to be annoyed about our car keys

[busymum1]

We bought our ford galaxy 15mth ago it only had one key and we did not think anything of it. My dp lost the key last week and we now have to pay £510 to have new keys plus get the car towed to the garage. We have tried loads of mechanics and locksmiths and some say there is a keycode in the car or under the bonnet etc and others say there is not I am about to take my driving test so need the car to practise and don't know what to believe but we just don't have that sort of money apparently our car is modelled on a volkswagen sharran but volkswagen can't help either

Could you go back to the person/garage you bought it from and ask if they have spare key still?

We still have spare keys to cars we've sold and forgotten to pass on

redclover79 that is only quote they will give me unless a locksmith can get key code have rung loads of garages/locksmiths etc some say the keycode is on the car somewhere some say it is not! have no idea where it would be on car, can open bonnet but not access any door other than drivers door due to the central locking being on the drivers door was obviously not closed properly when car was locked thank god

really cheeky redclover79 but do you think your dp would be able to sway my local garage to get quote reduced?

Is this Ford though Busymum who have said all this? Surely Ford can give you a definite position where the code is situated in the car?

Code is not written down on the car, it is in the module which is like the central computer for the car which is why you will need to take it to a garage, it's not possible to access it without Ford computer programs as I understand it. I think the quote must be that high due to the towing to the garage, would it be worth sorting out towing independently to garage? I would imagine if it's a main dealership they probably have a contract with a towing company so you could probably get it cheaper if you organise it yourself.
Another option is to buy the parts yourself if possible but check first in case they refuse to fit parts they haven't sourced themselves, they might not guarantee the work etc.
Is it worth ringing round several local Ford dealerships (also maybe worth trying VW/Seat as they had equivalent models but I'm not sure if they were all built with the same modules, certainly not all got the same engines!) for quotes, I don't know if independents could do it, not sure they'd have the access to the right computer programs to access the module and may well outsource to the Ford dealership anyway.
DP couldn't persuade your local garage to drop the quote I'm afraid, as I understand it there is a standard hourly rate for the labour and an extortionate premium on parts. DP also said the quote might be very high as you may have to replace all the locks as you have no key, he's not here right now to interrogate him further but I assume there might be some security device to stop someone manufacturing replacement keys and therefore Ford's make yet more money!
The only other things I can suggest are contacting Ford's UK customer service, although I've only ever done this when our car was just out of warranty and something went bang. They were willing to halve the cost of the quote until they found out we didn't have a full service history (dp was servicing the car in his lunch hour so couldn't stamp the book ), or if you bought the car from a forecourt is it still in warranty? If a private sale contact the seller as someone else said as they may have the other key still.

I have a Ford Galaxy and when we bought it we were given an ordinary key, a remote key and a red key. They told us not to use the red key, but to keep it safe as we would need it to get replacements, otherwise it would be very expensive.

Do you have AA or similar membership as they would probably tow you to the garge to cut the cost a little.

Try some other ford garages in the area. My understanding is that there are two different levels. Main dealer and authorised dealer. The authorised dealer in our area charges a lower hourly rate.

Also, just worth asking some others to quote you. I have been towed to Ford dealers on a few occasions (I won't be buying another!) They don't always make a charge to tow you in.

Hope that helps.

sorry guys charge is after towing found very nice garage who will tow for £30 but then still got to pay £510 on top

I would check what the price includes, sounds like you will be paying to replace the locks, I know labour prices aren't standardised but there can't be that mcuh difference between dealers! Also, the person that quoted you may well have got it wrong, at dp's garage they always seem to mess up quotes and dp loses out as he's paid on commission. What seems to happen is his boss (not a mechanic), workshop controller (former mechanic but not v. qualified and not up to date!) or the admin assistant all quote for work thinking they know best, then dp gets the car and the customer has been quoted on entirely the wrong work!
When I read out your op to dp he did say you've probably got to change the lock barrels as well, but as I said he's not here to check! Unfortunately owning a car is very expensive when something goes wrong, and Galaxy's ain't cheap! Wish there was something else I could suggest, we'er in a similar situation as we've bought a citroen picasso and there is a hole in the hose attached to the petrol tank somewhere. It's gonna cost £300+ just for the part as we have to buy a whole new tank, no idea how much if we had to pay labour as well.

really appreciate your comments another blow now error with my credit card can't use till wednesday as payment did not clear on internet banking looks like we got two choices either locksmith who will try and not charge otherwise or ford garage at cost of £510 plus £30 for other garage to tow us thanks for trying if mn don't know nobody will

DD2 just bought a Ka with only one key; the car had to go into the Ford garage to be recoded & for that plus TWO new keys (to be on the safe side) it was 120 pounds.

Apparently when you have 2 keys they can make a copy without the car being there but there always has to be 2 sources for the immobiliser code; if there's only one (ie the one on the engine in your case) it will be a much bigger job (I think they have to set up a new code or something)

Bad luck

Sorry to hear that busymum, there is nothing worse when you really can't afford to spend that type of money.

Might sound a daft question but is there NO chance of the key turning up. I.e. is it lost in the house?

keep hoping will appear but no luck in last 11 days will not give up hopefully in next week will have money key would be better but no signs as yet

Have you looked in all jacket pockets, lunch bags, ruck sacs, drawers, ovens, cupboards, garden sheds, hand bags, shoes, under sofas, under beds, trousers in washing basket, fridge, freezer, toy box?

And asked any friends visiting to do the same?

we have mananaged to get it cheaper by supplying them with the vehicle identification number which should be on your registration document. it is now £100 instead of £140.