Hi folks, i'm still pretty new to this forum so just point me in the right direction if i'm being daft!
My dad has a 51 plate Fiat Doblo Cargo and he's been having trouble with the key entering the locks (driver door, and ignition barrel - the rear door mechanism has broken completely and i'm unsure about the passenger door). He says that it'll sometimes just slide into the keyhole but other times it is really stiff and he has to faff about for ages till it eventually goes in (this applies to both locks).
For the ignition barrel, once the key is engaged there is no issue with starting the van, just getting the key into the lock in the first place.
He's tried all the usual WD40 stuff to no avail so is now thinking that the key and or locks are worn.
A trip to the Fiat dealership told him £250 to get a new key cut or £500 for new lock kit (which comes with keys).
I phoned the local Timpsons key cutting place and they said that a there is a "chip" in the head of the key. I've never heard of this before for this type of key since both my car (fiat panda 2009) and my dad's van have no remote central locking - is this correct?
Anyway, they said to bring the key in and if their computer can read this chip then they can cut a new key and it'll be between £35 and £50.
Apologises for being so long-winded but my main questions are:
Is it a common thing for the back door mechanism to break so that it will only open from the inside?
Is it a known fault that the key will become stuck on the way into the lock(s)?
And is it correct about this mysterious chip in the head of these seemingly simple keys?
I hope many of you can help!
Thanks, Brian