355 Remotes

I picked up my 1st 355 a couple of weeks ago and felt lucky to have all 3 remotes working properly. I had one quit on me last week but luckily my wife had one with her so no prob. The dealership has told me that if I can obtain the original PIN#, I would be able to reprogram the one that is not working but that I should be fine with having 2 that work.

My question is: Should I be concerned about this issue or are the remotes fairly reliable? I have this fear that I am going to be at my girlfriend's house and won't be able to get my car started and therefore will have to get my wife to bail me out once again. JK of course...Thanks in advance for any help/advice you can offer.

 

You sure it isn't just a dead battery in the remote ?

 

I thought the battery was fine and the dealership confirmed it.

 

First off, congrats on your 355!

As for the remotes, you're fine. Many of us here (like me) are living on the edge with one black remote only...

 

Thanks. I am enjoying it more than I even imagined I would. Just trying to prepare myself.

 

I would replace it to be sure for yourself. Instead of buying a new one just switch one battery from a known working remote and try it. I would rule that out first--those remotes are not cheap..

 

I was told to replace the remotes along with new keys was going to run in the $2k range. I will try replacing the battery with the hopes that will fix the problem. If not, I will just hope the two remaining will be sufficient. Thanks for your input.

 

Worst case scenario---you have 2 working fine. Buy a used one off Ebay and have it reprogrammed for your car--now you have 3 again...I see them on Ebay for $80 sometimes. I bought 2 awhile back for $75 for both--just need to send them to my French connection for a reprogram..

 

I thought it was around $700 at the dealer.....?

 

Yea, it is--not sure who quoted him that price...

 

I also had a problem just recently with one of my remotes. It also stopped working and replacing the battery did not work. I only had one other black remote. I was very concerned to only have one working remote. I called Ferrari and was told it would cost $1700 for 1 red, 2 blacks, and a new ECU. I never got the red one when I bought the car. I also don't have the pin code either. As you can see I was very concerned. I ended up calling the original owner of the car by locating his name in the original warranty booklet. I did a google on his name and was able to find out enough information to get his phone number. I called him and we talked about the car he once owned and recalled having a red remote somewhere. He checked and found it! He sent it to me and it worked just fine. I was relieved to now have the red remote. I thought I remember hearing somehwere if you have the red remote, you can program the black ones? Does anybody have any experience with this?

 

Thanks for all of the input from everyone.

I have the red remote along with 2 black. One of the black is not working so I will look into the EBay option after replacing the battery and see if that fixes the issue. I haven't located the PIN# with any of the paperwork I received from the dealer but I may do a search for the previous owner and see if I can obtain it that way. Hopefully one of these approaches will get the inoperable remote to work again. Thanks for all of the great advise. This site is incredible!

 

I understand the red remote 'programs' the other two? Is this correct?

Anybody have a link for this step-by-step process?

 

Holy Cow---What luck---Good for you!!!!!

 

I think you need some type of computer--Can not be done by just pushing some buttons...

 

The pin number card was provided to the original purchaser of the car. Most of the time the card is lost and future owners can't find out the four digit code. Worse yet, Ferrari does not have any information on these codes for the 355 models. They do have these codes for the 360s if you can prove ownership and of course by a VIN number. I am still trying to find out if by having the red remote will work to program other black remotes?

 

Thanks Richard. I hope to get some answers this week and I will post my results. Let me know if you find out anything about the red remote allowing to program the others.

 

You must have a red remote and the PIN number to reprogram any remotes. You can also start the cars without a remote using the pin number. Without a PIN number you will be required to purchase a new alarm kit which will come with (1) red remote and (2) black remotes as well as a new PIN number. Good luck.

 

That's what I am finding out from the dealer as well. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

Without a PIN number you will be required to purchase a new alarm kit ... or to clone the remote you have!

 

Even without the ECU, you need the old + new pin code when programming a new red remote.

In the simplest of terms, the old pin code is needed to "unlock" the existing ECU. The new pin code is needed to "pair" the new remotes to the existing ECU.

 

Where can one get any PIN codes if one can't locate the PIN# card??

 

With all the proper ID and vehicle registration codes, you can check to see if FNA has it. Use your local dealer, as they have the fastest access. They have **some** but not many. Mostly just the newer cars and cars that had their alarm systems replaced for whatever reason/

 

Thanks!!

 

Ok.....I am going to step into the deep end on this one.
My '95 F355 GTS came with NO remotes. Just A (1) key.
I have had duplicate keys made, but should I be worried of not having remotes?

Tony