Technical Stolen 500 :(

[addscalamity]

Morning all,

2015 lounge was stolen last week, the car was recovered with no damage accept to the ignition barrel and the plastics around the wheel. I haven’t claimed off the insurance yet and was wondering if anyone knew the following; if I get a new or secondhand ignition with blade (I can’t just replace the barrel, need to replace the whole unit), can I just then put the new blade in my old key?

The fact that they managed to start the car without the key, suggests to me that the ignition barrel isn’t getting a code or anything from the key to deactivate an immobiliser, so surely all I need to do is replace the ignition barrel….or is my thinking wrong?

Many thanks

Adds

 

[bugsymike]

Morning all,

2015 lounge was stolen last week, the car was recovered with no damage accept to the ignition barrel and the plastics around the wheel. I haven’t claimed off the insurance yet and was wondering if anyone knew the following; if I get a new or secondhand ignition with blade (I can’t just replace the barrel, need to replace the whole unit), can I just then put the new blade in my old key?

The fact that they managed to start the car without the key, suggests to me that the ignition barrel isn’t getting a code or anything from the key to deactivate an immobiliser, so surely all I need to do is replace the ignition barrel….or is my thinking wrong?

Many thanks

Adds

A few points I have heard that you may need to verify.
1. Even if not claiming from insurance company I think legally they ask you to notify them, which I think is a cheek, but if fail to do so they may invalidate any future claim.
2. Normally the chip in the plastic part of the key tells the computer to switch off immobiliser, so if a different key that may work with the physical lock mechanism is used it will mess up the immobiliser system , possibly stopping it from working with the correct one.
3. When I have had to change a steering lock due to jammed mechanism etc. I use the key blade that comes with the new lock but have to fit it in the old key fob containing the immobiliser chip.
The only thing about this is it means door, boot and sometimes fuel cap keys are different, which is a pain. Depending on if it is just the actual steering lock which is damaged it sometimes is possible to fit the original key barrel and keys into the new steering lock assembly. Probably not in your case.
4. As I understand it once the mechanical steering lock has been broken off modern thieves can over ride the system electronically to start the car.
5. Another point to remember is follow safety instructions re disconnecting the battery etc. when working near Air Bag System at steering wheel as can be fatal!
This is all general, I am sure others on Forum can give more specific detail on your model.

 

[addscalamity]

Good morning Bugsy,

Thanks for the reply, the car still starts, but the original barrel is not with the car anymore, it was broken out to gain access to what was behind it, which how I started her to bring her home.

I still have the keys, I was making a claim, but the car was found so I went and picked her up and cancelled the claim, I just don’t want to then claim for what is probably a few hundred pounds worth of work

 

[bugsymike]

Good morning Bugsy,

Thanks for the reply, the car still starts, but the original barrel is not with the car anymore, it was broken out to gain access to what was behind it, which how I started her to bring her home.

I still have the keys, I was making a claim, but the car was found so I went and picked her up and cancelled the claim, I just don’t want to then claim for what is probably a few hundred pounds worth of work

I fitted a cheap chinese steering lock assembly to my daughters VW Golf, it came with all the electronics (ignition switch and immobiliser aerial ring that fits around the key barrel, but I changed all the electrics with the original German products and on this one I was lucky enough to reuse the ignition barrel with original key set, so had no extra key problems.
I fully accept that you get what you pay for, but after lubrication I was happy with it's operation.
Going back to the insurance side, you may find a premium increase at next renewal inspite of no claim, though it may depend on the company.

 

[John202020]

Was the plastic cover to the right next to the door under the vent removed?

 

[varesecrazy]

Was the plastic cover to the right next to the door under the vent removed?

Exposing the OBD port..

Potentially turning off the Immobiliser requirement

Image is a panda (but virtually identical)

 

[varesecrazy]

Member in the Panda section is a good source of lock cross-reference knowledge

@koalar

 

[A3jeroen]

Take a look on Youtube. Paul (Typecastboy overhere) has done a few video's on stolen recovered 500's. Love 500 on Youtube.

gr J

 

[koalar]

If it's only the barrel that's damaged then all you need is a lock set and change change the blade on the old key

Getting the old barrel out might be tricky as you normally insert the key and press a button, but still doable

If the part that holds the barrel is also damaged

It will need to be cut out with a hammer and chisel

5520A10 IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY - R+R - Fiat - NUOVA 500 - eLearn - 4CarData

You "may" be able to use the innards of a locking petrol cap inside a new barrel and keep your old key as they were, the passenger airbag switch works on the drivers door on a panda, I don't own a 500, so don't know


Did you lock the car with the remote, post 2012 ish cars the OBD2 is dead until a valid signal is received, I suspect someone interrupt the signal as the car was locked

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I would defiantly talk to the insurance company.

As it’s been recovered you have no way of knowing how they bypassed the ignition, any search on the car may show it as stolen/recovered via the police.

So if the car is stolen again and your insurance company find out it had been previously stolen and recovered then they may invalidate your insurance for having not reported the previous theft.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I fitted a cheap chinese steering lock assembly to my daughters VW Golf, it came with all the electronics (ignition switch and immobiliser aerial ring that fits around the key barrel, but I changed all the electrics with the original German products and on this one I was lucky enough to reuse the ignition barrel with original key set, so had no extra key problems.
I fully accept that you get what you pay for, but after lubrication I was happy with it's operation.
Going back to the insurance side, you may find a premium increase at next renewal inspite of no claim, though it may depend on the company.

Sadly Im sure you are right. Once you claim its done. Make the buggers pay. Get a secondary security device to stop this happening again too.

 

[chris3234]

Good morning Bugsy,

Thanks for the reply, the car still starts, but the original barrel is not with the car anymore, it was broken out to gain access to what was behind it, which how I started her to bring her home.

I still have the keys, I was making a claim, but the car was found so I went and picked her up and cancelled the claim, I just don’t want to then claim for what is probably a few hundred pounds worth of work

Is it not. A few hundred
Really it needs new locks all around
Any Cosmetic damage fixing and a complete set of the news programming in

If it's only the barrel that's damaged then all you need is a lock set and change change the blade on the old key

Getting the old barrel out might be tricky as you normally insert the key and press a button, but still doable

If the part that holds the barrel is also damaged

It will need to be cut out with a hammer and chisel

5520A10 IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY - R+R - Fiat - NUOVA 500 - eLearn - 4CarData

You "may" be able to use the innards of a locking petrol cap inside a new barrel and keep your old key as they were, the passenger airbag switch works on the drivers door on a panda, I don't own a 500, so don't know


Did you lock the car with the remote, post 2012 ish cars the OBD2 is dead until a valid signal is received, I suspect someone interrupt the signal as the car was locked

Not sure how true the port being dead part is given how many 500s and especially arbarths are stolen each year via bypassing the immobiliser via obd port

Just need ignition bypassing via breaking the lock like has happened to the op

 

[addscalamity]

Evening all,

Thanks for the input everyone, cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.

Yes the panel had been removed….I will check out the YouTube channel.