General Lost Keys and solutions

[CJC1968]

Hi

I'm a new member and I have read previous posts but am still a little bit unclear about where I go from here. My daughter drives a Seicento sporting and last Monday dropped her keys. She didn't realise until the next morning. We since found out that a passer-by found them and handed them to a neighbour who put them on a garden wall as he didn't know who they belonged to. Hmm. That aside, we've tried everything but to no avail - keys are still missing.
Now, before we bought the car somebody had broken into it so we bought a whole new lock and key set. we had the door locks changed but never changed the ignition barrell. So the other day we called a mobile company who came out to change the locks. He did it all but then found that he couldn't programme the ignition for two reasons - (1) we didn't have the "original access code" that came with the car (we have no idea where this is) and (2) we only have a number 2 key for the ignition - the fiat provider we bought the locks from never gave us key 1.

So the position now is that we can get in the car but we can't start it as we don't have the code and we don't have a number 1 key.

Can anyone tell me (as simply as possible as I'm a woman what we can now do?

Thank you in advance
Caroline

 

[Eklipze3k]

Hi Caroline, welcome to the forum

OK, so there's 2 key systems - Code1 and Code2. Code2 is identified by a 2 and a circle with a pyramid on the keyblade, so this is what you have. Even if the keys hadn't been lost, a new key cannot be programmed properly by anyone other than the dealer. For insurance reasons, the code cards are not given with the vehicles and are retained by ISR. This is why you don't have one, and again it's only available from a dealer.

At this stage, with no keys and different locks/barrels your best option would be to get locks, ignition barrel, keys and ECU from a donor vehicle and swap the whole lot over. Find out the VIN of the vehicle that these come from so that you can obtain the CODE card from the dealer, in the event that any new keys are required.

Speak to jiminwatford as he breaks these cars so may well have a full set available

 

[dirtyhands]

ouch,that may mean getting another barrel and key and ecu to code match,think there maybe other threads around forum with same problems.others will advise more on this.

 

[CJC1968]

Hi
Thanks very much for your super-quick replies. Presumably we can keep the door locks as they are rather than change them again and then get a new iginition barrel, keyS (plural lol) and ecu. We then have to get a code from Fiat. Am I right in thinking the VIN code is under the bonnet?

Thanks
Caroline

 

[Eklipze3k]

You could keep the door locks as they are, they only use the keyblade rather than the code, just a case of remembering which key is which!
VIN I think is actually in the boot (it is in mine anyway).

 

[CJC1968]

Thank you all very much.

 

[hf turbo]

can you get into the car? if so remove one of the locks and take it to the dealers, they should be able to cut you a fresh key.

a good key cutter should also be able to do this. coding will be another matter

 

[cc1]

All the info in the first post with regard to keys and locks is confusing and contradicting.

" but never changed the ignition barrell. We only have a number 2 key for the ignition " So why does it not work? "- the fiat provider we bought the locks from never gave us key 1. " ?

Also, there is no info available to establish if the car is code 1 or 2.

@ CJC1968. What year is the car?

 

[CJC1968]

Sorry if post seemed confusing. The car is a 51 plate but listed as 2002. The reason it doesn't work is because the new ignition barrel we bought from Desira about 8 years ago came with only one key and that key has the triangle with circles and number 2 on it. The locksmith said that Fiat just sold us an off the shelf set rather than ordering one specifically for our car.

 

[Ralf S.]

I thought modern technology meant that a key could be programmed by the likes of Timpsons etc. from any key, not necessarily just the master key (brown one)?

Or does that only apply to Code 1?



Ralf S.

 

[dave]

I thought modern technology meant that a key could be programmed by the likes of Timpsons etc. from any key, not necessarily just the master key (brown one)?

Or does that only apply to Code 1?



Ralf S.

only code 1

 

[fingers99]

Although this may have changed. Worth checking.

Will probably be code 2, but look at the key.

You'll need ECU, matching key and ignition lock and code box. Try jim in watford.

 

[dave]

Although this may have changed. Worth checking.

a good locksmith can make code 2 keys now, there is one on the forum. but shoe repair shops cant

 

[Eklipze3k]

a good locksmith can make code 2 keys now, there is one on the forum. but shoe repair shops cant

Indeed, ponsaloti would be the man IIRC

 

[CJC1968]

But code 2 doesn't have the chip in it so wouldn't help me, right?

 

[Eklipze3k]

Code2 does have a chip, but it uses a rolling code sync'd to the ECU, hence why you need to get the ECU from the donor vehicle if you're changing everything. With it being a rolling code though, as @Dave says, high street guys won't be able to just clone it but a proper autolocksmith *should* be able to sort it out using the ECU. Your best option for trouble free key creation though would be a dealer, unfortunately, because they're expensive!

 

[cc1]

Sorry if post seemed confusing. The car is a 51 plate but listed as 2002. The reason it doesn't work is because the new ignition barrel we bought from Desira about 8 years ago came with only one key and that key has the triangle with circles and number 2 on it. The locksmith said that Fiat just sold us an off the shelf set rather than ordering one specifically for our car.

So, you only fitted the lock set and used the other original key for ignition, which has now been lost. Also, I presume you only got 1 key when you bought the car?

Options are: get a complete ecu/decoder/ignition/key or keys and maybe lock/package.
Or, Get a new key ordered from fiat at a cost of maybe £200+.
Search for some company that can downlode the codes from the ecu or code box, to programme the key for your locks and fit the respective ignition barrel if you still have it?

 

[David C]

The reason it doesn't work is because the new ignition barrel we bought from Desira about 8 years ago came with only one key and that key has the triangle with circles and number 2 on it. The locksmith said that Fiat just sold us an off the shelf set rather than ordering one specifically for our car.

But has that Code2 key been working with your car for the last 8-years?

 

[NumanR]

Caroline your lock smith doesnt seem to know what he is talking about. If you have a code 2 key, get the code from Fiat, and or toe the car to a dealer and let them code it. Code 2 key sets are not "off the shelf", they are ordered specifically to vehicle through Fiat.

 

[David C]

But has that Code2 key been working with your car for the last 8-years?

OK, I've just noticed this bit:

...Now, before we bought the car somebody had broken into it so we bought a whole new lock and key set. we had the door locks changed but never changed the ignition barrel.

So, you had a new unused Code2 ignition key & barrel.
BUT is your car a Code2 car, or the older Code1...?
and:

...So the other day we called a mobile company who came out to change the locks. He did it all but then found that he couldn't programme the ignition for two reasons - (1) we didn't have the "original access code" that came with the car (we have no idea where this is) and (2) we only have a number 2 key for the ignition - the fiat provider we bought the locks from never gave us key 1.

has your latest mobile lock company now fitted a complete Code1 lockset into a Code2 car...? which obviously won't work...!