Immobiliser Issues ..... I think !!

[DSB]

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone has any Sunday suggestions before I get professional help.

Yesterday I tried to start the car in the 'normal' way and literally nothing, it turned ignition on but didnt even turn over. Got out messed around with the key fob - unlocking and relocking - and then out of nowhere it started as normal. Ok I thought, maybe just a minor gremlin. Anyway, fast forward to today and now having the same problem over and over. Its strange, it will start every now and again but there is no ryhm or reason for it starting - not that I can make out anyway.

I'm thinking its the immobiliser ...... can it be reset by the user without Vagcom or specialist tools/knowledge ??

Any suggestions and comments welcome.

Thanks

Danny

[BlingBling]

When you manage to start the car are there any lights illuminated on the dash?

[cobraBLACK]

It's the starter solenoid I expect.

See here.

[DSB]

Yeah when the car starts the dash is illuminated in the normal way, no warning light though if thats what you mean.

I spoke to Dean at four rings this morning and he is convinced its the starter motor though. Researching the whole starter motor thing it seams to make sense now as the symptoms are very similar.

He's coming down next week anyway to take a look ...... if it is starter motor is £300-£400 about right, including the motor ?

Danny

[DSB]

It's the starter solenoid I expect.

See here.

......cheers mate, must have been writing responses at the same time.

[cobraBLACK]

I've still got the problem with mine - it happens rarely but tends to be if I don't use the car for a day or two.

Sometimes it just takes several seconds before it will turnover, other times it's as extreme as your example where I'm locking and unlocking the car, etc. (although that's not directly going to fix a starter motor, the car will 'do things' when you lock or unlock it and I was hoping it might reset something in the pre-startup routine).

If it's one of the more extreme ones I tend to get out and do something else for a couple of minutes and it usually works on the next try.

I've had the S4 for two or three years and it's done it, maybe, less than 10 times.

I'm not too bothered about fixing it but sod's law it happens when I'm in a hurry.

[DSB]

Yeah I only really use my'n at the weekends so I really want to get it sorted. It would annoy the hell out of me not being completely sure it will start every time I get in it - especially as I don't get in it regularly !!

The Mrs' is in my ear as it let her down on the south circular on Sunday when she stalled it in traffic and it wouldn't start = long cue, stressed phone calls, me in dog house until sorted ...... she might stop driving my car now perhaps, or at least stop stalling it.

[cobraBLACK]

Yeah, it sounds like your issue is a bit more advanced. I'd definitely fix it if it could happen at any time.

[indolent]

I have a similar problem but only seems to be when the engine is cold - I am leaning towards the startmotor solenoid as the cause - I've found keeping the key turned in the ignition and it eventually starts (up to 10secs). Reading around the ignition keeps a current flowing to starter and the solenoid eventually releases.

Its a job to do sometime but its not a priority for me at the moment.

[marv]

As another suggestion, I had a similar issue with my car, but I had read elsewhere that it could also be caused by dodgy wires in the loom from the ignition barrel. This made sense for me because it only started happening after I'd had the steering wheel and cowling off while fitting cruise control.

I found that when it happened, if I moved the steering column up/down/in/out a bit, the problem would go away.

I suspect the guys' suggestions above are more likely the cause, but it's something else to try anyway!