Transponder keys

The Blade (RRY) refused to start on Saturday, it turned out to be a faulty
transponder key. With one working key its possible to get another
cut/programmed at a Honda dealership. The spare works fine which is a good
job as apparently if you lose/break both keys the only solution is "new
ignition system" (whatever that is) at £980 !!!

Being a passive item I didn't think they were likely to go faulty, anyone
else had the same problem?

Tullyhubbert

 

Tullyhubbert emerged from their own little world to say

It's "passive" in that it does not need a power supply. There is still some
electronic activity when it is stimulated by the HISS system into giving a
response.

A number of things could damage the circuitry within the device e.g.
an electrostatic discharge, probably during the assembly stage
thermal shock - frost?
manufacturing defect causing premature fail
physical shock

 

I have this problem with my cage, I've only got the one key and don't have
the 'red' key which is used to make copies. If I lose this key, then I need
a new ignition system - it's a bugger.

 

Mark Olson emerged from their own little world to say

I bet Stonge has a 1990s Fiat. With that system you have to have the
Special Red Master key to programme it to accept new keys. Watchdog gave
then a load of neg publicity over it as loads of cars, especially ex
fleet cars, came onto the used market with only one working key. The red
key had been "put somewhere safe" in Dilbertworld never to be seen
again.

Paging SWK: do Fiat still use this type of system?

 

said...

We had one of those very cars (a 2000 Punto) until recently, previously
owned by Budget. We didn't have the red key and I didn't even know about
the issue until a prospective punter asked me about it and then walked
away because we didn't have it.

Fortunately the next bloke along didn't ask...

 

'98 Mondeo

That's the same idea