Getting extra set of keys cut...

Fiii

Hey

Quick question...
Bought my first car recently from a dealer, but the girl who had traded it in had only supplied one car key. Knowing my luck, I will at some stage need an extra set so have been schleping around Dublin looking for a locksmith that will cut one for me - no such luck. They keep telling me I will have to go to Fiat to get one, and it's going to cost me alot. It's just a standard key, no RCL or alarm on it. Am I really going to have to go to a Fiat dealer, or am I being fed a load of BS?

ta for any responses!

$Leon$

The car obviously has an imobiliser on it. There is a chip in it thats coded to the car. Main dealers tend to be the only people that supply and code these. Alot cheaper to get it done before you need it or if you loose it you'll have to tow the car to dealer and possibly have the car off the road for a week waiting for the new key

Fiii

Ah yes, didn't think of that. Grand so, off to Fiat I go!

Cheers for that

tyney

try the locksmith on st peters road in walkinstown. the name escapes me at the moment. maybe someone on here can remember. They are very good. they completely fcuked up a blank that I bought off e-bay for 12 bucks. they then got me a replacement from toyota and posted it out to me. they lost a serious amount of cash, but excellent customer service. they do the immobiliser chip thing for some cars.

colm_mcm

spurious Fiat CODE keys are available from most locksmiths.

Malteaser!

does it cost much to get a new key from the manufacturer? i only got one with my car too!

crosstownk

tyney wrote:

try the locksmith on st peters road in walkinstown. the name escapes me at the moment.

Crothers.

You could also try Steve Guard.

johncm

Malteaser! wrote:

does it cost much to get a new key from the manufacturer? i only got one with my car too!

it depends on the code system of the key.If you look at the silver part of the key it will have a symbol and either 1 or 2 on it.
if its code 1 (up to 00) it should cost around €30/40. If its code 2 it costs more the key is around €75 and it takes about 1 hour to get the keys coded at a cost of around€60.

If its a code 1 key i would get one cut as if you misplace the keys you cannot get a key to start the car and it costs €1000+ for the parts to get the car going again.

Mr.Diagnostic

johncm wrote:

If its a code 1 key i would get one cut as if you misplace the keys you cannot get a key to start the car and it costs €1000+ for the parts to get the car going again.

For what type of car?

johncm

Mr.Diagnostic wrote:

For what type of car?

going from his earlier post a fiat

Mr.Diagnostic

johncm wrote:

going from his earlier post a fiat

Hi,

You responded to malteaser who was not the OP and did not say what type of car he has. That was why I asked.

There are some cars that you cannot code keys into without having access to existing keys but these are very much in the minority. Early Fiat/Alfa, Toyota and Lexus are of this type. With these the dealer solution is to supply keys, ECU's etc. Worst case I have found was Lexus who wanted (as far as I recall) €4800.
In these cases it is possible to bypass the immob or read the key data from the ECU and so clone the keys. Much cheaper than the dealer option. It is also possible in a lot of cases to "virginise" the ECU, by which I mean make it like a new uncoded one so then new keys can be coded.

It is interesting to note that the dealers are not equiped to do this but could easily be so. I guess they prefer to sell new ECU's or charge high prices to code replacement keys.

While I am on my soapbox Is it fair that the VAG group will not allow owners access to security info on the owners own car? If you own a VAG car and want a code to allow a new key be coded it is not available. The car has to go online so even the dealer tech does not get access to the code.
Of course the code can be read from car if you know how.

crosstownk

Mr.Diagnostic wrote:

While I am on my soapbox Is it fair that the VAG group will not allow owners access to security info on the owners own car? If you own a VAG car and want a code to allow a new key be coded it is not available. The car has to go online so even the dealer tech does not get access to the code.
Of course the code can be read from car if you know how.

No it is not fair - it's a total hassle having to bring a VAG car to the dealer, who typically, will have a 2 week waiting lists. I can bring most other makes and models to an independent specialist, like yourself, and have the job done quicker and cheaper - it's simple programming really once you've the right equipment.

Incidentally, if you loose your radio code for a more recent VAG car it's the same bullsh1t procedure.:mad: