Immobiliser issue, or something else (engine coil)

[grecianite]

Hi,

My wife's Fabia wont start! You flick the ignition, it sounds like it's starting and then cuts out (with a low buzzing noise) - really strange.

I've had the RAC out and despite telling them we had the engine coil changed about 3 weeks ago, they think it's the immobiliser.

Firstly, do you guys think it is the immobilise (we have no second key).

Secondly, if you think it is the immobiliser, is it worth just scrapping it (being a 2001 car with 100,000 on the clock).

Any advice would be really good!

Thanks!!

[rwbaldwin]

If you look on the dash, is there a symbol that looks like a key/car?

Does the car run for 3 seconds and then stop?

[grecianite]

It runs for prob about 1 second.

The immobilser light does flash, but from what I recall it always used to (but I might well be wrong!)

[rwbaldwin]

First check the chip is still in the key.

If it's not that, then it's likely to be reader coil or the wiring between it and the dash insert

[grecianite]

Thanks Mr Baldwin,

I'll take the car to the local garage tomorrow and get him to look at the reader coil (funny thing is I think this was replace three weeks ago, so maybe it got loose?).

If it is the immobiliser, is it fair to say the car should be written off, as the car is only worth maybe £500?!

Thanks again!

[rwbaldwin]

If the reader coil was replaced, then it is probably the wires between the reader and the dash insert.

If the dash insert is faulty, then it may be possible to have the immo mapped out in the ECU (PM Shark_90 for advice).

[grecianite]

Thanks for your help!

Randomly, having left the key in for an hour, it now works!