Lost key & fob now dealer says needs new ECU

Hi
I am really hoping for some help please. I am concerned that my local main dealer is taking the mickey as they keep changing their mind about what needs to be done to my poor Freelander. I have had the 'well you don't understand as you are a woman' type comments and am getting seriously hacked off.

I lost the only key and fob. Contacted the local main dealer who took the VIN number and gave me quotes for key, fob and programming. They said I would be given the EKA code when the key arrived so the car could be driven to them for programming of both key and fob. Key £93, fob £62 and programming £47. So I took in the V5 and ordered/paid for the key but when I collected the key the dealer said there was no EKA code for my model of Freelander so I would have to have it flatbacked to them by the AA (more cost).

I rang them today to arrange when to take it in for programming and happened to speak to a different member of staff from all my previous calls. He informed me that as I had none of the original keys (even though I had ordered a replacement key specific to my vehicle from the V5 details) I would also need to have a new ECU (£400 ish) as they cannot programme new keys to an existing ECU without have an original key?!

I am furious. What is the point of ordering a key specific to my car from the VIN information if it cannot be synced to the ECU. I had many calls with the dealer before ordering the key etc and they knew all keys were lost but told me the total cost would be for key, fob and programming. Now it is over £400 more and I am not sure I believe them that I need a new ECU.

Can anyone help me with this please as this is once heck of a mess

Many thanks

Debs

See if these can help...for them to cut you a key you will need the key code from your security card which was provided with the car.

Have a read its all explained Land Rover Freelander Key Fob

Oh and pop into the introduce yourself section too

sounds like ur having fun

this is my own personel view but wouldn't u want to get all your locks changed in your car as youve lost your key and fob

my insurance company will cover the loss of the key and replace all the locks and ignition

just a thought and was just wondering what your insurance company will say

where abouts in the uk are u, trying to think if a hawkeye will read ur code as i know there testbook reader should be able to read the ecu

the dealers dont ever seem to be helpful

Hi

I am in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. I am just losing faith in the dealers as this has suddenly been said to me at the last minute and I have been dealing with other people in the dealership for weeks (while I kept desperately looking for the keys and using another vehicle) and this has never been mentioned before.

I phoned other main dealers last night and 2 out of 3 said this guy is wrong but these dealers are not near me. The third one initially said they were wrong and then said, well actually, they may be right!?

My understanding was that the new key (cut to VIN) and new blank transponder were both programmed to the ECU. Unless there had been many other keys coded to the ECU before this should not be a problem. The only issues could be if there had been a lot of keys coded to the ECU before and there was no space for any more or that the ECU could show up at programming as being defective. However neither of these things would be known until they tried to programme it and therefore the main dealer could not say up front a new ECU was definitely needed.

I feel sick as I had saved up enough to pay for replacement key and fob (now purchased) and just had to get the programming done. It was frustrating when the dealers couldn't get hold of the EKA code they had previously said they would provide as that has added to the cost as I now need to get the car uplifted to them. To now be told before they have even seen the car that it is going to cost another £400+ for an ECU means I can't afford to get it done. But are they right?

Does anyone know who could tell me for sure please?

Thanks

Debs

debhen said:

Hi

I am in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. I am just losing faith in the dealers as this has suddenly been said to me at the last minute and I have been dealing with other people in the dealership for weeks (while I kept desperately looking for the keys and using another vehicle) and this has never been mentioned before.

I phoned other main dealers last night and 2 out of 3 said this guy is wrong but these dealers are not near me. The third one initially said they were wrong and then said, well actually, they may be right!?

My understanding was that the new key (cut to VIN) and new blank transponder were both programmed to the ECU. Unless there had been many other keys coded to the ECU before this should not be a problem. The only issues could be if there had been a lot of keys coded to the ECU before and there was no space for any more or that the ECU could show up at programming as being defective. However neither of these things would be known until they tried to programme it and therefore the main dealer could not say up front a new ECU was definitely needed.

I feel sick as I had saved up enough to pay for replacement key and fob (now purchased) and just had to get the programming done. It was frustrating when the dealers couldn't get hold of the EKA code they had previously said they would provide as that has added to the cost as I now need to get the car uplifted to them. To now be told before they have even seen the car that it is going to cost another £400+ for an ECU means I can't afford to get it done. But are they right?

Does anyone know who could tell me for sure please?

Thanks

Debs

Click to expand...

hi

ive done a few hours searching for u and found this company

Land Rover car key replacement and remote fob programming servce

it looks as though as u now have a key and fob that they can pair them with ur ecu for around 150 quid and cant see why u need a new ecu

have also read hours of web sites and not once does it say u also have to replace the ecu

try giving them a ring and see if they can help u

if u also pop over to the introduce section and tell us abit about yourself

plse let us know how u get on please, as if they are any good always nice to put the link up in case anyone else gets stuck

What is the model year of your car - position 11 and 12 in the VIN - should be 1A (or similar) for example.

Depends which system of immobiliser you have fitted as to if the dealer is indeed correct.

Thanks for the replies.

I have no key insurance so that suggestion is great but sadly not possible.

Thanks also for the link to Autokeysquad. However I have already contacted them and they said they do not cover my area

The car is a Freelander 1.8 XEI 05 plate.

Debs

wonder if companies like this can help u

Car keys cut and programmed | Anglia Locksmiths, Wisbech, Cambs

http://enterpriseautoelectricsgarage.co.uk/auto-electrical-repair

http://www.carkeylocksmiths.co.uk

Thanks again for replies.

I have tried Anglia Locksmiths but will give the other two a ring.

Is there any way I can find out if the main dealer is correct in what they are saying, as if they are right then calling anyone out may result in me having to pay call out charges and still not having a usable vehicle if indeed an ECU is needed. The £400 quoted for an ECU is a huge sum of money for me to have to find.

So confused

debhen said:

Thanks again for replies.

I have tried Anglia Locksmiths but will give the other two a ring.

Is there any way I can find out if the main dealer is correct in what they are saying, as if they are right then calling anyone out may result in me having to pay call out charges and still not having a usable vehicle if indeed an ECU is needed. The £400 quoted for an ECU is a huge sum of money for me to have to find.

So confused

Click to expand...

no probs

maybe the best thing would be to ring some other land rover dealers and just see what they say,

also call land rover direct and ask for technical

personally i cant see why u need a new ecu ,

but this doesnt help u without an answer and a working landy, does the key turn ur ignition on , does it actually work correctly, know it wont start

maybe someone else may know about this

so sorry i cant be anymore help to u, but plse let us know how u get on

gary

Could someone who remapps ECU's fix this if new ecu is needed?

Hi Gary

Thanks, I have already rung three other main dealers and had conflicting replies.

I tried ringing Land Rover Customer Services yesterday and asking for Technical but was told they do not take calls direct from the public and that I should go through the main dealer.

The key opens the door and appears to activate ignition but (just to make matters worse) it seems I now have a flat battery so am picking up a new one today.

Grrrr

I am not sure about ECU remapping - will look into it thanks. But how can I find out if it is actually needed.

The car is in my driveway and the local main dealer (who has still not even seen the car) is saying it definitely needs an ECU which does not correspond to what I was told by other dealers or indeed by this main dealer when talking to previous members of staff. I hate the way this happens at some main dealers, it feels as though I am being misled.

Have you got any mobile auto sparkies near you might be worth a call and see what they say, or maybe (not sure what's involved with this never done it) pick up a second hand ecu with keys and fobs will just plug and play?, you could then cut your losses and use what uve bought as an new set of spare keys?

Sorry, am I being a bit slow?

How can I buy another ECU complete with keys and fobs as the keys will not fit my ignition or door barrels I am probably missing something as have been up most of the night worrying about how to resolve this mess and have my stupid head on

Us need the ignition barrel also, keep old keys,for locks ( I've never used the key yet in the lock), unless the barrel can be re jigged to new key..

landrover freelander ecu/ keys/and barels | eBay

LAND ROVER FREELANDER TD4 ECU SET AND KEY | eBay


No idea which ull need but plenty of them...

Not sure how your imob works exactly mines just on the fob, maybe it can be turned off?
If you pick up an ecu kit with no barrel maybe could fit a push button start?

hi debs

as i feel so sorry for u i rang my local dealer for u , which is down here in kent

i know youve got the key and remote

they gave me the following prices

new key 93.62
key fob 66.10

to recode the key and fob 69.00

they said the coding for the key has to be done by a main dealer or a company that has the relevant software

they advised me u do not need a knew ecu as your not changing all the barrels and ignition

plus for your information a new barrel set will cost 650.00

so ur local dealer should charge u 69.00 only to recode the key and fob for u .

the key is a bmw type that has a small transponder in the key , your freelander is a mark 1 and called a facelift freelander

please tell your dealer that u was advised that in buying the key and remote u was advised it would start ur car

tell them that they've sold u them and there not fit for purpose and want them to coded as u purchased the key and fob from them in good faith and expected them to work

speak to the manager , also tell them u was not informed of the cost of coding

hope that helps u and hope i haven't stepped on anyones toes , ie ur better half etc , just really gets up my nose when people try and fob ladies off

gary

Thanks guys.

The queens cheese -I will look into this as a possibility I hadn't thought of. Thank you.

Gary - I have no better half so no toes being stepped on here. I really appreciate you going to so much trouble for me.

It seems I need to argue again with the main dealer.

I am just worried that I will pay to have car trailered to them and they will then tell me they cannot programme it and say I need a new ECU just as they told me I would. At that point I then have the choice of paying them a huge amount of money, or paying a breakdown company to uplift my (still not working) car back home again and am back to square one.

I wish my local dealers weren't such *******! I hate being ripped off.

I am just struggling to find anyone who will programme it apart from them.