Immobiliser problem? 2000 W 1.9 SDI

[beardo]

I drove 160 miles yesterday morning, came back to the car after a couple of hours to do the return journey and it would not start! It was turning over then immediately stalling. After 5 or 6 goes it started and stayed running. I drove home all ok!

This morning I drove 20 miles, parked up, came back drove home - no bother.

Lunchtime, I go to move the car - it won't start again, same as yesterday (turns over then cuts out immediately). I called the RAC out and the guy reckoned it is most likely an immobiliser problem and said that the dealer will need to recode the keys. I have tried the spare key and it is the same with that. The orange car symbol with a key underneath is coming on and then going out after a few seconds (I was not even aware it had an immobiliser).

I just wanted to check that his diagnosis sounds right as I like to know as much as possible so that the dealer can't baffle me with science! Dealers can't fit me in till Thursday so the RAC will be towing me there then.

 

[keenocupra]

definetly sounds like an immobiliser problem to me mate. re coding the keys makes no diffrence there must either be a fault with the transponder chip inside the key or immobiliser pick up itself ... or wiring . if ur not clued up with wiring ur better to take it to seat or an experienced equivelant as there may be a common problem with them

 

[beardo]

I am not clued up on wiring.

So we can rule out the actual keys - I did try the spare and it don't work with that either

Thank you for the reply - it's a bit of a nightmare since the Swansea dealership closed. We have to go to Tumble - which is like back and beyond....

 

[keenocupra]

ok so you have used ur spare key . so all we have really got is either immobiliser pick up problem or wiring.are u able to locate ur engine ecu by any chance? if so u could unplug it and check for any signs of corrosion inside the connector? that would be ur next best bet as this is a common problem with these now as u cant even wash them without causing problems . the ecu is located under the scuttle panel at the drivers side.

 

[beardo]

I am not 100% sure I know where you mean. Not in the same part as the wiper linkages - underneath that?

 

[keenocupra]

yeah should normally be in the same place as ur linkage but underneath the linkage itself

 

[beardo]

I just went out to get the bins in and thought I'd try the car - started first time and did not immediately cut out. Tried a second time - again all fine. Then tried with the spare key - again all fine.

I am completely confused.

I have not had a chance to look at the ECU - I guess I'll need to disconnect the battery for that?

I am in a bit of a quandary, I have a slip from the RAC for a tow and it explicitly states that the car is in their opinion 'not safe to drive'. I am also assuming that if the mileage is not as recorded and/or the car starts on Thursday they might refuse to tow it?

If this is an intermittent fault with the immobiliser, is there any danger of the car cutting out whilst driving? This may seem like a silly question - but I really have no idea!

 

[beardo]

Still starting ok - just tried again with both keys.

I took the scuttle cover off and it was all pretty clean and dry under there (despite being parked on the road). A little debris (pine needles etc) but no puddles and the drains are clear. Someone at some point in time (seat?) had put some gaffer tape over the ECU boxes (which I have not removed). I guess there still could be some corroded pins - but I have not had time to disconnect the battery to look yet.

 

[keenocupra]

excellent mate . u will find the odd leave etc as its just a pit that collects everything going! haha . when u have a look at ur ecu connectors let me know what u find .

cheers

 

[beardo]

Just an update to this old thread.

Car started fine the next day, still took it to dealers - they ran diagnostics and found nowt wrong. Been starting fine since - until we were off on our hols. It decided to play up again.

This time though, it has been persistent to the extent that we needed a hire car and it was driven away on the back of an RAC truck! It is at the dealers again, but this time they should be able to diagnose it properly as it is still not starting!

 

[tom w]

I'll watch this as my missus 's sdi golf is started this trick
I might vag com it

 

[beardo]

Well, not looking good. Though not entirely sure if the garage have actually done anything by way of diagnosis yet due to the short week.

They don't think it is the immobiliser as the immobiliser light is not flashing.
As I mentioned there is some corrosion on the pins of the engine ecu, they have decided it might need a new one and have quoted me over £1000 for it.

They are going to look at it next week and come back to me, however, 1k seems a bit rich for me (more than the value of the car).

 

[nev]

Well, not looking good. Though not entirely sure if the garage have actually done anything by way of diagnosis yet due to the short week.

They don't think it is the immobiliser as the immobiliser light is not flashing.
As I mentioned there is some corrosion on the pins of the engine ecu, they have decided it might need a new one and have quoted me over £1000 for it.

They are going to look at it next week and come back to me, however, 1k seems a bit rich for me (more than the value of the car).

they are dear. second hand one? maybe get a second opinion too

 

[beardo]

Yeah, I think if I can get the part no. I'll be able to source one off ebay for < £100 with the immobiliser bypassed. Gonna try and get the to the dealers in the week to get the info.

 

[Chez]

look for my thread on this subject, mk3 ibiza cupra, but with starting problems simmilar to yours, (completely non starting tho).
was told by one (dodgy) garage that it was the ecu, turned out, after lots of investigation by star performance who i later took it to that it was a melted resistor/ circuit board in the instrument cluster causing non communications between ecu and cluster.
it had the immobiliser symptoms but no flashing key symbol

 

[beardo]

Thanks for the reply Chez.

Mine does start - but then just cuts straight out and the immobiliser light does not flash.

Bit difficult to get a 2nd opinion, given I can't move the car.... bit frustrating, if it was at home I could have a fiddle about myself and i'd be willing to take a punt on a cheap ECU off fleabay.

 

[Chez]

hi,
my full symptoms were car starting but cutting out immediatly, start with foot on accelerator would start, rev to 4k then cut out.
all dash lights would come on and go off as normal, no flashing key on any start.
towed it to a local garage who said was ecu but i wasnt convinced.
had the car lifted to star performance for £100, who could communicate with the ecu with ignnition off but nothing with it on.
after trying removing the immobiliser software, trying a new ecu etc the prob remained.
a few weeks of investigation with the can-bus wiring revealed a short circuit in the 'k' wire between ecu and instrument cluster, with cluster being sent away for repair on the melted circuit board.
all put back together and started no probs, altho a lot of money on labour.
hope this helps someway to narrow your search down.
p.s my car was running great, left not used for 2 weeks then the prob started so not something i had done or anyone else to cause the non starting in the first place.

 

[beardo]

Hi Graeme,

Thanks for that, could be useful info. I called the dealers this morning and couldn't get to speak to the person who is supposed to be looking at it. Not had a call back yet, might give em another shout in a bit. I've got a feeling that they are not interested in sorting it out, trouble is I need the car on the road or to buy a new car sharpish.

It's 11 yrs old so might just scrap it.

 

[beardo]

If only I had invested in a wire brush and some of FIL's famed electrical spray.....

Dealers called, they have the car running. They apparently ran diagnostics, cleaned ecu pins, squirted on some electrical spray and it now runs fine. No fault codes or anything.

3hrs labour = £240 = Ouch

At least I now have something to PX.

Hindsight oh.......

 

[Chez]

good news,
at least your cars fixed,
Im sure someone else had this problem too on the forum and i had posted suggesting bad connection at plugs on ecu, the thread with "earthing the ecu".
i (my wife) wondered if the expense of getting my car fixed was worth it as its 10 years old, and with the bill at £800 plus the innitial £100 for lifting she wasn't too pleased, but im glad i got it done.
threads like this also help others with simmilar probs from not too much expense by ruling out the simple things first.