Neighbour broke car, won't pay

Quentin

optimus_primera wrote: »

Not quite correct, the fob is for the alarm system, the engine immobiliser is paired with the key.
Well it is with the NATS system on my Primera.

By fob I mean the rubber bit the blade comes out of.

That chip is the immobilser chip, "paired" with the immobiliser.

Easy for a locksmith to take the chip out and put it in a new blank key (you can DIY, get a blank off ebay and then just get it cut to match the spare key).

Too late now, but a locksmith could have got the broken bit out too.

Steaming33

Auto locksmith quoted me £100 just for call out, none of my local locksmiths would touch it, we're not in a big town so not loads of choice.

Anyway, I'm set on a Zafira now - a nice cheap one that runs well and is only ever driven by me - well at least that last thing.

patman99

Don't forget to borrow your neighbours car when he gets one, then accidentally break the key off in the ignition barrel.

roswell

Important lesson, dont trust anyone with your most vital / valuable assets.

Get another car, get insurance in your name only, named drivers only and if anyone asks to borrow it politely advise them they cant.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Quentin wrote: »

By fob I mean the rubber bit the blade comes out of.

That chip is the immobilser chip, "paired" with the immobiliser.

Easy for a locksmith to take the chip out and put it in a new blank key (you can DIY, get a blank off ebay and then just get it cut to match the spare key).

Too late now, but a locksmith could have got the broken bit out too.

Not with the Nissan NATS system, when I wanted a spare key for my nissan coding a replacement was beyond several independant well respected locksmiths I went to. In the end I paid the main dealer £70 odd quid just for an extra key that was coded to the immobiliser. This was over 10 years ago so I can well believe that the work the OP needed doing would get pretty close to the value of the car!

Quentin

I am referring to the NATS system!

I sorted one out as described (remove chip from broken key, get blank key, insert chip and get key cut to match spare)

There was no need to "code" the key. Blanks with a tray to insert the chip in are on ebay for around £6!

But you are right about how a main dealer reacted - I was told I'd have to get a new lock, all new keys, get these codes coded etc etc, total cost £300/£400!

ajuk

Tape record him admitting he owes you it and take him to small claims court.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Quentin wrote: »

I am referring to the NATS system!

I sorted one out as described (remove chip from broken key, get blank key, insert chip and get key cut to match spare)

There was no need to "code" the key. Blanks with a tray to insert the chip in are on ebay for around £6!

But you are right about how a main dealer reacted - I was told I'd have to get a new lock, all new keys, get these codes coded etc etc, total cost £300/£400!

Not at all the experience I had, but then it was over 10 years ago so maybe things have changed.

I just needed an extra key, there was no problem with the locks. The locksmith had a "blank key" which he cut to match, it would open the doors but could not disarm the immobiliser. He tried several methods to get the key to "code" like the original so that it would disarm the immobiliser but couldn't get it to work. He also telephoned several contacts while I was there to see whether they knew how to sort it and they didn't. He said at the time that it was no problem with most makes, but nissans were particularly difficult.

He wasn't scamming, he let me keep the key he cut for free (it worked to open the doors and boot so was useful to have just in case) and I went off to the main dealer.

Maybe things have moved on though.

Steaming33

Today's update, neighbour informs me he's got a lawyer. Idiot. If he'd said to me, look I'm really sorry, I'm skint, here's £80 or whatever we'd have just left it. It's all the lying and hanging about waiting for him to do something that really winds me up. He won't even admit he smoked in the car, he said it must have been the mechanic - I must have missed the mechanic stopping for a cheeky fag while I was watching him take the ignition out.

Gordon_Hose

So your neighbour can't afford to give you any money for the repair, but can afford a lawyer...

LOL.