Car won't start Immobalizer active?

[boardtc]

I have had the estate for 9 months and first I heard about an immobilizer!

 

It comes up on the screen that the immobilizer is active and the car won't start, the battery in the fob is new this year, and when I tried to start with the spare key it didn't start and had a message that the 12v battery was low.

 

Did I turn on an immobilizer by accident? What's going on? I need to leave the house in 20 minutes!

 

Update: the manual just says:

The immobilizer enables the engine start exclusively using the original vehicle keys.
If the immobiliser components in the key fail, it is not possible to start the engine.
A message appears in the display of the instrument cluster to explain that the immobiliser is active.
To start, use the other vehicle key or seek help from a specialist garage.

 

Don't tell me all I can do is get it towed?

Edited 23 April by boardtc

[RoddersUK]

The spare key turns the immobiliser message off, but won't crank the cr as the 12v battery is low?

[boardtc]

I changed the 2-month-old battery on my main key. When I try it it it's still active, the screen flashes briefly with message to charge the 12v battery by driving

[boardtc]

Sorry for not being clear. My car is immobilized 😒 I changed the 2-month-old battery on my main key. When I tried it there was no change, the screen flashed briefly with a message to charge the 12v battery by driving.

[ords]

Is the central locking working using the fob?

Edited 23 April by ords

[boardtc]

1 hour ago, ords said:

Is the central locking working using the fob?

Yes

[PetrolDave]

8 hours ago, boardtc said:

 the screen flashed briefly with a message to charge the 12v battery by driving.

Sounds like your 12V battery is too low to start the car, so I suggest you connect a charger to the 12V battery.

[boardtc]

Wow, this happens when battery low. I've had no issue with it, wonder what could have happened. Thanks! I'll try a jump start.

[Warrior193]

If your starter battery is original, it's very possible that it is failing. Get it fully charged, then tested - preferably with a high discharge load-test.

[boardtc]

30 minutes ago, Warrior193 said:

If your starter battery is original, it's very possible that it is failing. Get it fully charged, then tested - preferably with a high discharge load-test.

The local dealer actually sold this car they told me and serviced it regularly from 17-21, then it went dark with the 2nd owner. They told me they put a new battery in it in 2021 for €300.

[Warrior193]

If the dealer says the battery was replaced in 2021, request confirmation from them that it was correctly adapted (coded) into the vehicles monitoring system. Also get the alternator output tested. 

[ords]

If you can't charge the battery, can you get it jump started?

[boardtc]

2 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

If the dealer says the battery was replaced in 2021, request confirmation from them that it was correctly adapted (coded) into the vehicles monitoring system. Also get the alternator output tested. 

wow, thanks! Should the dealer charge me for that? Based on the fact that they charged €300 in 2021 I don't want to get a new battery from them if needed.

 

2 hours ago, ords said:

If you can't charge the battery, can you get it jump started?

I jumped it a lunchtime and it started straight away!! I drove it for 1 while and it restarted,

The clock is not correct, also I noticed that after the clutch was replaced 2 weeks ago - yep a very unexpected breakdown - and I reset the clock then. Is that a sign the battery is on the way out?

Edited 24 April by boardtc

[boardtc]

5 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

If your starter battery is original, it's very possible that it is failing. Get it fully charged, then tested - preferably with a high discharge load-test.

A new battery was added by Skoda dealer in 2021, How do I get it fully charged?

[Warrior193]

That could be an indication - by the battery voltage dropping very low during start - it can also cause lots of spurious fault indications to light up on the instrument panel.

Have you noticed the idle stop-start not working recently?  

[boardtc]

2 minutes ago, Warrior193 said:

Have you noticed the idle stop-start not working recently?  

No. It also worked when I drove it after the jump! 😅

[Warrior193]

Just now, boardtc said:

A new battery was added by Skoda dealer in 2021, How do I get it fully charged?

You need to have access to a battery charger - preferably one of the modern 'smart' chargers. The battery can be charged while it is still fitted to the vehicle, but it is important to attach the negative charger lead to the correct tag which is located on the engine compartment firewall. 

[Warrior193]

You may be able to get a reasonable charge from a long run, but it would probably need to be at least several hours and it is very dependant on the condition of the battery.

You can get a digital voltage meter that plugs into the 12 volt socket by the hand brake, which will give you some indication of the alternator output. Cheap on Amazon.

[Warrior193]

52 minutes ago, boardtc said:

wow, thanks! Should the dealer charge me for that? Based on the fact that they charged €300 in 2021 I don't want to get a new battery from them if needed.

 

I jumped it a lunchtime and it started straight away!! I drove it for 1 while and it restarted,

The clock is not correct, also I noticed that after the clutch was replaced 2 weeks ago - yep a very unexpected breakdown - and I reset the clock then. Is that a sign the battery is on the way out?

They shouldn't charge you for giving confirmation that the battery was installed correctly - but it is quite possible that they do not know unless they plug a code reader into the vehicle to check - IMO, they should not charge for this either, but they might.