New key arrived. Now about those FOBs.

I got it. New pin is a must. I'm not worried. I'm sure the ferrari dealership ordered what was necessary.

Any idea what's giving you so many problems?

 

Eric, no, you don't get it my friend.

If you do not get the ORIGINAL PIN, and the original THAT WORKS, it's all over.

What's giving me the problem is I can't get my original PIN to work which means one of the following:

1) Ferrari gave me the wrong PIN

2) I'm not entering it the proper way

3) at some point, the ECU was reprogramed and new PIN not reported to Ferrari (most likely issue)

4) ECU has been changed (not likely since it appears untouched)

 

Hi, I have the original pin and it works. But, only works when I've introduced with alarm armed. Other previous attempts, with alarm disarmed, did not work. May be ...?

 

Alarm armed or immobilizer armed? They are 2 different things

 

Dave, Eric's car remains at Ferrari of Atlanta for this very reason. I wanted to be positive there are no issues before he takes delivery of his first Ferrari. A lot of sellers might have just sent it up and hoped he could program the FOB's himself when they came in, or not even disclosed the issue. With no nearby dealer for him I insisted (at Eric's supreme frustration) that the programming be done at the dealer, at my expense before he takes delivery. Without a reliable FOB, no PIN and no RED FOB there was no way to even be sure that there was no connection, antenna or other immobilizer issues to deal with. The work is scheduled for today or tomorrow and I think we will be just fine, but we are taking no chances! Eric has been VERY patient but we are both very frustrated that it took so long for Ferrari to come up with the PIN and FOBs..its just ridiculous.

 

On account of Dave's frustrating ordeal I spent some time looking over my cars PIN situation.

I have a pin in the official two part carbon thing with the correct VIN on it. I used that pin in my car to start it using the key sequence to verify that it was correct and all is well.

This morning, just looking around, I found in the leather document case 2 (two) other official pin things with different PINs and the correct VIN on them as well.

So my car has had a total of three pins assigned to it. All of them appear to have been done through Ferrari as the correct vins and PIN carbon things exist. This probably explains why I have mint set of correct fobs and keys in the original wrapper etc. as they were most likely recently done a second time!

I would suggest that everyone take the time to check their PINs and assure that you can start your car using the PIN you think is the correct one and then log that PIN everywhere, including writing it on the ECU.

What a frustrating and expensive PIA for new owners that can be totally avoided. Good on you George as a seller for making sure this is all sorted out.

I would add this to the standard must check items for potential buyers. NOt only check keys and fobs, but check to see that you have a PIN and that it starts the car!

 

Or, buy a 95.

 

Amen! I have learned one thing here, if I am assessing a car for me or a customer to purchase, no PIN or incomplete FOB set is going to cost them at least 20% on my offer. I'll be happy to pass without them!

 

As much as the PIN situation has me frustrated, I still have no regrets on my car. Lesson learned.

If I did it over and knew what I know today, I would have still bought the car - ZERO doubt.

Every used car comes with some non-perfect elements. I can live with this one and can fix it at a cost. It's not the end of the world. The original owner of my car died right around the time the second owner bought the car (I'm the 3rd). I suspect the wife could not find the keys and Ferrari re-programmed the ECU to a new PIN (and the dealer had the parts in stock, hence, the reason the new PIN was not recorded at Ferrari).

I could also be entering it wrong. My immobilizer acts different than Bob's. His car will NOT turn over without disarming the immobilizer, mine will. Right there it tells me they used different versions so the procedure could be different (slightly) also.

I am driving myself nuts over this, that much I'll admit

 

You would need to ask Apex97. He's handling the bill.

 

Ferrari running to programming issues, even with my original PIN. Unbelievable.

 

Can you elaborate? Did they use the Original PIN to successfully start the car?

 

Ask them kindly to "disable" the immobilizer. Never know they may do it for you.

 

Tim, is that actually doable? I can't find anyhing that says it is...

 

The car has always started with the one FOB I had. It was just not very reliable and would sometimes threaten to strand you. They started the car just fine today, but have run into an issue where the Ferrari provided PIN will not open the ECU up into programming mode.

I don't know if they tried to start it with the PIN or not..I assume they would have tried that first off.

 

Hi Ed,

The first step in programming the ECU is to use the PIN to disable the immobilizer, apparently that's not working.

I've learned a lot about this...

Ask them to look at the immobilizer and see if the cage rivets are drilled out or have signs they were once drilled out. That will tell if the immobilizer has ever been changed.

But, even if it has not, someone could have programed the immobilizer to accept a new PIN and that PIN was not recored at Ferrari.

PS, what year is the car? And, will it crank with the immobilizer armed?

 

everyone says no, ask professional thief or the head of auto theft in a big city they will tell you whats possible

 

It's a 1997.

 

Thanks Dave, we may need some of your wisdom tomorrow.

I have looked at the immobiliser myself and it has never been tampered with for sure.

The car is a 97 and it will NOT crank with the immobilizer armed.

 

I haven't read all the posts here...but just saying, it's really annoying that 355's change hands and all fobs aren't passed on. Why keep a fob for a car you no longer own?? I'm one of those in the precarious single black fob situation, but luckily I have the PIN if needed.

 

As I noted above, my pin has been changed twice for a total of three pins assigned to the car. Fortunately the pin records have been passed along and by testing the one that was kept in a separate place from the others I know it works.

I advise you to test the pin you have to be sure it is the correct one by starting the car using it with the key.

 

I know ... with the alarm armed, open the door with the key, and then, enter the pin. If it is OK, the car should start. My car is euro spec -in Spain- may be some diferent things.

 

If you open the door with the key while the alarm is armed, you will set of the alarm...

 

Hi Ed, that's inline w/ Bob's car, he also has a 97. My 98 will crank, but won't start. Apparently they must have changed the immobilizer in 98...