Technical Urgent Help please!!!

[scapee]

hello there,
i'm very new to fiats. i've just been given a marea weekend R reg i drove it home no problem BUT when i returned an hour later it wouldn't start. the key with code underneath has lit and i've been told that the immobiliser has kicked in. i have all three original keys 1 red 2 blues. the fact that i've been given it shows i have no dosh and the fiat dealer wants £58 just to diagnose it. is there anything i or a friend can do that will help to bypass or disable it? what happened anyway . it's been sat on the driveway of the friend for 3 months by the way!! help me urgently please thank you

scapee

 

[bulldog5046]

so it has refused to start for the last 3 months?

and it wont work with the red key?

 

[scapee]

no apparantly it started first time for my friend. and when i picked it up it started no problem. but once i got it home after a 20 min drive it's refused ever since!!!

scapee

 

[bulldog5046]

does it turn over?

 

[scapee]

yes it turns over like it should but wont catch if you know what i mean?!

scapee

 

[jug]

have you tried using the red key to start it?

thats the master key. if it wont start with the red key it isnt good news, usually means a new ecu is needed.

 

[scapee]

yep i've tried it with the red and the 2 blue ones. can the ecu be disabled? so that i wouldn't need it at all? i read this here: http://www.usedcarexpert.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=2889

scapee

 

[Hellcat]

http://www.codeman.org/fiat.html

 

[jug]

aye good old codeman

 

[scapee]

well the rac man is towing it to the fiat dealer. it's gonna cost me i know it. but having some knowledge when he rings up will be good so they don't try anything
if you know what i mean thanks but if you have any more tips please tell me as the more i know the better.

scapee

 

[scapee]

so the garage have rang me and say that they've managed to bypass the relay and get the engine started but want a £170 to investigate further and see what really needs doing. :O i've asked if they can leave it that way so i can drive it even without immobiliser etc. they tell me that the wire will not be able to take the heat and it could set on fire!!!! how true is that? should i be scared and pay the money or is it just to get more out of me as i'm a female? help! Panic!

scapee

 

[Renegade_8]

Tell them to leave it like that and a freind will be putting a heavier gauge wire on and you take full responsibilty They probably don't want to leave the car in that condition and have you claim from them if something goes wrong. As you were given the car it's a bonus that its going! That codeman looks like a deal although it does mean venturing into Yorkshire

 

[scapee]

i do have a friend who can do the job for me now he knows what's wrong! is there any manual or anything that will show exactly what and how?

scapee

 

[scapee]

this is the latest on my fiat saga: went to garage to pick up the car they wouldn't let me. this is what they've written on their bill for £58 just to look at it. " Immob light staying on, checked and found no engine light, bridged out the replay, and car started. it will require more investigation time to find the fault £172.56 removed bridge and car will require to be recovered." so they wouldn't let me even have the keys to look under the bonnet. when i said i'll sign the disclaimer just bridge it again. they refused. so what can i do now? i've left it with the guy who gave me the car and i still don't have the registration docs so it's still at the dealers for now!!! i have to be first person to have had a fiat for this short period of time :s
any suggestions? anyone?

scapee

 

[Renegade_8]

Prolly one of the fitters there wants to fix the car up and sell it so they try to charge you more than its worth so you pass title over to them.(its called a a "lien" I always make it clear when I have work done that title in any of my cars cannot pass ) You could try giving them written notice to return your car and tell them you will issue a writ in the small claims court and sue if they try to charge you an unreasonable amount. If they see you are going to fight they may cave in.