How to program a key FOB and start car w/o FOB!

Programming a Ferrari Alarm ECU with New Fobs:

Alarm and Fob Basics: Ferraris arrived from the factory with three alarm remote fobs,
one red master fob, and two black slave fobs. The red fob contains the Alarm Electronic
Control Unit (ECU) Personal Identification Number (PIN) and an identification (ID)
number. The black fobs contain only an ID number. The red and black fob ID numbers
are combined with a rolling code to prevent compromise by thieves using a radio receiver
and recorder to duplicate the ID and code and use those to gain entry, just like modern
garage door openers use rolling codes to prevent compromise.

The Alarm ECU PIN is provided with the car, or with a new set of fobs, on a small piece
of two layer paper, the top layer of which must be removed to read the PIN. A red fob
can be used to program other black fobs using the same procedure outlined below for
programming a new set of fobs, if a black fob is lost or becomes inoperative. The Alarm
ECU does not use the PIN except when the car is started with ignition key and PIN alone
(fobs lost or inoperative), or when reprogramming the ECU to accept new fobs. In normal
use, the Alarm ECU uses only the fob IDs and rolling codes. Reprogramming the Alarm
ECU for a new set of fobs is an extension of starting the car with ignition key and PIN
only.

In normal practice, use the black fobs and keep the red fob in a safe place where it will
not be lost or damaged. This will ensure replacement black fobs can be programmed into
the Alarm ECU using the red master fob, if necessary.

The Alarm ECU will only accept the red fob PIN and ID and two black fob IDs during
reprogramming. Note the fobs are transmitters only. They have no receiver capability.
European and US/Canadian fobs use different transmitter frequencies and are not
interchangeable.

Ferrari recommends changing the 23A/A23/MN21 12 volt battery in your fobs every six
months. This is easily accomplished with a small Phillips head screwdriver to remove the
screw holding together the two fob halves.

If you only have alarm key fobs and no PIN, you cannot reprogram your Alarm ECU to
accept new key fobs. (It is possible to clone extra key fobs to provide back-ups. Do a
search in Ferrarichat.com.) Ferrari North America, through its authorized dealer network,
can provide you a new Alarm ECU, a new set of three matching fobs, and the PIN
number as an ultimate, but costly, solution.

With the alarm and engine immobilizer armed, pressing a key fob will disarm both alarm
and immobilizer. After 120 seconds, the engine immobilizer will rearm if the car is not
started. Starting the car will require one additional push on the fob to disarm the
immobilizer after 120 seconds have elapsed since disarming the system. If you remove
the key and open a door after returning from driving and do not arm the system with a
fob, the immobilizer will arm 60 seconds after the door is opened. To reprogram the
Alarm ECU to the new PIN in the red fob, make sure the immobilizer is armed and the
alarm is disarmed.

Starting a Ferrari without a Key Fob: The first step in reprogramming the Alarm ECU
to accept new key fobs is the same process used to start a Ferrari if all remote alarm fobs
are lost, inoperative or unavailable and you only have the ignition key and know the four
digit Alarm ECU PIN. This procedure is spelled out in the Alarm System Manual
supplied by Ferrari. Here is the procedure spelled out in the Ferrari copyright Alarm
System Manual:

If this seems rather cryptic, here is what it means:

Drive your car to make sure the battery is fully charged in case you foul up the procedure
so you do not run down your battery.

Remember the times important in this sequence. Key off-on-off cycles representing PIN
numbers must be made in less than two seconds. After PIN numbers are entered by the
required number of key off-on-off cycles, a pause of more than 2 seconds and less than
20 seconds must be made before entering the next PIN number. If your PIN has a zero, it
is represented by 10 off-on-off cycles of the ignition key. If you foul up, you must wait at
least 20 seconds before starting over. So here is the procedure after you have driven the
car and waited 60 seconds after removing the key and opening the door or 120 seconds
after removing the key and not opening the door so the immobilizer is armed.
PIN Code 3204 is used as an example for this case. This is different from the code 3324
in the Ferrari illustration above. Ignition switch position “0” mentioned above is off and
position “II” is on.

1) Insert the ignition key and wait at least 20 seconds with the ignition key in off.

2) Turn the key from off to on and back to off as quickly as possible (less than 2
seconds for all PIN numbers) 3 times (count to 3 out loud) for the first PIN
number “3”.

3) Count to 5 out loud (a good compromise between more than 2 and less than
20 seconds) before starting the second PIN number.

4) Turn the key off-on-off 2 times for the second PIN number “2”.

5) Count to 5.

6) Turn the key off-on-off 10 times for the third PIN number “0”.

7) Count to 5.

8) Turn the key off-on-off four times for the fourth and last PIN number “4”.

9) At this point, after 2 seconds or a bit more, the alarm light emitting diode
(LED) will go off and you can start the car. Starting the car confirms you can
correctly enter the PIN, the first step in reprogramming the Alarm ECU to
accept new remote alarm fobs. Keep trying if you do not succeed the first
time, remembering to wait more than 20 seconds before the next attempt.

Programming the Alarm ECU for New Fobs: Ferrari also provided procedures for
reprogramming the Alarm ECU to accept new remote alarm fobs. This process is
described as putting the Alarm ECU in “self-learning” mode in Ferrari Workshop
Manuals, the first step of which is entering the Alarm ECU PIN as described above.

Again this is a bit cryptic, but the times for entering the PIN numbers still apply and less
than 2 seconds is what you need to remember for the following ten key cycles noted
above.

Again PIN number 3204 is used as an example and the first eight steps for starting a car
with PIN and ignition key alone (no fob available) are identical but given here as a
complete checklist for reprogramming the Alarm ECU. The steps following PIN entry
rely on watching the Alarm LED cycle from on to off ten times and eventually flashing
when “learning mode” is fully enabled and the new alarm fob PIN (red fob only) and IDs
(red and black fobs) can be entered into the Alarm ECU memory.

1) Insert the ignition key and wait 20 seconds with the ignition key in off.

2) Turn the key from off to on and back to off as quickly as possible (less than 2
seconds for all PIN numbers) 3 times (count to 3 out loud) for the first PIN
number “3”.

3) Count to 5 out loud (a good compromise between more than 2 and less than
20 seconds) before starting the second PIN number.

4) Turn the key off-on-off 2 times for the second PIN number “2”.

5) Count to 5.

6) Turn the key off-on-off 10 times for the third PIN number “0”.

7) Count to 5.

8) Turn the key off-on-off four times for the fourth and last PIN number “4”.

9) Count to 5.

10) Turn the key to on and count “1” out loud. The Alarm LED will come on and
then go off.

11)As soon as the LED goes off, turn the key from on to off and back to on in
less than 2 seconds and count “2” out loud.

12) Repeat the key cycles and LED cycles until the count reaches 10 cycles.

13)After the 10th cycle, turn the key back on and the LED should start flashing.

14) Press the red fob button until the LED accelerates its flashing and then stop
pressing the red fob button. The LED will resume flashing slowly.

15) Press the first black fob button and the LED will again accelerate its flashing.
Stop pressing the black fob button and the LED will resume flashing slowly.

16) Press the second black fob button and the LED will accelerate its flashing one
last time. Stop pressing the second fob button and the LED will stop flashing
completely.

17) The Alarm ECU is now programmed to recognize all three remote alarm fobs
and the fobs should be checked to ensure they are operational.

Note: Reports have been made of the number of cycles of the LED varying from 12 to 20
or more before the LED started flashing. My Alarm LED flashed on the 11th time
the key was turned to on, exactly as stated in the WSM extract above.

Although this process sounds very involved, the actual ECU programming process takes
less than five minutes from start to finish, assuming you make no mistakes. This is even
if you are unlucky and have a couple of zeros in your PIN.

 

Greyboxer:

Had no idea Taz previosuly posted it. I just purchased my first Ferrari last month and received this information from the shop that sold me my alarm siren. I thought it might be useful here. I am certainly not taking credit for it....I am just passing it along as I received it!

Taz is a great guy.....he deserves credit for all of the info he routinely posts on F-Chat and the other Ferrari website.

I will post a similar disclaimer on the other two posts I made.

In fact, Taz has personally helped me with other issues I have had!

On second thought....maybe I just won't post any more info I receive. There are two ways to tell someone they made a mistake or missed something. The tone of your message is really pretty offensive considering I was only trying to help others out!

And, BTW, I received two PM's from members thanking me for posting this info. I guess they must have not seen it either!

 

Taz just e-mailed me to advise he has an updated instruction sheet on how to program Key FOBs and start your 360 without a FOB.

Taz asked me to post this updated document so here it is! This document contains updates and missing information not included in the first attachment. I suggest everyone (except Grey Boxer of course!) use this one!

Thanks Taz....you are a class act!
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My understanding is that you need either the red FOB or the PIN to program new FOBs. Can someone verify this and correct as needed?