There is was on my way home from work on Friday, after leaving 2 hrs early so we could go away for the weekend and miss the worst of the traffic.

I was less then 1 mile from home when the immobiliser activated itself. After calling the local garage we spent over an hour trying all possible tricks and combinations of keys. Scanning the error gave indication that the ecu had lost the correct chip code.

It's now stranded on the garage forecourt awaiting a tow to the main dealer.....

Has any one had this before?

It's a 2003 1.9 Elegance, but I did find a similar thread about an octavia with a similar problem.... does anyone know if the system is similar on the superb ? http://briskoda.net/diagnostics-vag-com/1998-octavia-immobiliser-problem/58539/

Any ideas gratefully received!

Thanks

Matthew

Hmm, I'd be interested to know what the fault code is.

I wouldn't fancy taking it to the dealer - they may want to charge for a new ECU or instrument cluster or both.. not nice and not cheap.

I'm guessing as I'd need to see the car (and I can't drive at the moment :() but I think the cheapest way of fixing this is probably to remove the immobiliser code from the ECU altogether which should allow the car to run. Many tuners can do this for you, I can probably put you in touch with someone local if you like? If I were mobile at the moment I'd have a crack at it myself but unfortunately I can't drive for at least the next 3 weeks and I'm sure you need your car back before then.

If you have the SKC (the immobiliser code) on your spare key tag then it may be worth trying this:

EMERGENCY START

1. Switch IGNITION ON and turn the clock set button to the right

and at the same time press and hold the trip reset button for 1

second.

2. “0000” appears on the display, press the trip button to input the

first digit of the pin code. Turn the clock set button to the right

to move to the next digit. Repeat for all 4 digits.

3. Then with the correct pin code entered turn the clock set button

to the right and press the trip reset button for 1 second.

4. The Immobiliser light will stay on, and the car can run for 45

minutes.

If the key has been apart the transponder may have fallen out.

Hmm, I'd be interested to know what the fault code is.

I wouldn't fancy taking it to the dealer - they may want to charge for a new ECU or instrument cluster or both.. not nice and not cheap.

I'm guessing as I'd need to see the car (and I can't drive at the moment :() but I think the cheapest way of fixing this is probably to remove the immobiliser code from the ECU altogether which should allow the car to run. Many tuners can do this for you, I can probably put you in touch with someone local if you like? If I were mobile at the moment I'd have a crack at it myself but unfortunately I can't drive for at least the next 3 weeks and I'm sure you need your car back before then.

Cheers

My local garage (where the car is currently) has one of the magic boxes to scan the code, so I'll call him tomorrow and get it.

What is needed to remove the code?

Thanks again.

If you have the SKC (the immobiliser code) on your spare key tag then it may be worth trying this:

EMERGENCY START

1. Switch IGNITION ON and turn the clock set button to the right

and at the same time press and hold the trip reset button for 1

second.

2. “0000” appears on the display, press the trip button to input the

first digit of the pin code. Turn the clock set button to the right

to move to the next digit. Repeat for all 4 digits.

3. Then with the correct pin code entered turn the clock set button

to the right and press the trip reset button for 1 second.

4. The Immobiliser light will stay on, and the car can run for 45

minutes.

Thanks - I'll call the the garage and get them to try that tomorrow!

Where do I get the pin code from?

Cheers!

If the key has been apart the transponder may have fallen out.

We've tried all the keys...........

It was working fine until I got within a mile of home, then it just stopped!

Thanks for the thought anyway - all ideas appreciated.

Either take the ECU out of the car and take it to a tuner to have the immobiliser code removed (it's a specialist job) or get someone to come to you to do the same.

I'm not guaranteeing that it'll sort it as I haven't seen the car or fault code but I'd put money on it working

Thanks - I'll call the the garage and get them to try that tomorrow!

Where do I get the pin code from?

Cheers!

Answering my own post....

I guess the immobilizer code on the plastic key strap is the pin code?

Thanks

Matt

Infact, RichardBW at Oscarli (a site sponsor) is in Leamington Spa so he could help you out.

Oscarli - Home Page

Answering my own post....

I guess the immobilizer code on the plastic key strap is the pin code?

Thanks

Matt

Yes it is, 4 digit code. It's usually on a scratch off panel.

Infact, RichardBW at Oscarli (a site sponsor) is in Leamington Spa so he could help you out.

Oscarli - Home Page

Thanks - he's about 45mins away from here.

If the "Emergency Start" procedure works, and I get the fault code, that should give a clue as to the problem?

Could it be a faulty coil - as per the Octavia thread?

Help appreciated - thanks. Hope the foot is healing well!

It could be a faulty reader coil but I was going on your original post which mentioned the fault code having something to do with the ECU having "lost" the key code.

I'm just learning about the immobilisers on VAG stuff but I thought the key was only checked at startup, i.e. wouldn't just appear out of nowhere while you were driving. I know it's like that on some other cars (Peugeot/Citroen for definite) but not sure about VAG. Never tried it!

Try a new battery in the key fob before you spend out heavily.

Hi All,

Just got the code from the garage : "P1612 Engine control module incorrectly coded"

Does this help?

Thanks

Matthew

Try a new battery in the key fob before you spend out heavily.

The transponder in the key is not powered, a new battery wouldn't make any difference unfortunately.

It sounds like he's using a generic OBD reader, we would have a little more information if it was scanned with VCDS. That fault code there doesn't specifically mean the immobiliser code.

It sounds like he's using a generic OBD reader, we would have a little more information if it was scanned with VCDS. That fault code there doesn't specifically mean the immobiliser code.

OK.

So if I got hold of a suitable cable, and installed VCDS it would help? I've been considering vag-com for while........

Is it easy to use to get the information needed?

Then I can do some other changes with VCDS - need to turn the "bleep" on when I lock the car!

Do you have any update on this? I missed your last reply and I'm just catching up on things.

Hi,

Haven't made much progress this week. Too many issues at work!

Have ordered a vag-com cable - been promised for tomorrow morning.

Have also tracked down an independent Skoda specialist who are on my way to work. Will speak with them tomorrow.

Luckily I've got the use of another car, so life goes on without the superb... all be it in an old rattling Rover 216!

I'll post more news tomorrow.

Thanks

Matthew

Update:

The cable hasn't arrived yet.

Spoke to the local independent skoda specialist. Very interesting.

His suspicion was that the Dash Insert would need replacing, and this would require the 4 digit immobiliser code.

The only way to get hold of the immobiliser code needed it so send some details off to Skoda and the needed code.

He thought the dash insert would be approx. £300, plus labour , plus a cost to re-code all the keys.

Does this sound right? I thought the immobiliser code was on the scratch off panel on the key fob?

Should I keep phoning around? Or does this all sound correct?

Many thanks

Matthew

Another Update

Had a long chat with Richard from Oscarli - very helpful and friendly.

My local garage has purchased VCDS and got it running this afternoon. He will print the the scan results tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help,

Matthew

Yes to recode the dashboard you will need the 4 digit code, this is the one on the key tag that I think you already found.

Looking at whats been said you aer worst case looking at a new ECU, mid case it's the alarm, and best a sensor that has shut things down to protect the engine, most likely a cam or crank one if your car has either.

Or the immobiliser has activated and won't deactivate? :-s