Key Cutting

Phil W

Phil W

Phil W

Soldato
Joined
19 Oct 2002
Posts
9,974
Location
Jupiter
Hi all,

Bought my car with only one key, the "red" key wasn't present.

According to t'internet you need 2 keys to program a new with my car, or face paying up to £160 for a new key to be cut/programmed.

Has anybody had to have a key replaced in such a way, if so how much did it cost and where from?

Theres a guy i found on a forum that will do me a new key for £45, but he requires the key for a day. Hardly feel comfortable sending the only key i have for my car in the post!

Many thanks :)
 
I didn't have the "Red" key for my Fiat when I got it, but I got a standard key cloned from a local mobile service. Took 5 minutes and cost me (I think) about £20.
 
I got a new key for my Alfa when I first bought it. The first key they sent was for the wrong car, and the second key they sent had only been cut to half the length of the blade.

I almost gave up by the end of it since it takes so long to get them.
 
Have 2 keys for my Alfa. One works fine, other opens the car up via lock and starts it no problems, but both door unlocking/boot buttons do not work, even though they flash and light up.

Obvious problem with this is that if my wife locks and immobilises the car, I can subsequently open the car with my key, but the alarm will sound. She does not immobilise the car whilst we have this problem, but obviously it's just a stop-gap.

Dealer could not recode the key (bye bye £20), alternatives were either cough up £220 for a new key + £20 re-code or bung it in the post to a specialist in the UK who will replace any defective parts, as we suspect something is wrong with either a microswitch or the circuit board itself.

I have no problems with this as the car's 2000 miles away from where the key currently is now, and saves me circa £200-£220. Guy's got a good rep too on the Alfa forums I browse.

[edit] It would be a bit of an issue if I had to send my only key though, as in your case.
 
I presume that this is going to be a Fiat, but if it isn't I could definately recommend this website:

http://www.remotekey.co.uk/

I have just used them to have an alarm/immobiliser fob for a Nissan recoded, £100 cheaper than any dealership in the northwest
 
As above, no red key and you need 2 keys to program a new one.

You can get a new key cut and supplied online and you can program the remote fob with only one key. Some guys will do it from a photo of the existing key!

However, the immobiliser is the bit you need 2 keys for and it's a garage job to code the keys to the ECU if you dont have 2 - about £120 for a new remote key last time I checked. However, some key cutting places can copy the immobiliser chip and will charge you about a tenner to do it, although this results in the car thinking they're the same key so you still wont be able to program any more if you go down that route. The one caveat is it's not possible with all keys - I found mine couldnt be copied as it was encrypted, I suspect yours may be the same as our cars are nearly identical ages and specs!
 
Witor said:
Have 2 keys for my Alfa. One works fine, other opens the car up via lock and starts it no problems, but both door unlocking/boot buttons do not work, even though they flash and light up.

Obvious problem with this is that if my wife locks and immobilises the car, I can subsequently open the car with my key, but the alarm will sound. She does not immobilise the car whilst we have this problem, but obviously it's just a stop-gap.

Dealer could not recode the key (bye bye £20), alternatives were either cough up £220 for a new key + £20 re-code or bung it in the post to a specialist in the UK who will replace any defective parts, as we suspect something is wrong with either a microswitch or the circuit board itself.

I have no problems with this as the car's 2000 miles away from where the key currently is now, and saves me circa £200-£220. Guy's got a good rep too on the Alfa forums I browse.

[edit] It would be a bit of an issue if I had to send my only key though, as in your case.
Click to expand...


£220 for a new key? Mine cost £120 inc programming!

If that guy is called Chris he did a good job of fixing my key (it was my only one at the time).
 
If that guy is called Chris he did a good job of fixing my key (it was my only one at the time).
Click to expand...

Certainly is :)

Yup £220 was what I was quoted, that actually did include re-programming (£20) but still a rip off for what is essentially a moulded plastic cover, a blade, and some very simple circuitry (i've seen an open 156 key). Ah well, fingers crossed this guy comes through.
 
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