Hello, I“m new here, I“m from Spain and I love cars. At home we have 2 Porsches and recently bought a 2008 GT Speed. I“m very ecited because in Spain there isn“t a Bentley forum so here I can learn a lot from you.

I have a problem with one key. I can open the car with It but the car says "activate inmobilizer". From my city to the nearest Bentley Store I have more than 3 hours, Do you know how to fix that problem?

 

Hello @Pablen84 ,

You say you have a problem with one key, do the other keys work ?

If you only have one key, are you putting it in the ignition switch, or just using the push button start, try putting the key in the ignition and turn it left and wait a minute, then turn on click to the right to see if the Instrument cluster comes to life.

Johnny

 

Hello Johny, thanks for answering me. I have two keys, one opens the car and also starts It. The other only opens the car but not starts It. I have pushed the ignition buttom and also turn the key, but the engine doesn't start and in the screen appears one message telling "active inmovilization".

 

@Pablen84 ,
Being that you just recently acquired the vehicle, did both keys ever work for you, or have you had this issue since day one, also, when you say the bad key opens the door, do you mean by the key blade, or by remote buttons, or by keyless touch entry ?

Being that one key works, and depending on your answer to the above questions, I will wait for your response to expound on my thoughts 😊.

Johnny

 

Since the fist day I have the problem. I Recieved the car one week ago. The key works in remote mode to open the car but I tried to star the car pressing the buttom start in the car and doesn't work. Also I tried turning the key to the right into the car and doesn't work. The seller told me that is posiible the key has a little piece in the interior that must be weld. Do you think so?

 

​​​​​​@Pablen84 ,
"do you think so ?", no, not on a 2008, not even a 2006, the remote for entry and the immobilizer for start and run of the engine are two different functions of the key.

Do both key blades match, meaning, have you placed both key blades in the drivers door to lock or unlock, as the ignition switch has no tumblers you can't test there, as you can turn the ignition switch with a flat head screwdriver, I just want to be sure that you at least have matching key blades, as one could buy as used key off ebay and easily program the remote entry portion of the remote to open the vehicle, hell they could even replace the blade with a new cut blade that would open the door, and function via remote, but be no good as far as the immobilizer, it's a tough call, so let me know about the key blades matching and unlocking the door.

Another issue could be that the vehicle had gone dead batteries wise and forgot that key, that is, if both keys are original to the vehicle, it has happened, if that is the case, you could relearn the original key back to the vehicle, but both keys need to be present otherwise it locks the missing key out, the only downside is that this is not easy, you would need CarProg $70 and Ross-Tech VCDS $200 and the labor of removing the KESSY module from under the carpet on the left front floor board to read the SKC=secret key code from the 93C86 chip inside the KESSY module, you would then take that pin code read by carprog and use it with Ross-Tech VCDS to program the immobilizer side of the keys.

Or you can order a key service kit from Bentley by VIN for around $600USD, but the VIN is only for the cutting of the blades, you would still need to bring the vehicle and all keys to Bentley for programming, around another $300USD...

Or you send your ecu's out to have the IMMO turned off, anywhere from $50-500, hell, one guy has the big ones to request $5000USD for immobilizer off service.... ridiculous !
Plus immobilizer off is not the safest way to go...

Johnny

 

@Johnny Hotspur GT does the Bentley key have an RFID chip to handle immobilizer duties? The Maserati GT and 4200 keys are notorious for the glue used to stick the chip in the casing failing. Not a problem until the owner changes the batteries (for the remote open / close) and the chip drops out, un-noticed.

Just a random question really.

C

 

​​​​​​Hello @CatmanV2 ,
The Bentley key has a PCF 7943A chip that is soldered to the board for immobilizer duties.

Johnny

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That may be the problem. That some solder has come loose, that's what the seller tells me. The car is under warranty, I can send it to the house but if there is any possibility of doing it in a simpler way without having to move, I prefer it. The keys fully match each other. If when changing the battery some solder came loose, this could be the problem, don't you think?

 

Anything is possible, but I do not think that is the issue, taking the cover off to change the battery does not expose that chip, if that was the case, I would take the cover off, disassemble the key, have a look at the chip, hold it down tight to the board and test to see if it functions properly.

Johnny

 

'm taking the key to an electronics and key specialist in the area. The dealer who sold it to me told me that it could have been a hit when the key fell, I did not drop it.
If I had to send it to the official service, can all this be done by post without having to bring the car?

 

Right, different system and challenge. Thanks!

C

 

No, the vehicle and all keys must be together for programming, if you go in for programming and forgot one key at home, that key would then be rendered useless...

Johnny

 

Oh, thank You, good to know.

I have taken the key to a key specialist, he told me that the key is broken, a new one would be around € 300, in that case I will use the guarantee.My question is: If I make a new key, will the other one that worked correctly also get canceled?

 

I take it that by you stating "I will use the guarantee" that you mean you will be bringing the vehicle back to the dealership for the new key purchase and programming, I hope it is a Bentley dealership, or a dealership that specializes in Bentley and has the proper equipment to program the key, again, you can NOT have the new key programmed by itself, all keys MUST be present with the vehicle, as it is the vehicle learning the key codes and locking said keys to your vehicle and your vehicle only, that is why a used key cannot be programmed to a vehicle it was never paired with, unless the used key is returned to virgin state.

Also, do not let a locksmith talk you into making you a key that will not function 100%, as some locksmiths remove the Bentley guts of the key and replace with older Audi guts that will allow the buttons on the remote to open the vehicle, and the key blade to start the engine, but the keyless entry and push button start will no longer work.

So please tell us where you are getting this "New" key.

Also, what is broken about the key, I would seriously consider having the key reprogrammed to your vehicle, IF in-fact it it an original key from the factory matched to your vehicle, as I said earlier, others have lost communication between the vehicle and key after a time frame of dead or disconnected batteries, I had it myself, but I have my SKC so I was able to pair it back to the vehicle, I also programmed both brand new keys from Bentley to my vehicle with Ross-Tech, but again, that is because I have the SKC from the 93C86 chip from inside the KESSY module.

Johnny