Peugeot lost/missing key question

[HelioMV]

Hi all, apologies if this is a stupid question...

The other day my dad's 307 wouldn't start. Immobilised. Did some electrical investigation in the car (its very damp ) but to no avail, then had the key on the bench and turned out it just needed some TLC! Soldered on some new passives to the PCB where the issue was, re-initialized the key and hey presto panic over.

But it got me thinking. If the IC in the chip did go wrong, say it was corrupt forever, and I was left with only the blade (can turn key in ignition but won't start), could I: buy a new PCB, extract the confidential pin code from the flash chip on the BSI (I have a capable reader) and code the virgin key with Diagbox like normal? Or would the immobilised car not let me communicate with the BSI via the VCI? Does it need more work and specialist tools? I don't claim to know much about the security system! Apologies if this is a stupid Q!!

Rg,

Helio

[Paul-R]

I would just buy a virgin key, swap the key blade over and then code the virgin key to the car using Diagbox, or whatever. Saves the cost of cuttting the virgin key's blade.

[wheeler]

A new virgin remote key can be had from China for less than £10 so no worth the hassle of swapping chips.
You can either get the code from the dealer with the correct documentation. You can also get it from the eeprom dump in the BSI if you have the kit like you say & on this car most decent key programmers will extract the code from the BSI (even without a working key) in about 30 seconds.
As long as you have the code you can program a new key with Diagbox without any issues even without a current key.
Newer PSA cars from around 2018 have different software that locks the BSI out & it wont start for around 30 minutes after programing a new key if you dont program it at the same time as a currently programmed key.

[HelioMV]

Paul & Wheeler, thx for the replies. I did a similar thing to what paul did when I had a dead second key in another 307, but I was just worried as to what would happen if there was NO keys so thanks for clarifying!

So as long as I extract the pin from the BSI and have a tenners worth of a virgin china PCB, I can code it and it won't lock me out, brilliant!! Also, by your logic, this process can be done on newer vehicles too, such as say a 2014 or 2015 car, is that correct?

Thx for the advice!

[wheeler]

So as long as I extract the pin from the BSI and have a tenners worth of a virgin china PCB, I can code it and it won't lock me out, brilliant!! Also, by your logic, this process can be done on newer vehicles too, such as say a 2014 or 2015 car, is that correct?

The process is exactly the same on all PSA cars with coded keys, the only difference in models from around 2018 is they have upped the security a bit so if you program a new or previously deleted key only (i.e. no working keys present) then the BSI will go into anti theft mode for around 30-35 minutes, during this time you just need to leave the ignition on till the hazzard warning lamps stop flashing then the vehicle will be allowed to start. If you have a currently programmed key & this is being re introduced in the same session then the anti theft mode wont activate.
The Fiat based models (Boxer, Relay & Bipper etc) are slightly different, It works the same as the PSA systems but if using Diagbox this will only program a new key that has been ordered from a dealer, Diagbox cant program a blank aftermarket key on Fiat sytems.
Toyota sytems on the C1/107/108 are totally different, if all the keys are lost you cant add a new key to these via OBD, the immobiliser ECU need to be replaced (or removed & re flashed by an eeprom programmer). If you have a working key you can add another key via OBD.

[HelioMV]

So as long as I extract the pin from the BSI and have a tenners worth of a virgin china PCB, I can code it and it won't lock me out, brilliant!! Also, by your logic, this process can be done on newer vehicles too, such as say a 2014 or 2015 car, is that correct?

The process is exactly the same on all PSA cars with coded keys, the only difference in models from around 2018 is they have upped the security a bit so if you program a new or previously deleted key only (i.e. no working keys present) then the BSI will go into anti theft mode for around 30-35 minutes, during this time you just need to leave the ignition on till the hazzard warning lamps stop flashing then the vehicle will be allowed to start. If you have a currently programmed key & this is being re introduced in the same session then the anti theft mode wont activate.
The Fiat based models (Boxer, Relay & Bipper etc) are slightly different, It works the same as the PSA systems but if using Diagbox this will only program a new key that has been ordered from a dealer, Diagbox cant program a blank aftermarket key on Fiat sytems.
Toyota sytems on the C1/107/108 are totally different, if all the keys are lost you cant add a new key to these via OBD, the immobiliser ECU need to be replaced (or removed & re flashed by an eeprom programmer). If you have a working key you can add another key via OBD.

Many thanks wheeler!!

[jaizan]

So as long as I extract the pin from the BSI and have a tenners worth of a virgin china PCB, I can code it and it won't lock me out, brilliant!! Also, by your logic, this process can be done on newer vehicles too, such as say a 2014 or 2015 car, is that correct?

The process is exactly the same on all PSA cars with coded keys, the only difference in models from around 2018 is they have upped the security a bit so if you program a new or previously deleted key only (i.e. no working keys present) then the BSI will go into anti theft mode for around 30-35 minutes, during this time you just need to leave the ignition on till the hazzard warning lamps stop flashing then the vehicle will be allowed to start. If you have a currently programmed key & this is being re introduced in the same session then the anti theft mode wont activate.
The Fiat based models (Boxer, Relay & Bipper etc) are slightly different, It works the same as the PSA systems but if using Diagbox this will only program a new key that has been ordered from a dealer, Diagbox cant program a blank aftermarket key on Fiat sytems.
Toyota sytems on the C1/107/108 are totally different, if all the keys are lost you cant add a new key to these via OBD, the immobiliser ECU need to be replaced (or removed & re flashed by an eeprom programmer). If you have a working key you can add another key via OBD.

One of my 2 keys has ceased working, with an immobiliser error. I would like to obtain a spare and programme it.
However:
1 I have read that it is only possible to programme brand new keys (as stated on this site)
and
2 All keys need to be programmed at the same time

Now if both statements were true, if I want 2 working keys, I would have to buy and programme two of them, presumably leaving the existing one not working ?

Could anyone clarify please ?
And where do you recommend I go for the key ? ie Are the Chinese ones reliable, or should I pay some obscene price at the dealers ?

I have Lexia and the key code card.
2007 C4

[wheeler]

Correct the key must be brand new, china ones are definitely worth a punt due to price compared to genuine dealer keys.

You just need to simply program the key that still works then the new one, Lexia will ask how many keys you want to program so you input the total amount of keys you want to be able to start the car so you would input 2. The original key & the new key.
Any keys not programmed at this point will no longer work but can be re programmed back in at a later date.
You can re program keys that have been used back to the same car again but not to a different car, this is why you cant use a second hand key. Re programming a used key back to the same car is fine on this model.