lost keys

Hi Folks,

My silly sister has lost both blue keys to her seicento. Does anyone know an easy fix or do we have to go to Fiat with chassis number etc etc and get new keys made? I have heard talk of a 'red key' but have no idea if this is legend or reality.

All advice gratefully received.
Dave.

Uh-oh.. The red key is the master key,without it,you cannot code the blue slave keys.You also cannot re code the ECU to suit new keys...so the ecu has to have the code erased-a few specialists can do it,otherwise its a new ECU,code box and transponder unit,plus door and ignition locks...come up on ebay quite often now as its a known issue. Never had an issue in only having blue keys,had various Fiats with no red key,but without a key at all its a problem...

you can get the code removed, make sure you check out the reputation of the people concerned first, try some of the owners forums for lesser fiats

we had a customer with an alfa 146 (same red key system ) and he'd never noticed no red key till he removed his battery to attempt (and fail) to change his timing belts. he sent his ecu off to have the code feature blanked but after paying for the work it still wouldn't work.

we got him a replacement ecu from bosch (was surprised they listed one given its not a bosch system) and it actually stated that if you had no red key, then do not connect the multiplug from the key transonder to the ecu and it wouldnt look for it. hell of a lot cheaper than going to alfa for the full key, transponder and lock solution as long as you can get a key cut to suit locks, can't remember price but think it was circa £280 as opposed to circa £1,000.

if you do go for second hand option, make sure the bloody things work together as i've heard horror storries of people buying full second hand sets only to discover that the red key doesnt match the transponder that comes with it

I've got the same system in the Coupe - I keep the red (well, burgundy) key well and truly under lock and key. A while back I had to use the red key for a journey (the missus had run off with the other key). I'd have felt safer driving along with £10m in cash in the boot

We had no red key with our 146,coupe,Cinquecento Sporting and current Punto.Never,ever had an issue with needing the red key.Battery was disconnected for 2 hours on the coop when changing the clutch slave,and on the 146 for a couple of days whilst doing some engine work.no problems on re-connecting,so I think a lot of it is scare tactics.I'll continue to buy Fiats and Alfa's without the red key,and if it ever becomes a problem,I'll deal with it then! Losing the keys is another matter!

Thought I had better give an update to the no keys issue. We got in contact with Fiat who cut us a key to fit the lock and steering column. This allowed us to get into the car and turn steering lock off. We got a tow to the nearest Fiat garage where they were able to reprogramme that new key (or perhaps reprogramme the ECU to respond to that key) and then the key was able to start the car. We then got a second key cut and programmed by Fiat so as not to tempt fate. Total cost was just under £170 which was not too bad considering.