Technical replacing ignition switch and key

[ff1963]

I own a ducato 2.8 1999 former ambulance, now a motorhome

My son has lost the door key and its also the ignition key as well
I phoned Fiat and they were saying its a £1,000 to get the key and a new ecu
Now i have seen them new on ebay by Fiat saying fits my van. I did not think my key was electronic in any way and looks like this item on
ebay ( 281691081512 )
am i right in thinking i am being told porkies

 

[CDK]

In '99 a lot of vehicles were already equipped with an immobilizer, but not as sophisticated as in more recent ones. A coil around the lock detected the presence of a key to prevent starting the car by tampering with the wires.
I don't know for sure if the device could identify a specific key, but if that was the case it was also possible to reprogram the key code without replacing the whole ECU.

 

[corcai]

I own a ducato 2.8 1999 former ambulance, now a motorhome

My son has lost the door key and its also the ignition key as well
I phoned Fiat and they were saying its a £1,000 to get the key and a new ecu
Now i have seen them new on ebay by Fiat saying fits my van. I did not think my key was electronic in any way and looks like this item on
ebay ( 281691081512 )
am i right in thinking i am being told porkies

Don't buy the keys from Fiat, if it has an immobiliser then you can post off the code unit from under the steering column and get transponders made to start the vehicle.
https://www.remotekeys.co.uk/fiat-ducato-immobiliser
Then you just need a dumb blank made at your local locksmiths or you can get them made from a photo by:
https://keysinthepost.com/

You may not have any immobiliser as its an ambulance, the original immobiliser was not very reliable in the long term so a lot of ambulances at least here in ireland were ordered without or had it disabled as they can't afford to have a not start situation.

 

[corcai]

I should have mentioned also that the locksmith can usually cut a key from the door barrel or sometimes the code on the door barrel when all keys are lost.

 

[ff1963]

Wow thank you
The tech guy at the Fiat branch never told me any of this.
Just smiling thinking i was spending a £1,000 at his show room. For a new ignition and ecu as this what he quoted me. Thank you as i had no knowledge of any of this. I have found a lock smith that will come to your home and make you a new key on site and block the old one so it cannot be used. I am waiting for a price. I will let you know how it all pans out.
Regards Frank

 

[ff1963]

I have just done a search on the site you gave me for keys to fit my van and it says no record of any transponder key listed. So maybe this is great news for me. Now i just need the key copied and home free.
I hope so its been a stressful week over this.
Because my van is a bespoke motorhome so i can deal with my meds i have to take and my disabilities.
So i am lost with out it. You have been a great help thank you again for all your help

 

[corcai]

I have just done a search on the site you gave me for keys to fit my van and it says no record of any transponder key listed. So maybe this is great news for me. Now i just need the key copied and home free.
I hope so its been a stressful week over this.
Because my van is a bespoke motorhome so i can deal with my meds i have to take and my disabilities.
So i am lost with out it. You have been a great help thank you again for all your help

No harm in trying a blank anyway since you need a key cut to put the transponder in get one with a slot for a transponder. Best of luck