General Lost Keys and solutions

[CJC1968]

Right we had the original code 2 I believe....no red key. We only ever had one ignition key. When we bought the car we changed all the locks but when I took the new ignition barrel and key to the fiat dealer they told me the code was wrong (!?!?) and "couldn't do it" - don't know what that was all about. So, we kept the original ignition barrel and had a different key for the doors.
The situation now is the autolocksmith has changed all door locks and ignition barrel but the key was the one that has the pyramid with circles and number 2. He told me we need to order the code from Fiat and get a new key set. The prices I'm being quoted are horrendous though :-(

 

[Eklipze3k]

If he'd got the ECU from the same vehicle that the keys, locks and barrel came from you'd have no problem. See if he can get hold of it. If not, I still think your cheapest option would be to get the ECU, barrel and keys from another donor vehicle (and the door locks too imo, but that's just me not liking to get confused with 2 identical keys!). Means you don't have to pay through the nose to be able to get the car mobile again, unless you want a spare key (or 2!) cut.

 

[David C]

The situation now is the autolocksmith has changed all door locks and ignition barrel but the key was the one that has the pyramid with circles and number 2.

That "2" on the blade means they are Code2 keys (the later system that does not have Master Keys). The older Code1 system had the same symbol on the blade, but no number next to it.
Code1 keys are easy to clone, Code2 are rather more complicated.

Still confused by what your locksmith told you in your first post:

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.

You would NEVER have a Code1 and a Code2 key on the same car.

 

[cc1]

The other option is to contact these http://www.ecutesting.com/ with your ecu details.
They may be able to unlock the ecu to stop the code system from working.

 

[blu73]

I'm with fraz on this one. doesn't really matter whats going on with code1 and code2 then so long as you get a code2 key & matching ignition barrel & ecu. Can leave the door locks well alone if you don't mind having 2 keys.

Quick trip to your local scrapyard and a few bob and you'll be sorted.

 

[cc1]

I'm with fraz on this one. doesn't really matter whats going on with code1 and code2 then so long as you get a code2 key & matching ignition barrel & ecu. Can leave the door locks well alone if you don't mind having 2 keys.

Quick trip to your local scrapyard and a few bob and you'll be sorted.

Don't forget the code box is required also.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Don't forget the code box is required also.

Which is part of the ECU.

 

[Ralf S.]

I might be more of a genius than all the techno-brains of Fiat Group... but why don't they make the keycode doodah (See? I'm a genius! ) a little chip that you just plug in to the ECU?

If you lose a key, you order a new one. In the box are a pair of new keys and a new doodah. You just have to get the new kesy cut to the shape as the spare key (which would no longer work with the new doodah.. but still, it served its purpose) or, if you have no keys, to the lock (some dismantling but still possible).

No charge, Fiat, if you want to use my idea..

Ralf S.

 

[blu73]

i think that depends what type of ecu it has, with it being an mpi it might have the other style ecu (which i know little about)

 

[Eklipze3k]

Ahh, didn't realise it was MPI, I must've skipped right over that fact

 

[CJC1968]

Oh dear, this sounds even more complicated than I thought! I sent jiminwatford photo of my engine and he tells me it's the one with 2 cables and so I need the ecu, immobiliser and ignition with key. It would have been so much easier if the person who took our keys just handed them in to the police.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Would've been even easier not to drop them in the first place I mean seriously, you have handbags!

 

[CJC1968]

Hi

Firstly it was the daughter that lost the keys, I wouldn't be so careless.

Many years ago somebody broke into the car and stole the stereo. We bought an ignition barrel and new locks with 2 keys and a blue card with electronic and mechanic codes on it. We changed the door locks but left the ignition barrel with the original key hence 2 keys, 1 to get in and 1to start. Last week.....daughter loses keys but still had one key spare so could still get in and of course the new ignition barrel which we fitted believing we could just get a locksmith to re-programme it. So maybe I'm being silly but why can't I put the new ignition barrel in using the spare key from new lock set and programme the ecu to accept the new code? Or can you not programme an ecu to accept a new code?

 

[David C]

OK, it may just need someone with the correct Diags computer to allow the car ECU to take the new ignition key.
Fiat/Alfa main dealers and specialists will have the "Examiner" system, which is needed to get it to work.
There are others (ie DEC Superscan) that some garages may have, but I don't think any DIY software (ie FiatECUScan) is able to work with the Code2 system.

Your mobile locksmith is unlikely to have the kit to do it (hence the fobbing off with talk of "key 1" & "key 2"...!!)

 

[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.

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