Key Replacement

[parottthead]

Does anyone know where I can get keys made for my Fiat? I would like to get a spare set but haven't seen anyone who has blanks for them.

thanks!

brian

[rlux4]

Maybe it's just my area, but at least a couple of the locksmiths in my area have the blanks. One guy is a really small shop and he had them! Let me know if none of your locksmiths have any and I can pick up what you need.
Ron

[seabeelt]

Often you see blanks posted for sale on ebay, once you have them you can take them to any locksmith and have them cut you a spare

[jfrawley]

I bought my replacement blanks at IAP and then had them cut locally. Here's the problem part. The new cutting machines at Lowes, Home Depot etc use a cassette system that won't work on these. I had to find a hardware store with the old fashioned grinding wheel machine where you put the old key on one side and the new one on the other. The guy I found was a car guy so he cut them for nothing, but I had to take him for a ride.

[mbouse]

finding blanks locally is not very easy, at least here in KOW KUNTRY.

finding a "good" locksmith is equally challenging.

after paying over $10 per blank from the catalogue supplier, i did not want to trust the pimple faced clown at the local WALLY WORLD to cut my keys, so i went to a locksmith - - who promptly said "I don't guaruntee..."

[baltobernie]

Hello Brian,

As you may know, the ignition switch assembly on the Spider carries a lot more current than moden vehicle designs. It is a rare car that has not had this assembly replaced at least once in its lifetime. The problem is that there are different keys, and the year of your car may not (probably will not) match the year of your ignition switch.

A blank I purchased from IAP was cut at a local hardware store and did not fit my car. So I was out both the expensive blank and the cutting charge. A local locksmith, however, had the correct blank and his fits fine. $8.50

If you don't have a locksmith locally who can duplicate your key, PM me and I'll give you the info for our local guy. For the additional price of postage, he'd be my choice.

[Europa]

I ordered blanks from Keys4Classics in Australia. They were reasonable (even shipping charges) and the blanks arrived promptly. My local locksmith cut them from the original. If you can't find them locally, try Keys4Classics.
http://www.keys4classics.com/html/Fiat124Sp.html

[pope]

So far have been lucky, original keys and ignition.

[mbouse]

pope.

not fair. for as long as i have known you, you have not had a running car!

[pope]

Hey, a couple of years out of 25, that aint bad. I still sit in it and pretend I am starting it.

[manoa matt]

I also got some blanks from that Austalian source a few years ago. I ordered three blank ignition keys and three blank trunk/door keys. I had them cut at a local locksmith who had the trunk/door key blanks.

I keep the originals at home and never use them, I have two sets for use, and a set of blanks in case I need to change the locks or ignition switch. It pays to think ahead.

[parottthead]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I remember going with my dad to the local locksmith in my home town. His shop was about the size of a phone booth, but he had blanks of every kind of key from cars to houses to padlocks. Unfortunately, the big boxes have made most locksmiths extinct, and they can only copy the 10 biggest selling keys.

Anyway, the impetus for me getting duplicates made is that my trunk key is looking fragile, probably due to a po always turning it the wrong way initially.

I have no idea if my ignition switch is original to the car.

brian