lost my only key!!!

[vandamme146]

i stupidly left my key on the roof of my girlfriends 147 and i drove off with it and now its gone forever!! i know the usual thing to do is get a matching set of ecu codebox keys etc but i have a remaped ecu and dont want a standard one!there must be a way to bypass the immobilisor i know someone who can do it for a 100 quid but i have no job,does anyone know how to bypass it,cheers

[GialloEvo94]

There is no way to bypass the immobiliser system without specialist knowledge and tools I'm afraid. A unique code is stored in both the engine ECU and the CODE immobiliser ECU, and the engine ECU has to receive the correct code from the CODE immobiliser ECU before it will allow the engine to start. This is why you cannot simply just remove the CODE immobiliser ECU or plug in a CODE immobiliser ECU from another car. If it was that simple then the immobiliser system would not be Thatcham approved (which it is).

I take it you don't have the burgundy master key either? If not then you only have 2 viable options:-

1. Get a new (or second-hand) pair of ECUs (engine and CODE immobiliser) that come with all the keys (including master key) and locks.
2. Get your immobiliser decoded and a new set of keys supplied that will work with the immobiliser. There is a guy who can do that for you but it's going to cost you a minimum of £80 to have that done (+ postage costs). See this link for details.
3. Get the guy you know to bypass the immobiliser but then you will have a car which can't be immobilised so that's a bad option in my opinion.

[vandamme146]

would this do the job or does it have to be from a 145/6 ?http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alfa-156-Steer...#ht_500wt_1156

[GialloEvo94]

What year is your 145?

[vandamme146]

my 145 is a 99

[GialloEvo94]

OK. The 156 uses a CODE2 immobiliser system which is different from the 145/146 CODE1 immobiliser system. However, as you are getting both the ECU and the CODE2 box then theoretically they should work together and it will just mean your 145 ends up with a CODE2 immobiliser system fitted to it.

The way to tell that it's a CODE2 system is that there will be a number "2" stamped on the key blade at the top and the CODE immobiliser ECU will be black as per the one in that picture (the CODE1 immobiliser ECU found in the 145/146 is yellow).

Bear in mind though that I don't know of anyone who has ever put a CODE2 system in their 145/146 so it would be a bit of a gamble and would also rely on the wiring for the CODE2 immobiliser ECU being identical to the CODE1 mmobiliser ECU already in your car (i.e. so you can simply just plug the black CODE2 box in place of your current yellow CODE1 box without any issues occurring).

The CODE2 system also doesn't use (or need) a master key.

One other thing to bear in mind is that the engine ECU is from a 156 so I'm not sure if it will contain a slightly different engine mapping to cater for the heavier weight of the 156.

I guess it's up to you whether or not you want to risk it and try those 156 components but I'm afraid I can't offer you any more solid advice at this moment in time without any prior knowledge or experience of it having been done before. If you want to be 100% sure that replacement components will definitely work in your car then you need to get an engine ECU and a CODE immobiliser ECU pair that has come out of a 145, or use one of the other suggestions I previously made.

[vandamme146]

cheers thanks for all the good advice,im so angry at myself for losing my keys and the fact that i probably pass it everyday just makes things worse! so many options!

1. send it to data recall services it will cost me 80 quid and i get to keep my remaped ecu
2. get the immobilisor bypassed which cost 100 euro but still have to get keys and barrels
3. lock doctor will cut new keys and code them for 140 euro but i have to provide blank keys and get the car to them
4. get an ecu,immob,key,barrel set

decisions decisions!

[Paul Grundy]

I've just broken my 2000 reg 146Ti. I have the full ecu / lock set / alarm & full set of keys. 2x red remote keys, one normal red key & the master. Could be an option for you, plus you'll have lots of spare keys. Let me know if you're intetested. Everything has been removed from the car.