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No Code Card walk away?

15K views 35 replies 18 participants last post by  Puertoroc22 
#1 ·
I had been asking the seller of a 2011 SP if he had both keys and the code card and he kept saying
I have everything it comes with when you buy it new. I insisted that he confirm that he had both keys
the code card and the DDA before I make the 5 hour drive to p/u the bike. He comes back with I googled
code card and there is no such thing so I sent him the page of the owners manual with the code card on it.
His new response is sorry I did not get one when I bought the bike and I seem to have lost one of the keys
but at the price I am giving you it shouldn't matter.
The bike is a 2011 SP with 2,600 miles newer tires 1,300 on them new battery no upgrades price 9K what do
you guy's think since I am new to the Ducati and Hypermotard world. I know you cant get a code card from
Ducati and the options for getting one seem to be 500 to 1300 from what I have seen. Walk away?
 
#4 ·
Yes the search goes on my feeling was to walk away. Just wanted to be sure I wasn't
over reacting. I have not been on a 1st gen yet is the EVO SP that much different than
an S. I know the actual hardware differences but do they ride and handle much different?

Now that he has an education on the Code Card I wonder if he will be honest about not
having it to a new buyer that has no idea about it, or how important it is.
 
#6 ·
other's can correct me if i'm wrong, but I don't think any generation of the Hyper came with the code key card.

You just get 2 keys, and a little metal bracket with numbers stamped on them. Some of my older Ducs had an actual credit card sized code key card.
 
#9 ·
Yah the '08 had the card with mechanical and electrical codes too. Strangely enough, it also had a little tag stamped with exactly the same mechanical code on it.

If you've got a working key, a good auto-specialist locksmith would be able to clone it (electronics and all). My locksmith tells me it'd be about $150 per key Australian, which means probably a bit less for you guys.

I can't really comment on whether the bike is a good buy because I'm not in your market.
 
#10 ·
My 796 came with a code card and I needed the immobiliser override code on a recent trip to Ireland. I wouldn't buy one without it (unless you contact ducati and make.sure.they could provide you with one).
 
#12 ·
I did pass on the is one and picked up a 08 S that I could not pass on. It has both keys
the Code Card and the 2nd key has the plastic on it looks like it has never been used.
I did find that some places can read your hardware and get your codes for you. I think
the best price was around 300. I found several sellers that picked up bikes 2nd hand
and said they had no idea what a code card was. I had been looking at 996's before
going for the Hyper and several sellers had no Idea what a Red Key was also.

Per Ducati and the dealers I talked to they can not get your codes they want you
to buy new hardware so the only other option to get codes is the services that hack
your hardware. The other option is to have your one key cloned no codes but you can
get multiple versions of your same key so you have a backup key or keys.

Sounds like you going with option 2 but you can get codes with these services one even
gives you a reproduction of a code card.
 
#13 ·
It has both keys
the Code Card and the 2nd key has the plastic on it looks like it has never been used.
Word of advice: if you haven't already, take the blue cover off that 2nd key and make sure it works. Otherwise you may end up like this idiot and have to get a locksmith to cut a key off your barrel (much pricier than simply having a key cloned).
 
#18 ·
On my 1100, the metal tag was stamped with a combo that was the same as the 'mechanical code' on the code card. On some models (not the Hyper 1100, but apparently the Multi 1200 and some other newer bikes) it's possible to cut a working key blade using that code.

Or maybe it's just an ID tag so the dealers don't get them mixed up.
 
#20 ·
You can get the code

The card itself is unimportant as I understand it. You just need the code printed on it in case you need to reset the immobilizer. I purchased a 2010 Hypermotard without a card and found that S.O.S. Diagnostics can retrieve your code from your instrument cluster. For $450 you get your code and a spare key. Turnaround was quoted as 2-4 days. I guess I'd calculate that cost and hassle into the purchase price of a bike without the card, but I wouldn't necessarily walk away. I haven't had a need for the code yet, but I'll likely send my cluster in this winter to have my code retrieved.

S.O.S. Diagnostics - Italian Bike Programming and Keys
 
#21 ·
I always ask myself why people bear so much importance to a simple code card.
If you were to need the code you NEED to go to the dealer anyways.
The only instance you need a code is when your system is borked anyways.

If we were talking red keys I would certainly understand the issue.
This because the red key has a function, you need it to program other black keys.
You need it to pair your dash to your ecu.

The codecard is just a code in case the antenna doesn't pic up on the signal.
Or for whatever reason you want to bypass the immobiliser.

Thing is it is not reasonable to input the code each and every time you start up.
So the system is broken anyways and needs a repair.
 
#22 ·
I'm no expert, but I think 2007 or 2008 was the last year for the red keys. After that only code cards. The dealer can help you if you don't have a code card, but they will "help" you by selling you a new ecu, ignition, instrument cluster, and keys. I imagine that can be pretty spendy.
 
#24 ·
If there isn't a code card.... Would another option be to have the immobilizer disabled by getting the ECU re-flashed? Then you wouldn't have to worry about it reading the keys.

Granted, you would lose the anti-theft purpose of it, but it doesn't stop a thief from picking up the bike and throwing it in a van or back of a truck.
 
#25 ·
I am no Ducati expert but since I have run 3 different ECU's on my 08 Hyper the immobilizer must be in the
Dash unit? I have run my stock ECU, The Full DP 2 into 1 ECU and another stock ECU I got off ebay that
I have been using tunerpro on and have had zero problems switching between them.

To the other poster Ducati needs the codes from the Code card to give you a replacement key
or Dash unit w/o having to replace all keys locks and the dash unit that is why it is so important
to have it. With the codes you need to replace the broken or missing part of the system not the
entire system.
 
#27 ·
I have not had to try and get a key yet but when I called the Dealer about
the bike I was looking at that had just one key and no code card he said
that with the 2 codes on the card and proof of ownership he would be able
to order a new key.
The Bike I ended up with has both keys the metal tab and the code card.
 
#32 ·
I recently wrote a very polite letter to Ducati North America asking if it was possible to get a code card reissued. I included a copy of my title & registration to verify that I own the bike.. I'll post my experiences if/when they reply!
 
#33 ·
I just bought my 08. And it came with 1 key & the small metal plate with numbers on it. I live in NYC & there's a lock smith on every corner. Can a key be cloned without the code card & just the 1 key I have to read off of it. I have gotten keys cloned with only 1 key. But not completely sure if it can be done with the ducati without the card.
 
#34 ·
Yes, it can. You don't need the card to copy or clone keys. I had a local locksmith copy my key for about $15; on his system the transponder in the key was the same type as used in GM & Honda cars.

I got a blank key on eBay for about $20.
 
#35 ·
I wrote to Ducati NA and asked for code card replacements if you can prove ownership of the bike. I got a very nice reply back, but unfortunately it's not good news:

I am sorry for the delay in responding to you, I wanted to verify the situation before I replied to your inquiry. Unfortunately there is no way to replace the card or issue a new one. The ECU for that bike is hard coded, so in the event the card and the keys are lost, the only recourse is to replace the ECU and the lock set on the bike. It is possible to have a chip key cloned at a modern key copy location (Most ACE hardware stores) so you would at least have a spare, but in the event you get locked out of the bike, a dealer will need to replace the aforementioned parts.
Oh well!
 
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