Keys! Lost our only car key... what can we do?

[BettyButterknife]

It's for a Fiat Multipla. We bought it second hand and it came with one big key and a second smaller spare key. The plastic bit on the big key broke and so it wouldn't go on a key ring anymore, hence we just carry it around.

The second smaller one turned out to be a bit funny - the car has an alarm (which we don't actually use, because it's a bit temperamental) and the second key makes all the electrics go strange - the wing mirrors flap in and out and the hazard lights go on if you use it.

Anyway, I knew this day would come - I can't find the big key anyway, I know I had it in my coat pocket yesterday but it isn't there today.

How do I go about getting a replacement cut? Is it going to be £££?? :(

Timpson do it www.timpson.co.uk/services/66/car-key-replacement not ever lost mine but have come very close. I think it might cost a bit - sorry! Sending you "finding" thoughts! I think someone needs to invent a gps tracking for keys like iphones etc that get lost - now that would be very handy!

We did the same few years ago, had to go to a fiat garage and they sent off for one, took a week and from memory cost about £80. We had a plastic card in the manual which had some code on it which they needed.

Joys...

Just thought of flaw in my plan - it would only show street location not actually which room in your house they are in, laundry basket, shoe, hidden in children's toy etc etc. Good luck in finding them.

There is an iphone app that does that, icapturethecastle! You can remotely write a message to come up on your phone, or get it to make a noise or lock it.

Thanks felicity10, I will contact the Fiat garage. We do have that card, I know, so I suppose that makes it easier. Was that £80 per key? I think we need two...

The Big Key is the master code key I think. It contains the coding for the immobiliser.

As you have lost that, the code card can be used by Fiat to trace the information needed to make a new Big Key. I think it will cost a lost (quite search around the net indicates costs could be as much as £1000, but that may be for pre 1999 model keys).

Contact a local dealer. They can get you costing and an estimate of how long it will take.

If in London/South East then contact TheAutoLocksmith and see if they can do the keys.

Important: Do not let them disable the immobiliser as that will mean that your insurance would need to be changed.

Another company in the Stoke-on-Trent area

Not used these companies, just found them via Google. So use them at your own risk. If a locksmith has the reprogramming equipment, no reason why it shouldn't work.

Hi. we can offer you a new fiat car key by the vin. you can contact us. we have great prices for all making models.