code card problem

Have been without my motorhome (04 Nuevo ES) since 14th February
Due to have my driveway extended and relaid, to give my pride and joy more space, I went to move the van and found I had a flat battery. Because of the metal plate (with multiple bolts on - not sure what that's for ? ) covering the top of the battery, I was unable to remove the battery to charge it. Bought one of those chargers you plug into the cigarette lighter - useless, before spending £150+ for RAC to supply and fit a new one. One week later, after numerous phone calls/emails, RAC turned up and fitted new one. Thats when the problems started - he couldnt get the van to start. Asked if I had the red key (red key???? first I'd heard of a red key!). I was put in touch with an auto electrician who also was unable to start the van with his box of tricks (very kindly only charged half his usual fee of £40, because he couldnt help). Ended up contacting local Peugeot garage, who recovered van (nice way of saying towed it back to their garage).
Another week passed and garage phoned to ask for red key, so I contacted previous owner who said there was no red key - only a code card. Thats when I remembered the card he had given me and told me not to lose . Promptly found code card (which I had thought was for the radio/cd player ) and took it round to garage.
Another two weeks passed before mechanic admitted he didnt know what he was doing, couldnt get code card to work, but was in touch with another peugeot garage and now knew what he had to do . Had antenna ( ) on order, but two weeks later admitted it wasnt that and now had a module on order
These 'modules' are obviously like gold dust, because there wasnt a single one to be had in GB, nor from Peugeot France and one was now on backorder from Fiat Italy.
Another three weeks passed (no contact from the garage, I always had to go to them to find out what was happening) and I started to go a bit (was due to take my grandaughter away for a few days and had a moment at the garage, when my voice got so high only dolphins could hear me - did feel better and slightly embarassed after it, though). I was even going to offer to over to Italy and make the part myself - thought it might be quicker
Had a phone call from garage yesterday, to say part had arrived and been fitted but the code card wouldnt work . New code card ordered and I may just get my van back on Monday.
Havent seen any mention on the forum about code cards - has no-one else experienced any problems with this?. Have read various items on other forums, including Peugeot, about problems with red keys and conflicting advice about which vehicles needed red keys and which year they stopped using them and code cards took their place (and apparently you click ignition key on/off according to numbers on card?)
I'm also a bit worried about the van being laid idle all these weeks and any potential problems I may have? I did read on the forum about moving the van every couple of weeks because of the tyres getting a flat spot and did ask the garage to do this - whether they have or not remains to be seen. Van was parked on the flat, so would they have left the handbrake off, so it doesnt 'stick'?. Will both the starter and leisure batteries now be flat and need replacing ?(RAC did say I would get a straight exchange if battery needed replacing again - even if it was just flat)
Sorry for the long-winded post, but hope you enjoyed the read if nothing else
regards
Moira

Hi Moira,

Sorry to hear of your problems.

When I bought my 'van, 1999 Peugeot Boxer, I was given the 'package', 2x black keys, 1x RED key and the code card.

The Peugeot manual states that these are needed if you should lose your black keys, as they hold the info to replace keys to match your vehicle. (It also states that they should be kept in a safe place NOT in the vehicle.)

You should, (I think) have been given the card and the red key from the previous owner, this would have made things a lot easier, and probably cheaper.

P.O.I. my old Peugeot car, (same year as 'van) also had the red key + card.

Good luck and hope your problems are solved.

Mike D

Hi Mike D
I read somewhere on the Peugeot forum that red keys were no longer used after the early 2000's and previous owner was convinced there was no red key (that's not to say there wasnt one originally ). There is that doubt in my mind, though, as when I first went to look at the van he showed me all the manuals and after purchase the Peugeot manual had magically disappeared - so perhaps he didnt want me to see the part about the red key . Reading other people's horror stories (including someone who ended up selling his van at a huge loss, because he was without the red key) has resulted in quite a fraught time - which wont be over till I get my van back
regards
Moira

Ouch!

Maybe there's something to be said for owning an old steam powered AS

I only have ONE main key plus all the others ( ok, 2 SETS ) NO computers, NO diagnostics socket ( nothing to diagnose ) so NO resets etc. so in theory I SHOULD be able to sort many problems myself without having to resort to sophisticated workshop equipment & thus labour charges.

Trouble is, my RR P38 has all this techie-stuff, SHOULD have 3 keys, but I only got 1, so if I lose/break it, i'm up creek bigtime

modelman wrote:

Ouch!

Maybe there's something to be said for owning an old steam powered AS

Funny you should say that 'cos it's exactly what I keep thinking when I hear of other people's woes.

Frank

Hi Modelman
Before I bought my previous motorhome (Swift Royale) I looked at a Talisman, but turned it down as it was only a 2 berth . With hindsight, I wish now I'd bought it - I would probably have held on to it. As you say, there's a lot going for the older models and, while I love my Nuevo, repair bills are a lot higher as some things just have to be done by a garage, because of equipment required (and, yes, maybe my total lack of knowledge in this area )
regards
Moira

Still without my van - the new code card didnt work. Peugeot are blaming Fiat - apparently they worked in collaboration making these vans? . Garage say they have had over 20 vans in with this problem and it has been the same whether they were Peugeot or Peugeot/Fiat based. This all started with having the battery changed, so was it just coincidence? No-one seems to have an answer to that one !
They have given the Garage three options:- new code card (already tried), new code card and set of keys (not tried yet). Third option is a new immobiliser, at a cost of £1100 - with no guarantees it will actually solve the problem. And after that???........................
They had someone from another Peugeot garage going to have a look this afternoon, but I havent heard from them yet. I put off phoning them - bad news can wait until tomorrow
Moira

Have you tried contacting:

customercare.uk@peugeot.com

and giving them brief details of the problem?

Hi Sookey,
What a terrible story and indictment as to the level of incompetence of the dealers.!!
I would be pulling my hair out !!
Nothing i can do to help,but with hindsight these new vehicles keys/cards need explaining much better.
As to your vehicle suffering flat spots on tyres, forget it, its a myth.These vans store on peoples drives for months and months every year.A few weeks in the dealers is like a holiday stop.
Leisure battery should be OK,nothing working IMHO. Dealer should charge engine battery during this investigation ,i hope.!!
Wishing you all the best luck, you need it .
Weather should be better next month.
regards

Mike

rogerblack wrote:Have you tried contacting:

customercare.uk@peugeot.com

and giving them brief details of the problem?

I would be giving them more than brief details !!!
I would be asking why they were not involved in this fault already!!
Dreadful story.
Makes one feel down just reading the story.
mike

Pleased to hear the tyres should be ok , as they're not that old, also the battery, as that was a worry. Did think about getting in touch with Customer services, but heard some terrible stories about them on various forums- not answering emails, promised phone calls that never happen, etc. and no-one seemed happy with the outcome.

Heard from the Garage on Thursday - the mechanic they got in from another garage spotted two of the numbers on the code box (looking on the Net afterwards, it appears this is actually the transponder box???) didnt match with immobiliser - where it should have been 54, it was 45 . This was the part that was on back order that arrived about a month ago. They have now returned it and hope the replacement will be here next week. So I may get my motorhome back towards the end of next week - but I'm not holding my breath as I've been told this twice before.
Still havent asked how much this is all going to cost, too scared to! May have to go and lie down in a dark room when I finally get the bill
regards
Moira

Hi Moira, I am hoping it will be fixed soon.
I still think you should contact Peugeot HQ. There is a member on this forum who has his son working at Peugeot, who maybe able to help. As you say, you do not know the cost yet and that is a worry.
Even if you hear nothing it may help in negotiating what could be a high cost from the garage.To be honest i would have a word with a solicitor,usually free for a short call, to see if you have any grounds for redress.
Why i say this is, i do not know all the facts ,and a garage will want the money before releasing the vehicle.
Once you have paid it is very difficult,nigh impossible to get a decent refund.
3 months + to start an engine is unbelievable.
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Mike

I know you are dealing with a garage, now but one reason I wouldnt have another "Sevil" van is due to lack of dealers knowledge here in the NWest in the Pugeot brand.

When we had a Pug any genuine parts my garage needed (or specialist advice) came from either the Fiat or Citroen Dealer. I cant remember anything coming from the 3 most local Pugeot dealers. In addition we couldnt use them as they were unable to get our vans on lifts in the workshops

I hope you manage to get everything sorted, I cant begin to imagine how frustrating it must be to not be able to use your van. I'm having a panic now myself as to the best of my knowledge i only had 2 black keys plus the other various keys to water filler, safe etc, I dont even remember seeing any sort of code card GAHHH better check when I get home as the last thing i want is to replace a battery at some point and never be able to start her again

Harper22 wrote:I'm having a panic now myself as to the best of my knowledge i only had 2 black keys plus the other various keys to water filler, safe etc, I dont even remember seeing any sort of code card GAHHH better check when I get home as the last thing i want is to replace a battery at some point and never be able to start her again

What year is your van? mines '95 and I only got two black keys etc.. the same as you. When I asked if there was a red key, I was told that they were only used on later models.
Ten years later with a couple of changes to both leisure and vehicle batteries I can confirm that there is no red key or code card required on my van.

Frank

boxerman wrote:

Harper22 wrote:I'm having a panic now myself as to the best of my knowledge i only had 2 black keys plus the other various keys to water filler, safe etc, I dont even remember seeing any sort of code card GAHHH better check when I get home as the last thing i want is to replace a battery at some point and never be able to start her again

What year is your van? mines '95 and I only got two black keys etc.. the same as you. When I asked if there was a red key, I was told that they were only used on later models.
Ten years later with a couple of changes to both leisure and vehicle batteries I can confirm that there is no red key or code card required on my van.

Frank

Its a 99 so i'm hoping it doesn't have one although i'm sure my mums ravenna which is slightly newer but also a boxer base had one

after a panicked text to me mum it would seem she has 2 red keys so we are assuming one is for mine and one is for her ravenna so panic over and for once she didn't put them "somewhere safe" else we would never of found them, It does highlight how easy it is to not know what bits you should have with a van and I'm keeping everything crossed moira can get her van started

Just to add, when I bought my secondhand 04 Nuevo it came with two black keys and a code card, no red key.
As it was still on the original battery I got the garage to put me a new one on. No starting problems at all, and the code card wasn't used either. The only thing that needed doing was the central locking had to be done manually the first time in order to reset the remote.

Had a phone call from the Garage yesterday afternoon, to say my van was repaired and ready for collection
Set off for the 3 mile hike to the Garage with in tow (couldnt wait for someone to take me!)
Total cost - £476.58 (£44 recovery charge, aerial £22.95, control module £36.90, code card £2.78, labour 5hrs £261.00). Was informed labour had amounted to 17 hours (really???) but as they had taken so long to resolve problem, I was only being charged for 5 hrs. Then there was another £79.43 for good old VAT - it wasnt till I got home that I saw I had been charged for two control modules - not sure why they decided to charge me for the wrong module that had been sent, so will be asking them (ever so politely) next time I pass the Garage. As I had previously convinced myself it was going to cost an awful lot more, there was a very slight sense of relief and I didnt even have to go and lie down in that dark room
Spent this morning giving the van a thorough wash, was also hoping to get the polish out but down came before I could get started. Have already booked sites for my next few trips away, which wont be for another week because of work.
regards
Moira
ps Also found out my van definately never had a red key, which has restored my faith in the very nice couple who sold me the van. Also pleased to hear from bikeralw that it probably wasnt having the battery changed that caused the problem - although when I saw the RAC 'battery' van the other day, I couldnt help but

HI, What a relief. They have been honest which is unusual these days.
It was a long job time wise ,but expect they were working on another vehicle most of the time.
I think we can call that a success.

Mike
like your Emoticons

Hi Sookey
At long last, great to see your back on the road, take care
Boaby

Sookey wrote:Had a phone call from the Garage yesterday afternoon, to say my van was repaired and ready for collection
Set off for the 3 mile hike to the Garage with in tow (couldnt wait for someone to take me!)
Total cost - £476.58 (£44 recovery charge, aerial £22.95, control module £36.90, code card £2.78, labour 5hrs £261.00). Was informed labour had amounted to 17 hours (really???) but as they had taken so long to resolve problem, I was only being charged for 5 hrs. Then there was another £79.43 for good old VAT - it wasnt till I got home that I saw I had been charged for two control modules - not sure why they decided to charge me for the wrong module that had been sent, so will be asking them (ever so politely) next time I pass the Garage. As I had previously convinced myself it was going to cost an awful lot more, there was a very slight sense of relief and I didnt even have to go and lie down in that dark room
Spent this morning giving the van a thorough wash, was also hoping to get the polish out but down came before I could get started. Have already booked sites for my next few trips away, which wont be for another week because of work.
regards
Moira
ps Also found out my van definately never had a red key, which has restored my faith in the very nice couple who sold me the van. Also pleased to hear from bikeralw that it probably wasnt having the battery changed that caused the problem - although when I saw the RAC 'battery' van the other day, I couldnt help but

Whoop Whoop Thats fantastic news, Such a shame its taken so long to sort but you will have to have as many trips as you can now to make up for the time and stress happy camping