Fiat red key revisited

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Mike M - 19 Mar 2007 20:45 GMT

Hi guys,

sorry to go over old ground, but I *have* read through the archives
and this one is slightly different.

My wife has a 1.1 Punto (S reg) that won't start. We assumed that the
battery had run flat due to a radio left on, and I tried to jump start
from my car using a cigarette lighter connector, which has worked
successfully in the past.

On this occasion, no joy, and I noticed that the "key code" dash light
is on. We don't have the code card (so don't know the number), but we
*do* have the "red key", which I'm hoping is relatively good news.

Question: do we need to get the car itself to a Fiat dealer
(difficult, considering that it won't start!) or can we just take the
red and blue keys and get them reprogrammed to a new number? And what
is the likely cost? (I'm assuming this won't be the BIG expense that
losing the red key would have incurred?)

Thanks in advance,

Mike M

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Hellraiser - 19 Mar 2007 22:03 GMT

> sorry to go over old ground, but I *have* read through the archives
> and this one is slightly different.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> is the likely cost? (I'm assuming this won't be the BIG expense that
> losing the red key would have incurred?)

Got the manual? The procedure is documented in there for reprogramming blue
keys if you have the red key, it's very straightforward (although I can't
remember the exact procedure) and can easily be done on the driveway in a
couple of minutes. I have a Bravo, will see if I can find the manual out
but the procedure is the same.

Hellraiser..............>

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Hellraiser - 19 Mar 2007 22:04 GMT

>> Question: do we need to get the car itself to a Fiat dealer
>> (difficult, considering that it won't start!) or can we just take the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> in a couple of minutes. I have a Bravo, will see if I can find the manual
> out but the procedure is the same.

Ought to add, so long as neither the blue key nor the ECU is faulty then
there will be no cost involved, other than a few minutes of your time :)

Hellraiser.............>

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SteveH - 19 Mar 2007 22:07 GMT

> > sorry to go over old ground, but I *have* read through the archives
> > and this one is slightly different.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> couple of minutes. I have a Bravo, will see if I can find the manual out
> but the procedure is the same.

It's not quite that easy if the red key won't start the car.

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SteveH - 19 Mar 2007 22:06 GMT

> Hi guys,
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> is the likely cost? (I'm assuming this won't be the BIG expense that
> losing the red key would have incurred?)

Yes, you'll need to go to a Fiat dealer - cost is likely to be about 40
quid for a blue key and an hour labour to hook it up to the diganostics
machine to clear the fault and match the new blue key to the
immobiliser.

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Mike M - 19 Mar 2007 22:17 GMT

> > Hi guys,
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> machine to clear the fault and match the new blue key to the
> immobiliser.

Many thanks for the rapid reply; just to confirm - we just need to
take the key(s) to the dealer, not the car as well? (Don't want to
have to tow it!)

Mike

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SteveH - 19 Mar 2007 22:26 GMT

> > Yes, you'll need to go to a Fiat dealer - cost is likely to be about 40
> > quid for a blue key and an hour labour to hook it up to the diganostics
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> take the key(s) to the dealer, not the car as well? (Don't want to
> have to tow it!)

You'll need to take the car in, 'cos it'll need hooking up to the
machine.

I am right in assuming the red key isn't starting the car, aren't I?

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Mike M - 19 Mar 2007 23:09 GMT

> > > Yes, you'll need to go to a Fiat dealer - cost is likely to be about 40
> > > quid for a blue key and an hour labour to hook it up to the diganostics
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> I am right in assuming the red key isn't starting the car, aren't I?

Yes, that's the case. I have AA homestart so I guess I could get a tow
off them.

I think we'll phone the local Fiat dealer first for advice.

Mike

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SteveH - 19 Mar 2007 23:12 GMT

> > > > Yes, you'll need to go to a Fiat dealer - cost is likely to be about 40
> > > > quid for a blue key and an hour labour to hook it up to the diganostics
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> I think we'll phone the local Fiat dealer first for advice.

Just re-read it you post.

First thing would be to try charging the battery or using proper jump
leads.

I suspect that, if it has a very flat battery, the cigarette lighter
lead wouldn't provide enough power to start it up.

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Hellraiser - 20 Mar 2007 19:56 GMT

>> > Yes, you'll need to go to a Fiat dealer - cost is likely to be about 40
>> > quid for a blue key and an hour labour to hook it up to the diganostics
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> I am right in assuming the red key isn't starting the car, aren't I?

The way I read it I assumed he hadn't used the red key, apologies for any
confusion I may have unwittingly caused ;)

Hellraiser.............>

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