Help my folks !!! Its a Citroen question.

[wizard]

My mother bought a 57 plate Citroen xsara picasso and she has two keys for it.
One is the standard lock/ unlock fob type the other is a non fob/button key, she wants to know what is it for and it doesnt fit the ignition or filler cap.
She also wants to know how the heated seats work.... I had a look around the dash etc a cant find any buttons to turn them on. She is convinced it has them as the wiring is under the seat.


ta wizard

[SteveGoodz]

Can't help you with the key question, sorry.

Those wires under the seat my not be for the heated seats but the side impact air bags which, IIRC, are under the tread plate just inside the doors. The control box is likely under the seat.

I could be wrong, of course .......

[V8MoneyPit]

The wires under the seats may simply be for the seat belt warning light. Particularly the passenger seat. It has to know if someone is in the seat before telling you to fasten your belt!

Is there a lockable compartment somewhere? Our Freelander has one, but uses the ignition key.

[TDi90]

or it is for the seatbelt tensioners that get deployed in an accident.

[gtomo2]

Could be a key to turn off the air bags if you use the front child seat Key slot normally in glove box or in side of dash board when you open the door. Also check the floor iirc there is a hidden locking box fitted or at least my dads one has it.

[dxmedia]

Seat belt pre-tensioners and is the key the valet key?

[wizard]

The air bag switch operates off the main ignition key. thats just inside the drivers door.
Whats the seat belt pre-tensioners, and  the valet key ?
I have just gone through the owners hand book and there is no mention of this other key ? I might take a drive down to the citroen garage tomorrow  and ask them whats it for.

thanks so far.

wizard

[dxmedia]

The pre-tensioners fire basically a gun cartridge under the seat in case of an accident. They pull the seatbelt socket back away from the seatbelt and engage the inertia reel just before the airbag goes off. It stops the occupant flying forwards and being smashed back by the airbag. The socket under the seat coming un-done is the usual reason for the airbag warning light going off (the get kicked by rear passengers).

The valet key (if it is one) is the key you give to the valet driver at a hotel. It disavows access to parts of the car but does let it be driven.

[wizard]

The key doesnt fit the door, ignition, airbag switch, or the fuel cap.
The rear door child locks are also on the main key.I can feel a trip to citroen coming on.

wizard

[dxmedia]

Is the key for that car?

[wizard]

I dunno :lol: Its a Citroen key and It can from the garage with it.

I think it might be for a locking wheel nut, If i can just figure out how to get to the wheel nuts !!!!

Give me a Land Rover any time.

wizard

[Discopoo]

The extra key may to disable the alarm

[carbore]

ok, id doubt this has heppended yet, but.....

You can find that locks get worn so that the spare key does not fit. This normally only hapeens on older cars mind. Also it could be a spare that was made up from the key number, but not properly finsihed off so its not quite right.

[dxmedia]

Was the car boutht from a garage?

If the above suggestions don't work and the keys don't look alike, it might be that the keys got mixed up and they've another citroen they've for sale which has the correct key for yours on the bunch?

[wizard]

Hi
Yes it was from a garage. The old folks will take it down there one day and ask about the key.

wizard