Spare Motorhome Keys
I've just had the shock of my life. I wanted a spare key for my Fiat Ducato based motorhome.That's the key ,not the remote 'zapper'.I called the local dealer, told him the registration and he said that would be about £200.00 plus £90.00 for re-programming! 'That's around £300.00 for a key' I said. 'Ah but there's a piece of electronic wizardry built into it' he said. That may well be' I told him 'but I can go down to Currys and buy something full of electronic wizardry called a flat screen t.v. for that price.Why so expensive? Has anyone experienced the same? Are all vehicle spare keys this expensive?
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my first Carthago only came with one key...the dealer spoke to my local Fiat dealer and paid the bill (over the phone) for a new (non flipping) key and programming....£230 if I remember correctly....
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That seems to be about the going rate for most "smart" keys these days. I was quoted a similar figure a few years back after loosing the second key to my OH's Hyundai Getz. We made do with one until we sold the car.
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There may be cheaper ways but it means a bit of a faff.
My daughter had a similar problem. Ignition lock switch and keys from a breakers yard with keys (already stripped) £30.
Repair kit for key containing blank for cutting and casing around £6. She transferred electronic gizmo from s/h key to new case, had the key cut locally (a few pound), searched internet for how to program.
Se was 'between jobs' and it cost her under £50 instead of around £300 at local dealer
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We only paid that much for the remote key when we lost ours. The non remote should be a lot cheaper.
Nora
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Currys probably sell more TVs than Fiat sells replacement keys. Replacement keys are exorbitant but the price you were quoted is about the going rate. £90 is the going rate for an hour's labour in some dealers. You can shop around for cheaper deals but beware the back street salesman who fronts a motorhome theft syndicate.
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Honest John in the Telegraph is always recommending small Companies who can provide the same service as much lower prices. Worth checking his website www.honestjohn.co.uk
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Smart keys have been developed to deter vehicle theft. I doubt if anybody would want to go back to the 60's where a vehicle key just turned a mechanical lock.
The electronic circuitry which matches the smart keys to a particular vehicle is part of the vehicle security. Who wants to lose a motorhome with a street value of many tens of thousands or have the extreme inconvenience of having their one remaining key accidentally damaged meaning their motorhome is out of commission for a considerable time. Also a very expensive procedure of having two new keys configured for their van.
For peace of mind alone, having two keys per vehicle is worth the £200 - £300 investment.
K
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Just a quick note, should someone have the misfortune to have a vehicle stolen and not have the second key, they may find that their insurance won’t pay out without the second key.
i know someone that expirenced that.
they were told that, with the theft devices fitted to modern cars, it was considered that a key would be needed to steal the vehicle.
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Might seem expensive until something goes wrong and the alternative could be very expensive. I won't relay the whole tale but 4/5 years ago brother had a problem with his Fiat based MH. Eventually couldn't start it so called breakdown and they brought him to the town I live in. He didn't have the key with the electric gubbins in it. Result the whole alarm, immobiliser system replaced, with the van off the road for a month and a total cost of about £1500.00.
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I've just been in touch with our local Timpsons and they say they can provide a replacement key for £60.00!! including reprogramming. Quite a difference to Fiat's £300.00. Does anyone know anything of Timpson's service regarding smart keys?
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And we all know insurance companies talk cr4p
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I don't wish to give anyone sleepless nights, but if a professional gang want your car/motorhome then if it only has a smart key and not a physical metal key then it's very easy for them. This is thanks to Can-Bus. that can be hacked by getting access to the cables. Guess what. most modern vehicles have plastic covers on the electric wing mirrors with said wiring inside.
Got this info from a friend who has a business in the auto security industry.
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I think you will find no CANBUS wiring inside of the wing mirrors, just bog standard wires isolated from the CANBUS.
CANBUS wiring only go so far as the modules and the nearest would be the door module, safely out of reach unless opened in which case might as well use the diagnostic socket.
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I'm only passing on what I was made aware of by someone who is involved in countering such measures? Can Hi & Low run in to many parts of a vehicles electrical system, not necessarily only in the passenger compartment, although your correct in saying they only connect between nodes/modules/ecu's etc. I think you'll agree that anything can be hacked nowadays if you have the knowledge, software and hardware to do it.
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Easy now a days to fool the canbus, just need a live, Earth and signal wire. Which is about any wire not earth or live !!
gismo, computer Bluetooth smart phone and your in the vehicle.
it seems that expensive smart key car owners are reverting back to buying kroklocks to lock the steering wheel for the car, as the smart keys are a pretty dumb way to secure a car.
Rgds
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