I recently bought an N reg S55 from my sister a week ago after she threw the towel in because of the problems she'd had with it. Ha ha, if only I'd known...

Withing the space of two weeks I've replaced the starter motor TWICE, only for the bugger to die on me AGAIN. Luckily I wasn't out on a date. John Cleese & a recently torn off branch sprung to mind...

It starts easily on a bump start but not by turning the key in the ignition. I dragged its sorry arse to a garage this morning and bought another starter motor which Trevor ("This car is nothing but trouble!" - he'd worked on it before my sister sold it to me) the mechanic fitted.

Then I spotted an etched message on the driver window saying:

'This vehicle is protected by STOPLOCK SECURITY'

Decided to ask sis about this and she confessed that when she bought it the previous owner told her that the imobiliser had been disabled. Hmmmmmmm.....

"I wonder if these are connected?", I thought

I have three keys. Two blue ones and a red one (which upon opening seems to contain some sort of coiled copper wire in a glass tube - now I think I'm being tagged/bugged and thinking Will Smith in Enemy of the State). The plot thickend...

Sometimes a light to the left hand side of the dash display lights up showing a key and the word 'code'. Other times it doesn't. Could this be the answer to the mystery of the immobile means of transportation? I think it's a job for an auto electrician rather than a mechanic. Then again, what would I know? I'm just the poor bugger who (apparantly!) owns a car but still uses public transport.

Advice and suggestions would be most welcomed.

the 'bug' is the transponder fitted as standard by fiat.theres a sensor loop around the barrel where you put the key in the ignition which makes sure you have the right key and are not some sticky fingered thief.
the red key is the 'master key' and should not be used for day to day use as this is needed for some ECU work,use the blue ones.
i think stoplock only do physical security measures like steeering wheel locks.immobiliser disabled sounds a bit worrying to be honest.have you tried starting it with the red key when it plays up?
i would also take a look at the wiring in the steering column to see if someone has fitted an aftermarket immobiliser which may be giving you grief.when it fails does the code light come on?

A Dog Is Not Just For Christmas
Sliced Thinly It Can Last Till Easter

Mmmmm, I agree with your comment about the immobiliser. I've used all three keys without success. But I'll certainly take a look at the wiring under the steering column. As for the code light sometimes it comes on, other times it doesn't regardless of whether the starter kicks in.

But is this a job for Mechanoman or Electro? Who knows where I'll break down again...

The Day After Tommorrow

if you have a problem with the fiat immobiliser then take it to fiat for a diagnostic check to find out if theres a problem,about 30-50 quid but this will only tell if theres a problem not fix it.
if they tell you there is a fault come back to the forum and see if theres a cheaper repair option before agreeing to get work done(unless its not too expensive,might not charge the diagnostic if you get the repair done.
somwtimes the code light can go out really quickly.so to check sit in the car and just turn the ignition on,after a few minutes the car will flash the code light up again as it re-checks the key,so if it doesnt start leave the ignition on and check if the code light comes on.
is possible to get the Fiat immob deactivated but its not cheap,thats why i would be dubious if it had been done.
when i bought my car it had the remains of an aftermarket alarm under the steering column ,and thats why im thinking you may have the same with a dodgy aftermarket immobilisergiving you problems.hope so as that would be cheap and easy

A Dog Is Not Just For Christmas
Sliced Thinly It Can Last Till Easter

the code system has no diagnostic conection, and no error storing facility, no diagnostic check can be performed.
as for the problem your experiencing the starter motor could be explained by a poor re-con replacment, this happens a fair bit.


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