Technical Mk1 1.6 Sporting - keyless push button start

[jayess]

Hi folks, first post so bare with me...
I've owned my mk1 Punto Sporting (1.6 8v) for about five years now, and it's finally reached the point where I've had to SORN it.
It will eventually become a hill climb/weekend toy, but before I start pulling it apart, I have a question -
I've only ever had one blue key and no red key. It has always suffered from "key code light" syndrome ie. turn the key, light comes on, engine wont start (my record for the number of turns before the car starts stands at 57!). It's never really bothered me because I always new it would start... eventually.
But now I am thinking it's time to sort it out once and for all so I was wondering if it is possible to remove the immobiliser, do away with the key all together and fit a push button start and fuel and battery cut offs instead. I don't need to be able to lock the car as it will be locked in the garage or being driven, never left unattended (famous last words lol).
I've searched this forum and googled removal of immobiliser, but pretty much all results have been for smaller engined Puntos or SPIs, which I'm guessing use a different ECU/immobiliser set up.
Sorry for the long winded post, any help would be of great... um, help.

 

[blu73]

What have you tried in the past to make this go away, if anything??

I'm thinking if this is a immobiliser issue the car surely the car would never start. The code light is meant to light up when you first put key in - on some models it comes on then goes out after a few secs on others its stays on until car starts, never driven a 1.6 sporting so not sure which it should do... anyone?

I suspect this has nothing at all to do with the immobiliser though myself. Hows the car running when it does start?

edit: Oh and welcome to FF! :wave:

 

[jayess]

The light usually goes out before the key is turned fully. If it doesn't go out I turn the key back to "off" and try again. I learnt a long time ago that it's pointless trying to turn the engine over if the light is on. Once it's running the engine is great, never had a problem with it in five years of abuse and neglect... The rest of the car is a mess, but the engine runs fine.

 

[blu73]

right well start by checking all the earths, particularly ones for the ecu and codebox. Could just be bad earth or dodgy connection.. Check that before you go buying things

 

[jayess]

Thanks for the suggestion.
I will spend my birthday (Sunday) poking around checking everything... There is absolutely no danger of me buying anything for the Punto at the minute. This was always going to be a long term project, and with my income, there will be a few more birthdays before it's done lol.