My son has lost the remote to his engine immobiliser systembut has all the standard keys. The dealer has told us we should be able to start the car without the remote but are finding this impossible- have you any tips?The car is a ford fiesta zetec

Alison, April 2009

The usual steps is when you first open the door insert the key into the ignition turn to the first stage and leave for 30 seconds so that the immobiliser recognises that chip! Do not try to start engine before immobiliser resets itself as this will shut the engine off and lock you from starting it!
Otherwise if that fails you can contact the dealer from where you have bought it from and pass on the car serial number to them but you will have to pay for another one they are not that expensive! just quote your car vin number!

ian mechanic, April 2009