My one week old (in my possession, that is) 1999 Octavia had a problem this weekend, when my wife tried to start it for the first time (isn't it typical?). It ran for two seconds and stopped again. Then it just started and it hasn't acted up since that. So I guess that is the immobilizer, right? And I really hate errors that come and go in both my computers and my cars because they always come when my wife is using the car or computer, and they always go again when I try it to find the problem! My neighbour's diagnostic tool gave this error:

Address 17: Instruments Labels: 1Ux-919-xxx-17.lbl

Part No: 1U1 919 034 G

Component: A4-KOMBIINSTR. VDO V22

Coding: 02140

Shop #: WSC 00493

VCID: 3875D27B32C3

Part No: IMMO

Component: IDENTNR: SKZ7Z0X0348160

IMMO-IDENTNR: SKZ7Z0X0348160

1 Fault Found:

01176 - Key

07-00 - Signal too Low

From what I have read that can be a bad connection in the sensor. Kind of difficult to search for such stuff here, btw. Any three letter or number combination will be discarded in the search because the search engine think they're too short. Anyway where would I typically look for that bad connection on this car? I have read about some plugs in new Beetles and Passats, but it doesn't seem likely that they are identical to this car's setup. Thanks in advance!

My 02 vrs has the same problem. Has done since I purchased it and was like that also for the previous owner. Its not that big an issue for me. I've just learned to live with it

OK, thanks. Then I won't panic. I'll just tell my wife to live with it. And try to survive telling her that...

Is this a case where the "detection/pickup" loom needs to be replaced?

Very much possible. I'll try that if it starts acting up on a more regular basis. Thanks!

If you have another key, then try that one

Well,both keys has worked since that one time. So I'll just wait and see if anything happens.