU related. So I'm pretty certain that's not at fault.

The circuit board has been removed and cleaned from the keyfob and to be honest it looks like new but I have read they can sometimes get dry joints so I might get the soldering iron and heat them up.

I'll get onto Fiat now for a quote.

 

[koalar]

. So am I right in saying that the emergency immob code I received from Fiat cannot be used to create a working key at a auto locksmith?

Correct

It can only be used to add an already working programmed to your car key

 

[koalar]

You can use the CODE to start the car in an emergence

Never tried it myself

Some combination of pedals I think

 

[cnut]

You can use the CODE to start the car in an emergence

Never tried it myself

Some combination of pedals I think

Yes it does work, it's a tedious procedure but it does work at least!

 

[irc]

Might be totally irrelevant, but...
Is the failed key a remote type?
If so, it might be worth taking to an auto locksmith anyway.
I bought a cheap Panda Diesel with a faulty remote key about 5 years ago. There was a standard key with it too, so I didn't bother doing anything about it. Got a spare key cloned and left both on the same keyring so I still had remote door locking.
Anyway, I was working on another Panda for a friend and they had called out a mobile locksmith to sort out their broken key. By mistake I handed over the faulty key to my Panda, which he pulled apart. By the time I had realised and swapped the keys over he had diagnosed a fault with mine and fixed it. Charged me a fiver, it has worked perfectly ever since.
Unfortunately I didn't ask him what he did at the time, but I suspect it was a common problem for him to find & fix it in less than 5 minutes.

 

[koalar]

Might be totally irrelevant, but...
Is the failed key a remote type?
If so, it might be worth taking to an auto locksmith anyway.
I bought a cheap Panda Diesel with a faulty remote key about 5 years ago. There was a standard key with it too, so I didn't bother doing anything about it. Got a spare key cloned and left both on the same keyring so I still had remote door locking.
Anyway, I was working on another Panda for a friend and they had called out a mobile locksmith to sort out their broken key. By mistake I handed over the faulty key to my Panda, which he pulled apart. By the time I had realised and swapped the keys over he had diagnosed a fault with mine and fixed it. Charged me a fiver, it has worked perfectly ever since.
Unfortunately I didn't ask him what he did at the time, but I suspect it was a common problem for him to find & fix it in less than 5 minutes.

Cool

Fingers crossed

 

[cnut]

Might be totally irrelevant, but...
Is the failed key a remote type?
If so, it might be worth taking to an auto locksmith anyway.
I bought a cheap Panda Diesel with a faulty remote key about 5 years ago. There was a standard key with it too, so I didn't bother doing anything about it. Got a spare key cloned and left both on the same keyring so I still had remote door locking.
Anyway, I was working on another Panda for a friend and they had called out a mobile locksmith to sort out their broken key. By mistake I handed over the faulty key to my Panda, which he pulled apart. By the time I had realised and swapped the keys over he had diagnosed a fault with mine and fixed it. Charged me a fiver, it has worked perfectly ever since.
Unfortunately I didn't ask him what he did at the time, but I suspect it was a common problem for him to find & fix it in less than 5 minutes.

Yes it is a remote type, it's the only key we have for the car.

That's interesting, I wonder what he did?! There is an auto locksmith local to me I might try.

 

[irc]

Yes it is a remote type, it's the only key we have for the car.

That's interesting, I wonder what he did?! There is an auto locksmith local to me I might try.

Got to be worth a try.
If its any further help, the remote key had been stood on by the previous owner, which stopped it working. All the buttons still worked but it wouldn't start the car.
She had tried to replace the case, but given up, so it could well have been something that didn't respond well to being squeezed.

 

[koalar]

Fingers crossed it’s just this
@minirib post

Panda 2009 (P) wont start?! | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

Was starting yesterday! And engine turns over, seems to be plenty of power, I have checked HT leads and all spark plugs, first impression I thought it was flooded, but have dismissed this now and now thinking low voltage, so charging battery fully up, one thing I put the OBD reader in comes up...

www.fiatforum.com

 

[cnut]

Fingers crossed it’s just this
@minirib post

Panda 2009 (P) wont start?! | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

Was starting yesterday! And engine turns over, seems to be plenty of power, I have checked HT leads and all spark plugs, first impression I thought it was flooded, but have dismissed this now and now thinking low voltage, so charging battery fully up, one thing I put the OBD reader in comes up...

www.fiatforum.com

Thanks sounds like a very similar issue to what I'm having. My father is the expert solderer so I'll get him to take a look.

 

[cnut]

Thanks so much everyone for all your help. The resoldering trick worked I will make sure he gets it’s cloned now as a matter of urgency!

 

[koalar]

That’s great news

Nice to hear what fixed the problem

Has the possibility to help others that are yet to follow down this road.