Central Locking Problem

[Delabrum]

Just bought a second hand 2008 Berlingo van today from a dealership. In great condition with excellent mileage, clearly very well looked after by one previous owner. Gave it a good 2 hour run home and it drives really well.

However on returning home I tried to lock the van and the key fob doesn't seem to be working. Replaced the battery, no luck. Is the key fob likely dead? Do I need to get an auto locksmith to program a new key for me?

Can't believe they didn't mention it at the dealership and I'm annoyed with myself that I didn't pick up on it. I didn't even think to try it 

[cancunia]

It could be a number of things, I'd take it back to the dealer and get them to worry about it.

[ffrenchie]

Does it lock all the doors with the key in the driver's door lock ?

[Delabrum]

Does it lock all the doors with the key in the driver's door lock ?

Nope, not a thing. 

The spare key fob I got doesn’t have a circuit in it, so the fob obviously isn’t going to work on that one either. But the spare does lock/unlock all the doors when I put the key in the drivers door lock. So does that suggest there’s not a problem with the central locking if it is working manually?

[Gryffindor]

As cancunia said, could be any of a multiple things. But most likely related to the pairing of fob to car or something like that.

If you can lock/unlock the car with the key blade in the driver's door lock, then you have standard manual control just as those of us without fobs have. I just got used to using the key rather than paying out for fobs.

BUT since you do have fobs and there is an issue, do get it checked out because who knows what the issue is and what it affects besides locking.

[Gryffindor]

I see there's a Citroen independent near you, Citromatic in Thornaby. If you have no warranty or the selling dealer is too far away, try this place for a quick checkover.

Their services include key coding.

Of course I know nothing about Citromatic so am not singing their praises.

[Delabrum]

I see there's a Citroen independent near you, Citromatic in Thornaby. If you have no warranty of the selling dealer is too far away, try this place for a quick checkover.

Their services include key coding.

Of course I know nothing about Citromatic so am not singing their praises.

Thanks for your help, I’ll look into that.

If it’s not the fob what are the other potential reasons it’s not working? Like a wiring fault?

[Gryffindor]

There will be a chip in the fob and another one in the car; they talk to each other via wifi. The problem could be with either chip or it could be that they are not paired together.

You'll see lots of mentions of Diagbox and Lexia on here - it's a program which can be installed onto a laptop and then plugs into your diagnostics port. With it you can do all sorts of wizardry to your car including key coding IF you know what you are doing (lots of guides on here) - but the program is a pain to install and set up.

[Delabrum]

There will be a chip in the fob and another one in the car; they talk to each other via wifi. The problem could be with either chip or it could be that they are not paired together.

You'll see lots of mentions of Diagbox and Lexia on here - it's a program which can be installed onto a laptop and then plugs into your diagnostics port. With it you can do all sorts of wizardry to your car including key coding IF you know what you are doing (lots of guides on here) - but the program is a pain to install and set up.

Ok cool. I’m definitely not savvy enough to mess about with a diagnostic tool so I’ll have either Citromatic or another local company take a look at it. Thanks!

[Gryffindor]

None of us were when we signed up.