betsy Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Hi there, my 2003 2.8 JTD Fiat Ducato based Hymer has developed a problem with it's immobiliser not always recognizing one of the keys (sometimes engine will crank willingly but not start or engine will start and immediately stop). Switched to the other key and.... no problems. My van is a german LHD import so the manual is in German. I am hoping that someone out there can tell me if the key has a battery built into it (behind the circular pad on one side of the black plastic section of the key under which is another small cover with a small cross-headed screw in it) that needs changing or if there is something else I can do to put things right? I obviously want to avoid visiting a Fiat main dealer to be "plugged-in" as I have just had a similar problem with my Mondeo which cost me almost 200 quid to have "checked" and the keys "re-programmed". Strikes me that these electrical-computer-linked problems are the modern equivalent of "Once he's got you on the jack, he got you Jack!" Thanks in advance for any help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxer1 Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 My van is a 1998 fiat Ducato. Last summer it let me down on two occassions in one month. I contacted my friend who is a fiat mechanic and his advice was "do not spend any money on it trying to repair it, have it taken off". Try the Fiat Ducato web page and you will find plenty of information regarding the immobilisters on ducato engines. Boxer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euroserv Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Hello Betsy, Earlier Ducato's (up to 2002) could have the immobiliser removed but yours cannot. Key failure is normally caused by dropping it onto a hard surface and since the vehicle stores the key code and not the other way around you will probably require a trip to the dealer; often requiring a new lock set and 3 keys costing over £250 plus the programming charge! On the other hand there are specialists around that can supply replacement keys that will be a 'clone' of the one that remains working. Check Yellow pages for a key supplier and they should be able to point you in the right direction. It will not be cheap because the kit to do it and the key blanks are expensive and it has to be recovered somehow! Don't hand over any money until you have tried the new key in your locks and checked that BOTH keys now operate the ignition and start the vehicle. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yrocker Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Timpson's the shoe repairers can clone keys at around £70. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betsy Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 Thank you all for your help! I still have a couple of queries. How does the vehicle recognize the key? Does the key send a signal and if so is it battery powered? As my "dicky" key works most of the time can it be re-set? The other point, whilst my Hymer was first registered in 2003 I'm pretty sure that the Fiat base will have been hanging around in a yard somewhere and may well have been made in 2002 - if so I will check to see if it has a removable immobiliser as suggested. Once again, thanks a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minstrel Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 We had problems with our Fiat immobiliser, if you search under immobiliser you'll find it. Get the garage to check the wiring before agreeing to ordering a new box. Our fiat garage ssaid they couldn't just remove the immobiliser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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