Hi,

     wife's citigo just suddenly decided not to start. It's been solid and in daily use. I decided to check the spare key (the non remote one) and unlocked the car with it manually. Inserted and tried to start but just got a slight engine electrics sound and an EPC light. Now it won't start on either key. Feels to me as though the immobolizer has kicked in but there are no fault codes showing on my cheapo DTC reader. Anyone had this before. About to callout the breakdown ppl. Any advice appreciated.

 

thanks

Hello Adam, have you checked that the battery hasn't failed/gone flat? Can you read the battery voltage on your DTC reader?

That was my first thought. I've got it on charge now. Will try again once it's showing as charged up and see what gives... I hope it's just a battery issue... that's easily resolved (although I believe some coding is needed as i'll need a 'start/stop' style battery for this car apparently). I guess any fitter can do that.

So it's finished charging but still won't start.... just a short 'mmm' from somewhere then nothing. Sounds like a deeper issue. 

25 minutes ago, AdamDB said:

Feels to me as though the immobolizer has kicked in but there are no fault codes showing on my cheapo DTC reader.

 

It will only show generic OBD codes, primarily emissions and safety systems, it cannot communicate with the individual modules.

 

I second your diagnosis of immobiliser but cannot suggest why,  when you say will not start do you mean will not crank? If so then carry on down the battery path.

 

I believe if the immobiliser does not recognise the key chip (and your spare may well be lacking it) then the engine will fire but stop immediately, that is assuming you have the battery power to crank the engine.

Did you check the battery voltage after charging?

Battery voltage is 12.46... No the engine does not turn over...just a short hum of some sort of relay for about 1 second then nothing.

 

Breakdown call booked in. Hopefully they'll be able to see more clearly what the issue is... could still be a battery problem but as it's been running solidly most days without issue (does not stand around for days at a time) i suspect this is not the culprit. I've read elsewhere that condensation on some electrics can cause problems. I know there's some electrical gubbins under the passenger seat so i guess that could also be a place to investigate but that would be beyond my current knowledge base.

If the immobiliser is activated, the engine will start and immediately cut and there would be a dash warning, more likely a FUBAR battery.

Well., would you believe it... thought I'd try one more time but i rolled it back a foot or so with the handbrake off and then tried to start it and voila. Started. Tested both remote and non remote keys. Both working. Cancelled the roadside call out for now. Odd one. Might speak to the garage next week for advice anyway.

 

Odd.

2 hours ago, Crasher said:

If the immobiliser is activated, the engine will start and immediately cut and there would be a dash warning, more likely a FUBAR battery.

The engine should at least crank-over if the immobiliser had been activated. Are you able to check what the battery voltage drops to when the key is turned to start position?

If the factory immobilser is activated the engine will start and cut as it did on the two cars I programmed in two new ECU's for yesterday. Not had a faulty ECU in a year then two in one day!