New Car? Make sure youve got 3 keys!

Minimods

I agree with the OP

Alfa Romeo's (1995-2000) come with 3 keys, two red keys and one bergandy key. If it doesn't have the bergandy key then walk away because this is a master and cannot be reproduced. You will be looking at up to £1k for a new ecu and associated gubbins ie locks.

Woby_Tide

angelatgraceland wrote:

Do they though??? Anyone on here able to verify that? I would have thought it may be the case for other makes also.

(that was my point, that it's not unique to Ford)

Woby_Tide

Wig wrote:

You haven't explained why with 2 keys you can simply have another made...and with 1 key you need all this communicating with the car business.

Because Ford designed the system so that if 2 seperate keys are present you can code your own newly cut key (with a transponder fob) without needing to go to the dealership and pay for it to be coded by them. Having 2 keys present increases the likelihood that the genuine owner is present rather than some opportunist who has stolen a single key. And also so that everytime you start up the car it doens't think you are trying to recode a new key, whereas when it senses 2 keys it knows what you want to do.

JimArnold

here's a set of instructions to clarify - please note this is from an american site and while I have used it successfully on a ford focus - its your risk. But hopefully it will explain the OPs point about getting a new key while you still have both origionals

If you want to add a key....

**You must have two original keys to perform this procedure. If you only have one key, you WILL have to take it to the dealer to get it programmed**

1. Insert and existing (working) key into the ignition cylinder.

2. Turn the ignition cylinder ON (RUN) and back to OFF. Ignition should stay on for at least ONE SECOND.

3. Remove the existing key and, within TEN seconds, insert a second working key and turn it to ON (RUN) and the back OFF. Ignition must be in ON for at least ONE second, but no more than TEN seconds. Remove the key.

4. Insert the new key before TWENTY seconds have elapsed and turn it to ON (RUN). Leave it the ON position for at least ONE second and turn back to OFF.

5. The security light will light up for THREE seconds to indicate that the new key has been successfully programmed.

6. To program additional keys, repeat steps 1 through 5

Wig

Ok, but I think that a dealership is there to provide a service to it's customers. There is the issue of security which is why I would EXPECT to be able to go to a Ford dealership with my one remaining key, my car and my V5 and proof of my identity eg passport etc. Iwould then EXPECT the company to be able to have the facitlity to give me a new key without rediculous expense.

It does not sound like a sensible system to me, it sounds like a licence to rip off the customer.

Thanks to JimArnold who explained that the system is based on the cars ECU learning and logging the new Key number, I can't see why these keys can't simply be copied onto blanks.

chrisw

Ahh. Now I understand. Mind you, the only time you'd normally get a spare key cut is when you've lost one.

Woby_Tide

For completeness sake then, what are Vauxhall/Renault/Citroen/Volkswagen/Peugeot/et al's policy on providing new keys coded to your cars immobiliser, do they all do it for free?

If the car starts with 3 keys, but you then buy it with only 1, I'd suggest telling the person you purchase it off to stump up some of the cost of getting a new one. then with your 2 sparkly keys you can now encode any new ones for free.

The fact is they have given you a way to encode your keys FOR FREE. Licence to rip off? Well if giving you the facility to do it for free without needing to go to a dealer is a ripoff then so be it

Thanks to JimArnold who explained that the system is based on the cars ECU learning and logging the new Key number, I can't see why these keys can't simply be copied onto blanks.

Probably for security reasons as stated before, so that no-one with only a single key can make a working key without a) providing proof of ownership at a dealership or b) providing a second key already programmed to the car


*awaits future thread "Some !!!!!! nicked my car key and cloned it, why don't Ford make it harder?"*

Wig

It's the rip off factor, that is annoying. Even if they have to plug a handheld computer to your car for a new key after supplying ownership proof the cost should not be more than 25 pounds.

"Vauxhall/Renault/Citroen/Volkswagen/Peugeot/et al's policy on providing new keys coded to your cars immobiliser, do they all do it for free?"
You tell me, and whilst you're at it find out about Mitsu, Toyota, Subaru, Honda, Jaguar, Proton, Smart, Mercedes.

nads

I can nly speak for my Vauxhall Astra, but I bought a fob key off Ebay, got a new cut, which allowed me use it as a standard key.

I then reporgrammed the key, using info off the net and now it works for £18! instead of £110 the dealship wanted!

Wig

Got a link to your info?