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

Mark- We already know all the steps required when you are missing various parts of the alarm system. You were just unlucky that what you were provided as your old PIN did not work. At least I assume you and the dealer were trying to start her with the PIN to confirm the PIN was correct.

 

Taz,

We all know, but obviously some of the Ferrari dealers don't. The car won't start off the PIN they provided. At this time I don't know if it's the old or new. The dealer said it was the new PIN, but then couldn't confirm.

I believe it's the new PIN which is why my car won't start or program from it. I believe the dealer is unsure of the correct procedure as they were under the impression that they could use a single PIN to enter the programming mode and assign new fobs.

At the end of the day I believe there is a fool proof way to resolve the position I and many other owners are in without using the dealer or cloning a fob. I want a full set of functioning remotes as my car left the factory without spending 6k.

I believe with the help of the down under guys and a remote kit the entire procedure can be done without issue for less than $1500.

At least this way I will have a complete functioning factory set.

 

This is from their website. There is a distinction between programming mode and learning mode. The original PIN can only be used to initiate a learning mode to add black fobs (which is why you should always keep the red fob in a safe place).
It seems as if the programming mode is used to add new red and black fobs with a new PIN which is what Ferrari sell (and I assume your dealer installed). I'm still amazed that your dealer didn't know what he did (or won't tell you). You didn't say but I assume you can start the car. In that case then it would appear that he did in fact program it correctly. I guess you can try to see if it will go into learning mode -- just enter the PIN and see if the red light flashes waiting for you to add a black fob. If it does then all well and good -- just let the system time out.
Alan
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Hi Alan,

I have 1 black fob that came with car which works great. I don't have the original PIN but requested that Ferrari get the old PIN and program a new set of remotes to my car.

The remote set I purchased has one master and two slaves (the masters are now black with a master sticker on them). Ferrari was unable to program the new remotes to my car, I believe they were using the remote PIN to put the immobilizer into learning mode but I can't get a straight answer out of them.

At this point the original black remote still works and the PIN provided will not enable me to start the car. Ferrari was NOT able to do anything and I left with a remote kit and a single PIN which Ferrari can't tell me if it's the new remote PIN or the ORIGINAL old PIN.

I will send the immobilizer and all fobs downunder where they will extract the PIN from my immobilizer and also the PIN assigned to the new Master Fob so I will know what I have and will be able to complete the procedure. This way I will know FOR SURE what the PIN is.

I believe that the downunder solution will become the BEST solution for people in my position without all the red tape and time wasted with the dealer who can't guarantee success.

 

This isn't that complicated. If the original fob still works Ferrari has never managed to program anything. You have a new set of fobs and their associated PIN. You do not have the original PIN so you can't put it in learning mode.

 

Your correct. I just don't know if the PIN is the remote PIN or the old PIN that has since been changed. My issue is that the dealer can't tell which I have.

 

My frustration is that my expectations from the dealer were higher than what they were able to deliver. Then to top it off they can't answer the simple question of what PIN they provided. I would have been better of eliminating them from the start.

 

Alan- That is completely wrong. You cannot add black fobs to the alarm ECU because the alarm ECU will not allow you to use a red fob with the same PIN it has in its memory. No speeded up flashing of the LED means you are dead in the water.

 

I'm convinced that most dealers are clueless about the fobs and their importance.

 

Last Ferrari with that system was the Superamerica from late 05 so many of their techs have little or no experience working on the system.

 

My dealer made this blatantly obvious!

 

I was in error when I posted that the original PIN can be used to put the immobilizer into learning mode whereby you can add black fobs -- that is incorrect. Here is what the Aussie guys wrote me:

"The pin is required to initiate learning mode, where the led blinks and is waiting for the signal from the red master. The transmission of a pin code by the master (a pin code different to the code on the immobiliser) then initiates programming (mode) of the immobiliser, where the immobiliser accepts the new pin as well as the rolling codes from the master and the other 2 black remotes.

"The original PIN can only be used to initiate a learning mode to add black fobs" is not correct.
It's not possible to add fobs with just the original pin and original master, one needs the original pin, a new master and 2 black (standard) remotes.

The master is a one shot device to add remotes, once the pin on the master has been sent to the immobiliser, the immobiliser will not accept that pin again to initiate programming mode."

Mark
So if the dealer tried to initiate the learning mode to program the new remotes and new PIN he would have needed the original PIN which as I mentioned earlier if he got that from Ferrari NA then it is not guaranteed to work. This is why your car will start with the original black fob -- it was never re-programmed by the dealer. The Aussie guys will be able to extract the original PIN from either your red fob and if you don't have that (I think you mentioned that you only have a black fob) they would need your immobilizer. They can take that and extract the old PIN and program the new red and black fobs with the new PIN (the kit that the you purchased from the dealer) so you are back to OEM.
As the old PIN did not work then you should either get a credit from the dealer or a refund. If you can I would try to get a credit or refund for the new fobs and PIN and let the Aussie guys provide them.
Alan

 

Mark I just sent you a PM. If you want to program one to match your original I'd do it for free.

If I were in your position I'd just add one extra and bank the data file should you lose them both. You'll always be able to make a new one should you lose them both. IMO, it's not worth spending $1,600 for a 10 year old car when you can be almost there for a couple hundred bucks. You could even sell your extra two for around $500 and be $2,000+ better off.

 

Thank you gobble... I'm $699 away from being completely back to OEM. Ferrari will not give a refund for the remotes or the PIN fee.

Still don't know what PIN I have, but as I mentioned I suspect that they took the remote PIN and recorded that with Ferrari. I really want the PIN in the event I need to start the car without a remote.

 

Moral of the story, don't trust your dealer to know what they are doing. I usually never let a dealer touch my cars other than warranty work and this is a perfect example of why.

I expected much more from a Ferrari dealer!

 

Ok, when you're done throw your original on Ebay and you can probably recover $200 of that cost.

I know what you mean. I'm currently on a Gallardo and am scared to death of ever having to take it to the dealer in Chicago. I've heard so many bad stories and hope I never need to go there.

 

I keep spare batteries in the glove box and the second black fob hidden in the car so really I don't need the PIN but some buyers want the complete OEM set so at that time $699 for extracting the PIN from the red fob may be worth it.
Alan

 

Thought I would provide and update so others in my same position can possibly avoid a headache!

Turns out that the PIN that Ferrari provided me is the remote PIN, NOT my cars PIN. So my local Ferrari dealer has done one of two things, both of which shows their incompetence:

1. They did not follow the correct Ferrari procedure for programming a 360 remote and forwarded the new remote PIN to Ferrari BEFORE programing them. (They claim that the remote PIN they gave me was the PIN Ferrari had on record. The only way this could be is if they provided that to Ferrari).

2. They never requested the original car PIN, but charged me for it

The dealer to this day still has not explained why I only received one PIN and how they were going to program my car without the original car PIN. They are complete morons and I hate to say it, now little about these cars...

Now I expect a full refund for the PIN charge as they NEVER provided the PIN. Thank god I paid with Amex!

 

When you say remote pin, you mean the pin that came with your new set of remotes and not your prior set of remotes? How can they justify charging you for that when this number comes in the box with the new remotes you just paid for?

 

The PIN they charged me for is the PIN assigned to the new remote kit that I purchased.

As I mentioned, they have NO IDEA of what they are doing.

 

Mark- What they did was out of order, unless you had them do it that way. The way it should work is first you get your old PIN from Ferrari and make sure it works. Then you order a new set of fobs with new PIN.

Do that in reverse order and Ferrari will have updated their system with the new PIN from the set of fobs you ordered. When you then ask for your PIN from Ferrari, guess what you get?

 

They erred and won't admit it to me. They knew I did not have the original PIN and I provided all of the ownership proof so that they could order it. I also bought the new remote set from them and took my car in when ever thing came in.

What is scary is they told me the last 5 cars they were not successful in programming. I wish they had told me that in the beginning as I wouldn't have used them.

They're just idiots....

 

Mark
Glad the Aussie guys got you sorted out. Your dealer's "technicians" are idiots.
Alan

 

Resurrecting this 3 year old thread.

I just purchased a 2006 F430 Spider and one of the keys that came with the car will no longer unlock or lock the doors even after I replaced the remote battery.

I did some reading and it appears the spare key I have needs to be reprogrammed.

Will this procedure work on a F430?
Or does anyone know how to reprogram F430 keyfobs?
Or I have no choice but to take it to the $tealer?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Dan

 

Dan- Completely different procedure for the F430. If you take both keys to your dealer, they can erase the alarm ECU memory of all keys and then program in the two you have. Assuming your one key is not a duff. The new lithium battery powered keys have been pretty reliable, so hopefully that was just a spare key the last owner never bothered to get programmed. Or the dealer you bought her from mixed the keys and some other poor guy is in the same predicament.

As far as I know, it is not possible for owners to program their own keys into the alarm ECU for the late alarm systems starting with the F430 and 612.