Immobiliser problem – any advice appreciated

[scarlet_vr6 0]

I’ve got to make a decision and I have no idea what to do… any advice on the below will be very gratefully received!

 

My C broke down recently (fired but wouldn’t stay running) and it turns out it’s a problem with the dealer fitted immobiliser. Andy at Trim Wizard who fitted a new Cobra alarm and immobiliser to the car last summer has been brilliant and spoken to my garage and given them info so the new system can be ruled out, and so it’s been confirmed that it’s the old one at fault.

 

My choice is this… go to VW and buy a new immobiliser control unit (£130+VAT) and then VW have to program it. I expect this will cost a fortune esp since I only have one key which apparently complicates things. The other option is for my garage to send the ECU (apparently the main one and not the immobiliser one) away and get it reprogrammed to bypass the old immobiliser (~£230 inc. VAT). I’m covered under insurance as the new Cobra system is cat 1 and therefore has an immobiliser fitted. I’ve confirmed that I won’t lose my map if I get the ECU reprogrammed.

 

Thoughts anyone?

[craigowl 0]

I had my ecu replaced with one from Stealth motoring. Prices may not be as high as you think from Vince.

Give him a call - he knows a lot about this stuff and Corrados.

[Jim 2]

Are you having the classic problem of the car starting and then the engine cutting out immediately? Are you certain that the immobiliser has actually *failed*, or whether it's just got the classic problem of the pickup for the chip in the key being at fault it just needing a clean? I'm being a little vague here but this has come up on the forum a thousand times but I can't for the life of me find a thread detailing exactly what you need to do to fix it.. I'll update it when I do.

 

Alternatively I believe someone who's handy with VAG-COM (e.g. DG Autotech or Stealth) can defeat the built-in immobiliser so it's out of the equation all together.

 

*edit*

 

A hint at what's involved is here: http://the-corrado.net/showthread.php?69281-VR6-wont-start-after-first-long-run-NOW-Fixed!

 

*edit again*

 

And Cazza's post about 4 down on this one: http://the-corrado.net/showthread.php?58371-VR6-Starting-Help

 

:)

Edited February 7, 2013 by Jim

[tony_ack 0]

As per advice in first link above - remove fusebox cover and lower dash on driver's side. Immobiliser module is under the dash, fixed to a bracket at the back of it, near the spoiler control module. Remove the small wire going into it, spray the contacts on the plug with a little WD40 and work it in by pushing the plug back on and removing it a few times. Sometimes the clips on the plug are broken, so make sure it is secured well.

 

This fixes the vast majority of immobiliser issues. Personally I love the factory-fitted immobiliser as it makes the car pretty much impossible to drive away without the right key and was what had thwarted the numpties who had tried to steal the car from its previous owner.

[scarlet_vr6 0]

thank you so much for the replies everyone! :D

 

I've read all the threads I can find about it (that first one you posted looks like a winner, Jim!) and spoken to the garage again so tomorrow they are going to run through some of these quicker and cheaper fixes if they haven't done them already. Really hope one of them sorts it out! I've also spoken to VW and total price for supplying and fitting a new immobiliser control unit, a new key (2 weeks from Germany) and recoding both keys is £307.58

[Jim 2]

Whilst I'm not particularly "hands on" with the Corrado, in all my years on here I've really never heard of the immobiliser actually failing in any way.. it's always, always been the rubbish connection issue and a clean has always fixed it. I don't want to get your hopes up of course.. but just saying :)

[scarlet_vr6 0]

Whilst I'm not particularly "hands on" with the Corrado, in all my years on here I've really never heard of the immobiliser actually failing in any way.. it's always, always been the rubbish connection issue and a clean has always fixed it. I don't want to get your hopes up of course.. but just saying :)

 

praying!!

[Jim 2]

Any update Fay?

[Supercharged 2]

Just get Vince to remove it - he can do it by post if you need!

[scarlet_vr6 0]

Yep, update is that the car is fixed and I'll be collecting him in a few hours. It was just a fuse at fault! Seems a bit unbelievable that the AA guy missed it, the AA helpdesk guy missed it and the garage missed it. I can only assume that the garage assumed the AA had checked such things! However, they were deeply apologetic and owned up to not spotting this sooner and I think there's a lot to be said about a company which acknowledges something going wrong. For my part, I'm delighted that's all there was to it and that I don't have a bill for £hundreds! I'm really looking forward to getting the car back on the road! :D

[GlosterOx 0]

Glad you got it fixed Fay.

 

Ian.

[Jim 2]

Ditto. Great result! :-)

[scarlet_vr6 0]

Thanks both :D

[VAG-hag 0]

Now go and get a 2nd key! :) blanks can be got from ebay and coded by your local locksmith, costs very little. I made up a flip key for mine with bits of old mk4 golf key and an old style blade

[scarlet_vr6 0]

Good idea Chris! Think I'll do that :)

[craigowl 0]

Just get Vince to remove it - he can do it by post if you need!

 

That's what I did. Just over £100 IIRC.

 

---------- Post added at 11:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:34 AM ----------

 

A fuse? - great! First things we checked.

Wish mine had been that!

I ended up spending a few quid buying bits on eBane, too.