Technical Next challenge: Immobiliser!

[edbremner]

My little cinqi has really been having a ton of issues recently.

Reckon it serves me right for increasing the 'expected mileage' on my insurance!

Replaced clutch and new one broke within a few thousand miles. Got a replacement (thanks Big Mick) and fitted that, only for the gearbox to die. Replaced that, pleased that now getting the job down to under a day.

Had some 'missing' issues, changed crank sensor and cleaned up leads and that seemed OK, but now the immobiliser has gone awol.

The Car
P reg sporting 1108

So, symptoms are:

For a long time the code light had intermittently gone on and off, but it never seemed to be a problem, the car always started, sooner or later

Then, had codelight on solidly and car immobilised, no pump, no spark.
After cleaning all contacts on immobliser box/relays below ECU, no luck....

so replaced: ECU/immobiliser/key/barrell and car would then start fine and as far as I was concerned the problem was solved. 7-10 days later, the problem has returned.

So can only presume that there is some other unknown issue which is causing the immobiliser system to error/break/fault and stop it clearing.

have tried disconnecting battery, but not sure this has been for long enough to allow ECU capacitors to really die and force it to reset??

Next steps

OK, where to now. There seems little point in replacing ecu/immobliser/keys again as suspect would only happen again.

Any ideas what other issues might cause this?

Others have suggested ( I do read the archives )

• checking the sender around the key barrel. I have looked at this, it appears to be there and working? But not sure how to remove? clues?

Replacing the ECU chip: Some suggestions are that this will help, but others not so sure. I have asked the guy in Israel selling chips about this and he has said that the immobiliser code is kept in two chips on ECU and changing the main one may or may not fix an immobiliser problem. Any thoughts?

What ECU chips are available at moment? Am I right in saying Gazzaman is no longer about? Are McCritch chips available still. Can anybody confirm that the McCritch chip will immobilise the immobiliser?

Does anybody else have any ideas at all in what other route forwards to take?

Would it be worth considering swapping bits/all of the wiring loom?

Any ideas would be really appreciated as I am close to being totally stumped on this.

Biggest thanks in advance!

eib

 

[fingers99]

First step would be to check all the contacts from the immobiliser antenna to the code box and from the code box to the ECU.

But, yes, McCritch is still about and can do chips to by-pass the immobiliser.

 

[edbremner]

thanks,

so, in practical terms, these are the connectors going into the black immobiliser box under the steering column?

If so, really done those to death.

Are there any connectors actually on the antenna? I have checked the antenna and freed the cable from the column, but could not pull out the whole cable as it goes down under plastic on top of steering column. Is there any point in perservering in romoving the antena? are there other connectors between the antenna and the box...other than the one that goes into the box?

thanks again

eib

 

[ycming]

Just to confirm, once you turn the keys all the lights still work in the car right ?

I would get a chip that removed the immob. Hassle free !

 

[fingers99]

Then, had codelight on solidly and car immobilised, no pump, no spark.
After cleaning all contacts on immobliser box/relays below ECU, no luck....

I can't remember (put it down to senility) which circuit the immob kills, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't kill both fuel and spark. Post by rallycinq somewhere which will tell you for sure.

I'd speculate that the original ECU and code box is OK and that maybe you have an issue with the master relay?

 

[edbremner]

Thank you all for input.
ycming:

Yes, when immobilised, all lights are working, including codelight, all electrics etc etc. The starter motor spins the engine, but the fuel pump does not prime and there is no spark. My presumption was that the car is immobilsed by lack of fuel and spark, rather than stopping the s-motor from spinning as too easy to by-pass that? I also think the way forwards is to get new chip.....but just don't want to find that new chip does not fix this issue.
fingers99:

As above, immobilser does appear to stop fuel/spark, but very curious if this is not what it is supposed to be doing as it would obviously show where the fault lies, but if so, why do I get codelight at same time as not being able to start? Have looked for post by RallyCinq but not found it, will look some more.

To confirm, the master-relay is the relay in white box next door to ECU? If so.....then again have swapped this and cleaned multiple times.

Thanks again guys,

eib

 

[ycming]

Yes that is immob. A Chip is cheap, or you can send you ecu to reddy4bed and he will remove it for you.

Ming