Immobiliser working too well!

[Sandspider]

Hi all

My immobiliser has stopped de-immobilising. It's an Autowatch PPI, and I touch a touch pad in my centre console with an RFID chip key fob. It wouldn't start once or twice previously, and I managed (I thought) to fix it by wiggling the immobiliser touch pad thing in my centre console. But this time, the immobiliser light flashes as normal, and when I touch the pad, the light stops flashing (as normal). But when I try and start the car, there's a kind of electrical engagement noise from somewhere at the back of the car, but the engine won't start.

So. I don't think it's a poor contact under the touch pad, but something more significant. I don't know much about the immobiliser - it was fitted before I bought the car, by a garage that I think has now closed down. I tried the spare immobiliser fob, and it's the same, so I think the problem is on the car rather than the key fob. I'll have a look in the boot tomorrow, and see if I can see where the strange noise is coming from.

But does anyone know what the problem might be? (Long shot perhaps without being able to see the car!) I don't even know where the wiring from the immobiliser touch pad goes, or how exactly it immobilises the car. Or, if it's not a fairly simple fix, does anyone know how to remove / bypass the immobiliser altogether so I can start the car? (I'll get a car electrician in if necessary, but presumably there's only a few ways of immobilising a car... Ignition circuit? Cut off the fuel pump?)

Thanks for any help / suggestions.

Giles

 

[zcacogp]

Giles,

Not what you want to hear, but you are down to some boring traditional fault-finding. And the problem may not be with the immobiliser; it is possible that it is working just as it should, but something else has gone wrong. Are you sure the battery is fully-charged? Are you sure the starter motor is operational? (As in, if this had failed then your symptoms would be similar.)


Oli.

 

[Sandspider]

Hi Oli

I feared that would be the case. Tried again today with the bonnet open, and I could hear a hissing noise from under the plastic trim beneath the windscreen. Then, I wiggled the various relays in the main fuse box, tried again, and she started!

So, I'm pretty sure it was the immobiliser, but still not sure what the problem was (or is). Since then, she's started fine every time. [&:]