mgcvk

Oh dear. We have a ten year old Fiesta bought recently which only came with one key. Been meaning to get another made, but with the law of sod, it looks like I may have lost the precious key after an impromptu pub visit. Will I be able to get a new couple of keys made with the car details Ford chassis number etc?

Leslie

You probably can with a BMW Mini, as you say it all seems to go with the car's details. If I give the agents my key they seem to be able to find out all about it including how many miles it has done. Maybe your car will be the same.

Doesn't make a new key any cheaper though!

Les

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

The biggest headache will be if the key has a chip inside for the immobiliser (IIRC that is 1996 onwards).

Ford locking/ignition barrels can be quite easily modified to take another ford type key by purchasing a repair kit and some watch-making expertise (or using some spare bits from some old ford locks). The Immobiliser on the otherhand will need someone with the equipment to code the key to the immobiliser.

Ford dealer is your first port of call, but its going to cost you..

Oilburner

Have you still got the original handbook?If you're lucky the 6 digit key number might have been written or stamped in it.Did the key have a red bit on the end opposite the blade?If so you need a new key to be reprogrammed by the dealer as you can only code keys yourself if you have the original red master key.You can pick up complete lock sets off EBay very cheaply for a Fiesta and they're pretty simple to change

mgcvk

Yes it is the black key with the red bit at the end, just a key with no push buttons. It is a pain that the car did not come with the red key. I have a red key from a previous Fiesta but I'm guessing that isn't much use! Doesn't seem to be a key code in the handbook. I haven't rung Ford yet for a price...I don't think it will be cheap.

mgcvk

Cheers. They seem ideal, but problem is they cover London only and the car is in Norfolk. Hoping to find other locksmiths nearer.

mart360

The black key with the red end is a standard transponder key.

You can get them replaced for about £35 notes

you big problem is the red key!

AFAIK without that no other keys will be cut.

fiat used to charge in excess of £800 for a red key for some of there cars

there is a way round the red key

PM me for details


mart

Leslie

My coded key for my BMW Mini does not have a red bit on it, but it has the open/close buttons. I have another all black key with no open close buttons and it is not coded. I also have a completely plastic slim key which will operate the car door lock and the ignition.

I am confused now!

Les

mgcvk

The Fiesta is pretty basic and the one key does everything but each company seems a bit different. Apparently Ford stopped doing the red master key after 1998 so you only got two black keys with the car. I have rung the previous owner mind you and they only ever had the one key from new!! I have rung Ford and they reckon you need at least two keys to get another cut so I don't know what is going on there?

I will be able to get this sorted though I will be lucky to get change out of £150. A really helpful chap I spoke to on the phone is here http://www.keysinthepost.com/actinic/AboutUs.html and if all else fails I might get the car relayed there by the AA to be sorted. Wish I had got a spare done by them before I lost it and if anyone only has one key this firm might be worth a try.

Leslie

Yes it is one of my pet fears that my key might get lost. The uncoded key will start the car and the alarm stops after the engine starts, all seems a bit strange to me.

Les

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Les; your Mini will have the same immobiliser/alarm system as BMWs, where they don't have any obvious sign there is a chip inside the key. This system is in a totally different league to that of a 10 year old Fiesta.

Even the ultra thin plastic emergency key has a chip in it to start the car (it will not turn off the alarm, until the ignition is turned on. Where the chip in the key will be read, if its the correct key the Control unit sees its an authorised key, so allow the engine to fire up and turns off the alarm. Funnily, BMW have used this technology for ten years now. So even ten years ago it supassed that of a Fiesta.

A lost key can be "de-coded" (or to put it better the key transponder code erased from the memory of the vehicle's control unit), so it won't start the car, same with the remote when opening/locking the doors (well, on BMWs you can, at least), however doors will stil be able to be opened manually unless the lock set is changed, and teh engine can be cranked, but the engine won't run and stall straight away.

Leslie

Thanks for all that Ali,I was obviously confused with their system.

Did not realise the plastic key has a chip in it as well. I feel a bit more confident now if I did lose the original key knowing that the engine will start and the alarm will stop.

Les