Iam interested in buying another coupe but it doesnt have the red key. How much of a pain is this? and how much do you think it de-values the car?

Not really an issue anymore, you can get a copy key dione for a few hundred pounds now. Also, lots of people run without a red key, me included, and have never needed one. Maybe you could knock £100-200 off, but it would depend on the value of the car and how eager you are to buy it I would say

that was a quick response, I was told it could be a problem if anything goes wrong with the computer.

It can be a problem, but in 4 or 5 years of being on here and owning 2 coops I have never needed one and I can only really recall a few people needing the red key, there was a post about it last week, may be try searching for that, where someone said they needed their red key.

It is a risk you take in not having one, but live on the edge

Thanks jim, i have had 2 coupes both with all keys but i have never needed them either, just thought i would ask around, cheers.

this was the post from last week that discussed this very same issue.

As said it is pretty rare, but don't come looking for me, when you need one and haven't got one

dont worry jim i wont hold you resposible, thanks for your help

Hi,

i have needed the the Red Key a few times now probably 3 in total in over 2 years of Coupe ownership, the last time was about one week ago when some work was being done to it and the battery was disconected for a while, I didn't have the red key with me so I just disconected the battery for another five minutes and then tried it again and it started with no problems.
To be honest i think its rare to require the red key I mean the other 2 times it has happened was one year ago in the same week when I had battery problems (wires not connected properly where shorting it out) and im sure just taking the wires of the battery for a few minutes and reconecting them after 5 mins then would have sorted it out anyway.
The last time it happened I was at Barbz and even he seemed shocked that the car was asking for the Red Key so I rekon its very rare.
When I bought my Coupe it came without the Red Key, I panicked for the first year worrying that the immobiliser would get set of then Id have to find a whole new ecu with new keys etc(or worse still hand it in to a Fiat garage )...but if worse comes to worse im sure somebody in the know could hook it up to a machine and set it straight if for some strange reason disconecting the battery didn't reset it.
I wrote a letter to the first keeper who spookily had found the Red Key a month before he recieved my letter and kindly fowarded it to me!
I personally would but a coupe without a Red Key again but thats only because I can't clearly remeber anybody not beng able to get around not having a Red Key when their immobiliser has been activated, good luck!

Cheers
John

Thanks John, it is good to know there are plenty of people managing ok without the key . I am still undecided about the car so i will probably hang off to buy another time.

I have had 5 Coupe`s go through my hands, Never needed it. Touch WOOD

I've had 2 coupes and I had to use it once when the Alarm/Immobiliser got its knickers in a twist

Had 5 coupes (latest hasn't got a red key) and never need to use it (he said with a feeling of dread running over him!).

The fact that the one I've got at the moment doesn't have one was not a big deal for me.

In over 12 months of ownership, the only time I have required the Red Key was to programme a new Blue Key.
Changing the battery has not created a problem.

Bump