Key fob won't start engine

[Panda2007]

Hi


I'm on my second Panda, 11 years old now, and I bought a 2006 Panda for a friends daughter some years ago. This has now developed a fault in that the remote fob won't start the car. It still locks and unlocks the car. Most of the comments on the forum seem to relate to central locking with the fob, so I'm wondering if the fob can be reprogrammed or repaired in some way.


I also have a Mercedes SLK and when the fob stopped starting the car Mercedes wanted a gazillion quid to repair but a clever man repaired it somehow for modest quids and it's worked perfectly ever since, so it occurred to me there might be a similar service somewhere.

 

[s130]

The key fob has two functions: opening/closing doors AND engine immobiliser deactivation.

Do you have a second key fob to try? If that fails to start the car then the fault is most probably with either the ignition key aerial around the ignition key barrel or the key control unit, or possibly the engine ECU.

Decent diagnostic kit like MultiECUScan is able to look at some ECU and Body Computer parameters that can help with diagnosis of key / immobiliser / etc issues.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi


I'm on my second Panda, 11 years old now, and I bought a 2006 Panda for a friends daughter some years ago. This has now developed a fault in that the remote fob won't start the car. It still locks and unlocks the car. Most of the comments on the forum seem to relate to central locking with the fob, so I'm wondering if the fob can be reprogrammed or repaired in some way.


I also have a Mercedes SLK and when the fob stopped starting the car Mercedes wanted a gazillion quid to repair but a clever man repaired it somehow for modest quids and it's worked perfectly ever since, so it occurred to me there might be a similar service somewhere.

Do you have the key code? 4 digits.

Will be required if reprogramming a key into cars system.

Where are you based?

Charlie

 

[Panda2007]

HI Guys and Thanks


There's no 4 number code on a neat plastic card in the wallet as one might expect, I will have a look in the car. Plus I've a bundle of old papers, it might be written there.


Regarding the keys, the second key starts the car no problem which suggests the issue is in the fob not in the car. Might the code be read off the second key?

 

[s130]

HI Guys and Thanks
Regarding the keys, the second key starts the car no problem which suggests the issue is in the fob not in the car. Might the code be read off the second key?

This is good news.

To program a new key then your security pin code would be required.

Your remaining working key/chip could be cloned which is possibly the cheaper option. Cloning of keys is not normally recommend as the whole process of programming a new key requires all keys to be present so the missing / lost / stolen key can be deleted from the cars systems.

However in your case you have both keys so a cloning is a perfectly valid option. With luck it will just be the little RFID chip in the key fob that requires cloning and replacing thus avoiding the need to purchase a new key fob as well.

 

[minirib]

Hi


I'm on my second Panda, 11 years old now, and I bought a 2006 Panda for a friends daughter some years ago. This has now developed a fault in that the remote fob won't start the car. It still locks and unlocks the car. Most of the comments on the forum seem to relate to central locking with the fob, so I'm wondering if the fob can be reprogrammed or repaired in some way.


I also have a Mercedes SLK and when the fob stopped starting the car Mercedes wanted a gazillion quid to repair but a clever man repaired it somehow for modest quids and it's worked perfectly ever since, so it occurred to me there might be a similar service somewhere.

The coil in the remote that is used to communicate with the immobiliser is likely broken or needs resoldering. It’s a very common problem on these remotes. It can generally be fixed very easily.
Do not try and reprogram the keys whilst ones not working or it will be deleted permanently and you won’t get it working again even if it is fixed later.

 

[s130]

The coil in the remote that is used to communicate with the immobiliser is likely broken or needs resoldering. It’s a very common problem on these remotes. It can generally be fixed very easily.
Do not try and reprogram the keys whilst ones not working or it will be deleted permanently and you won’t get it working again even if it is fixed later.

I was not aware of remote key fox coil issues so thanks, we live and learn.

As a slight side track point on modern vehicle security systems they are there actually to reduce insurance claim losses with insurance companies, saving them millions. So on that basis why do we have to pay additional money when the security system fails?