problem with new key

[wilflet]

I've just bought a 2005 C3. It came with one key- the remote fob type and I wanted a second key so my partner can use it sometimes while I'm working away etc.
Local locksmith quoted about £200 for a new remote, or for one that will get in to the car and start it £59- went for the £59 option (my partner has never had a remote key fob car before, she's not bothered about being able to remote it now, just wants to be able to unlock it, drive it and lock it up again the old fashioned way)

Theyve had it in today, she went to pick it up and was told theyd tested it and that if it was locked by remote then unlocked manually it only unlocked the drivers door- which would be fine, in the unlikley event of her giving someone a lift she can open passenger door from inside.

So shes let herself in and drove home (using the new key) to find that all doors are unlocked and the new key only locks the drivers door. Leaving no way for her to lock the other doors. (no other outside key locks)

I've had a play with a few things- using the central locking button on the centre console locks all the doors, but then opening the drivers door to get out unlocks them so thats not an option.

Called the place who did it, they want to blame it on a faulty door motor (?) and said give it a few days and "see if it settles down"
That feels like being fobbed off to me.

So questions a) is there anything the shop could have been doing differently to me that made it work for them or have they made up that they tested it?
b) Is there a way of locking without the fob?

[Arfur Dent]

Hi

It doesn't sound like a key problem.

Does the old key behave in the same way as the new one? (as you described above).

[Missing Lincs]

Hello wilflet

As far as Ii can see, you've been not been told the whole story by the company doing the work with your key.

The behaviour when locking and unlocking is the way the car locking works and I don't think it be changed.

A spare key only, without the fob is only really a get you out of trouble option, not much use for daily use.

You really need the fob part. saying that, £200 sounds steep, I'd expect to pay less at a Citroen dealership!

A new key with fob (it must be new, second hand from ebay won't work) from Citroen used to be around £50, I say used to be as it's a while since I bought one. If you have access to Lexia, the Citroen programming tool, you can do the programming yourself. Have a search on the forum for the instructions to do this.

If you go to a Citroen dealer, I wouldn't expect to pay more then half an hours labour to do the programming. I think £100 plus VAT should do the job.

[Missing Lincs]

Just thought of another reason to have a fob for unlocking.

If you deadlock the doors by pressing the lock button on the fob twice, you can't unlock any of the passenger doors from inside or out. I seem to remember that only the drivers door unlocks with the key on some models.

[wilflet]

Hi

It doesn't sound like a key problem.

Does the old key behave in the same way as the new one? (as you described above).

Just been outside to confirm this:
- approach car, all doors locked.
- unlock with key in drivers door, but dont open door.
- all other doors remain locked.
-open drivers door all other doors unlock.
this is the same with both keys.

-trying to lock drivers door with new key it locks but no other doors.
- trying the same with old key it wont turn towards rear of car

[wilflet]

Hello wilflet

A spare key only, without the fob is only really a get you out of trouble option, not much use for daily use.

What trouble would it get you out of behaving like this? If it cant be locked without the fob then all I can think this is useful for is if you lock the fob in the car somehow (which I cant think of a way of doing without a second fob).

[Missing Lincs]

What trouble would it get you out of behaving like this? If it cant be locked without the fob then all I can think this is useful for is if you lock the fob in the car somehow (which I cant think of a way of doing without a second fob).

Say your fob battery is flat, the key will get you into the car and let your drive home and/or to go and buy an new battery. That's about it really.

[Arfur Dent]

Hi

It doesn't sound like a key problem.

Does the old key behave in the same way as the new one? (as you described above).

Just been outside to confirm this:
- approach car, all doors locked.
- unlock with key in drivers door, but dont open door.
- all other doors remain locked.
-open drivers door all other doors unlock.
this is the same with both keys.

-trying to lock drivers door with new key it locks but no other doors.
- trying the same with old key it wont turn towards rear of car

So your new key works the same way as the old key with the exception of keys turning in the lock.

This would say your old key and new key work as expected, so no fault there,

except for the lack of turning in the lock for the old key. This could be due to a worn key, maybe the blade is physically worn? Maybe the lock doesn't now turn for either key?

A spare key only, without the fob is only really a get you out of trouble option, not much use for daily use.

Yes, the C3 is a remote unlock/unlock car and the key in the lock is a 'get out of trouble' when the BSI locks-up or goes into deep sleep.

[ayhan4ik]

Dear friend,

There is a way to have brand new genuine key for much much cheaper price:

- check in Aliexpress for your key type (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/QCONTRO ... C3-Pluriel...)
- Get the key (15-20 day) for approx 7$
- Get your key codes (cut code and immo code) from Citroen delaer - I believe not much than 20£
- Go to key cutter expert and cut your configuration - 5£-10£
- Use Lexia to program the new key to beloved C3 for less than 5 minutes. If you don't have a Lexia, look for a friend in the Forum. Or you can buy one (around 40$) to use it for all kind of stuff. You will be still FAR away from that 100£ or 200£

[Missing Lincs]

Dear friend,
There is a way to have brand new genuine key for much much cheaper price:
- check in Aliexpress for your key type (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/QCONTRO ... C3-Pluriel...)
- Get the key (15-20 day) for approx 7$
- Get your key codes (cut code and immo code) from Citroen delaer - I believe not much than 20£
- Go to key cutter expert and cut your configuration - 5£-10£
- Use Lexia to program the new key to beloved C3 for less than 5 minutes. If you don't have a Lexia, look for a friend in the Forum. Or you can buy one (around 40$) to use it for all kind of stuff. You will be still FAR away from that 100£ or 200£

Lexia is a very useful tool and well worth having if you want to do diagnostics yourself and save money on your C3 maintenance.

Keys can be very cheaply made, no need to even programme them, just get a blank with blank immobiliser chip and cut/clone your existing key. This however won't sort locking a car with central locking.

The only way I have found to programme a new keyfob is to buy a genuine key from Citroen. The code from the keyfob board is written into the immobiliser chip and the car learns this code when the new key is added using Lexia. There me be a way to write the code into a completely un-programmed key (which you can buy, search for Valeo Citroen keys), however as yet the way to do it isn't something I've been able to discover.