Missing or lost Citroen security key-code card consequences?

[nobeard]

Hi people, just bought a 2nd hand 1 owner c3 and reading the user manual i see that it mentions an immobiliser key code card thing that is unique to the car, which needs to be kept somewhere safe by the cars owner because it will be needed if the key is ever lost and/or needs to be replaced.
It warns that loss of the card "will necessitate major and costly repairs" by a Citroen dealer.. oh joy.

Needless to say, i have only got 1 key and i have no card. Does anyone know what these 'major and costly repairs' are exactly, and is this only in the event of my losing the key or needing a replacement?
Cheers

[Xaccers]

Take your V5 into your local dealer and see if they can give you the code.
That's what I did for mine and it didn't cost a penny.

[citronut]

i just phone my dealer and give them the last 8 digits of the chassis/VIN No. , even on my customers cars,
they used to charge something like £15 quid for this service but im sure they give it for free now,

regards malcolm

[Gibbo2286]

Go here, register, introduce yourself and provide your VIN number, you'll get your code quite quickly and for free.

http://www.garageforum.co.uk/forum/29-c ... hread.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nobeard]

Phew! Thanks guys, I was so not looking forward to seeing the answer to this one, i was expecting it to be anything from bad to really, really bad news.. i'm gobsmacked!

[Stekelly]

i just phone my dealer and give them the last 8 digits of the chassis/VIN No. , even on my customers cars,
they used to charge something like £15 quid for this service but im sure they give it for free now,

regards malcolm

Presumably your able to have keys made up using the number? Does that not completely defeat the purpose of the number being individual to the car if you car just read the vin off the window and ring a dealer for the number to have a key made and just drive away in it?

[Xaccers]

You need to connec the car up to a Lexia and register the new transponder with the car using the code.
So you'd have to be a particularly determined theif, much easier to go fishing for keys through letter boxes.

[citronut]

i just phone my dealer and give them the last 8 digits of the chassis/VIN No. , even on my customers cars,
they used to charge something like £15 quid for this service but im sure they give it for free now,

regards malcolm

Presumably your able to have keys made up using the number? Does that not completely defeat the purpose of the number being individual to the car if you car just read the vin off the window and ring a dealer for the number to have a key made and just drive away in it?

maybe it because my local dealer knows im trade and trusts me,

possibly jo public would have to prove ownership,

i think there are two codes one for the immobilisers the other for the key cut formula,

regards malcolm

[The Birdman]

Two codes are needed ,

The Transponder Code , that is needed to code the key to your car ,

&

The Mechanical Key Code , that is needed to cut the key blade for your car ,


Once you have a blade cut and inserted into a new fob , then you can code it to your car using Lexia/PP2000 or Diagbox.

[Rhothgar]

Go here, register, introduce yourself and provide your VIN number, you'll get your code quite quickly and for free.

http://www.garageforum.co.uk/forum/29-c ... hread.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Shame this link is no more...

[wheeler]

PSA tightened up how codes were accessed many years ago, previously years ago anyone with a dealer login could access the codes & they were all over ebay etc. Now only one login per dealer can access them so they have more control & it all has to go via a single person per dealer.

[Rhothgar]

PSA tightened up how codes were accessed many years ago, previously years ago anyone with a dealer login could access the codes & they were all over ebay etc. Now only one login per dealer can access them so they have more control & it all has to go via a single person per dealer.

The daft thing is I even had a dealer login a few years ago until they stopped it. Had I have known it would have made life slightly easier.

[Paul-R]

The transponder code can be extracted from the vehicle with a suitable high end diagnostic machine. If you still have one working key fob then this is all you need as a blank blade can be cut from that. This is exactly what I did for my brother using my Xtool D8W on his mk1 508 which only came with one key.

If there are no keys (total key loss) then the mechanical key code is needed as well to cut the blade and, as far as I know, that can only be obtained through a dealer.

[wheeler]

Depends on the model whether the PIN can be pulled via OBD, generally if its a multiplexed model the PIN can be pulled no problem, even without a programmed key however it can take a bit longer on the newer models if all keys are lost. On older non multiplexed models like the Xantia im not aware of any device that will obtain PIN via OBD.
For cutting the key blade when all keys are lost most locksmiths just pick and decode the lock with a Lishi.
On some vehicles like pre 2014 Vauxhalls the mechanical code is stored in the memory of the vehicle & can be extracted from the car diagnostically.

[ozvtr]

The transponder code can be extracted from the vehicle with a suitable high end diagnostic machine.

It's actually called the engine ECU PIN code. This can be extracted from the BSI or the engine ECU by certain types of scanners or directly from the EEPROM(s). It's typically used to code new keys into the engine ECU but it is also needed to change certain other parameters of the engine ECU.
This code can not be changed in the BSI or engine ECU. At least not easily. If you need to replace the engine ECU you will need the PIN code of the replacement ECU. Many sellers are selling used engine ECU's (in the usual places) without the PIN code, making them virtually useless! The PIN code can be extracted from the ECU but that's an extra cost on top of the cost of the ECU. And the service may cost you more than you paid for the engine ECU!
Then the BSI will need to be "virginized" (blanked) so that the new PIN code can be entered. The PIN code can only be entered into a "new" BSI. But then virginizing the BSI comes with a whole new set of potential problems.

If there are no keys (total key loss) then the mechanical key code is needed as well to cut the blade and, as far as I know, that can only be obtained through a dealer.

A good automotive lock smith can pick the lock and cut a new key. This is actually the quickest, easiest, and cheapest of all the things here to get done. I use the term "cheap" very loosely, because none of the options here are cheap!
Because they salt the roads in the northern hemisphere, the lock barrel can corrode up. Check the operation of the key lock from time to time, because one day you may need it!