Disclaimer: Not sure if this is the right forum or not, the Octavia I and II thing confused me a bit, I'm sorry if it isn't.

Hi there... please help me with this if you can, I have a real problem with my Skoda Octavia 2002 (ambiente?), I took it a few days ago to a place where I could get my hood fixed (it was a little bent, the damage was minor and the car was working perfectly fine), they told me that the first day the car worked great, but the second day it wouldn't turn on. They told me they didn't do anything out of the ordinary.

We tried jumping the car to start because we thought it might have been a dead battery, but the car does start but within seconds (1-3 seconds perhaps) it shuts itself down and you can see a blinking yellow car with a key icon saying "Service" below that. We called the local skoda dealer and they told us that the keys/car need reprogramming, however we have to take it down there.

Before I call a tow truck for this, I was reading the car manual and it says in the event of something like this happening then there's an emergency override method by turning the clock knob to the right, then pressing another button/knob down and I'll get on my display four "0" with the first one blinking for me to enter a 4 digit code, however I'm unable to this trick done, can anyone explain me how this is done?

That's the immobiliser cutting in. It is not recognising the signal from the key, can you try another key in it? The manual will tell you the number entry procedure but you will need the secret key code for your car.

That's the immobiliser cutting in. It is not recognising the signal from the key, can you try another key in it? The manual will tell you the number entry procedure but you will need the secret key code for your car.

Yes thank you for answering, I tried both keys and both are giving me problems, I do have the 4 digit code right now, and I tried following the procedure stated in the manual, but I wasn't able to get it working. Could you explain me that procedure maybe?

I've never heard of being able to enter the skc like this. New one on me.

For all I know I could be doing everything wrong, do you know of any other alternate methods I could try?

You're in the right forum mate.

I've no idea how to solve your problem, but IMO the garage who were working on the hood are responsible for resolving the issue at their expense because it happened whilst the car was in their care.

I was with EMP when we went to pick up the Octavia at the shop. What when wrong at the shop, who knows !!! Maybe they tried to start the car with a different key by mistake. We solved the problem by disconnecting the car battery for about 1 hour and reconnecting it after the hour. Result: OK...the computer or immobiliser reset itself and the car starts as it should, now. We are using the car now to see if the problem arises again.

Still, the question remains unanswered. The manual states a procedure to bypass the immobiliser by inserting the 4-digit code (which we have) and after that the car will start normally within 45 minutes. Future starts would have to continue to use the procedure until the car keys are reprogrammed at the dealer. During the problem event, we could not get to the 4-digit display on the speedometer to display. Have anyone know exactly how to perform the bypass procedure. I am driving the car now and probably will go to the dealer to find out what's the problem.

What page in the manual is the procedure on ?

Daft Question but have you tried replacing Relay 109.

It's totally random, but if the car isn't getting the right power distribution then the immobiliser might go nuts and shut down.

Worth a shot I'd say, but can't be any more help

It might help too to have the car scanned for fault codes, eg with VAG-COM, to see if any relevant ones have been logged. In the meantime the procedure in the Owner's Manual for using the 4-digit code is the only one available, ie there is no alternative bypass method.

This is happening to me too because i removed the speedo clocks without disconectin the battery! i totally for that the immobiliser goes through the clocks ...huh.

Can thi be fixed by a garage with th VagCom or does it have to go to the dealers?

Thanks

Had this happen on my Audi last night bizarrely enough!

Seems to be working fine at the moment though.

It could just be the ignition reader coil that has failed/is failing?

Hi,

Do's any body know where the emergency code is located?? The manual states " The 4 digit code can be revealed after scratching the area on the key tab" anyone know what this means? On the key itself? On the ignition barrel??

Thanks

Piet in sunny spain with a car that will not go do to this problem

Neither I'm afraid. The key tab is a piece of plastic that should have been supplied to you with the keys (yes plural, at least in the UK).

If you haven't got the plastic tab that should come with the keys, you'll need to take the car to a dealer where they can look up the key code for you.

Are any other lights on the dash lit ! possibly the ABS one ,I have seen this on an octy where the dash connector on the right of the pod was not in fully ,reseating it fixed the problem .

Hi, Can anybody help me? I have had 1 key set stolen and the other key has lost the transponder for the immobiliser!! I have the emergency code number but when I followe the instructions from the manual, turn clock adjuster to the right and hold down Oddemeter for one second all it does is change the clock setting.

I need to start the car to get to dealers to have new key calibratated.

Help Please

Disclaimer: Not sure if this is the right forum or not, the Octavia I and II thing confused me a bit, I'm sorry if it isn't.

Hi there... please help me with this if you can, I have a real problem with my Skoda Octavia 2002 (ambiente?), I took it a few days ago to a place where I could get my hood fixed (it was a little bent, the damage was minor and the car was working perfectly fine), they told me that the first day the car worked great, but the second day it wouldn't turn on. They told me they didn't do anything out of the ordinary.

We tried jumping the car to start because we thought it might have been a dead battery, but the car does start but within seconds (1-3 seconds perhaps) it shuts itself down and you can see a blinking yellow car with a key icon saying "Service" below that. We called the local skoda dealer and they told us that the keys/car need reprogramming, however we have to take it down there.

Before I call a tow truck for this, I was reading the car manual and it says in the event of something like this happening then there's an emergency override method by turning the clock knob to the right, then pressing another button/knob down and I'll get on my display four "0" with the first one blinking for me to enter a 4 digit code, however I'm unable to this trick done, can anyone explain me how this is done?

i had the same problem years ago, back then the car key was dropped, it split open and the transponder jumped right out of the key. i didn´t noticed it at first but when i tried to start the car it showed exactly the same behavior you mention here. i had to get the backup key to start the car.

You could carefully split the key and check for a little glass like pill it is the transponder, if its not there thats your problem.

Thanks, the transponer is missing. i have 2 new keys waiting at the dealer but need to get the car there. So I need to get it started some how??

Are any other lights on the dash lit ! possibly the ABS one ,I have seen this on an octy where the dash connector on the right of the pod was not in fully ,reseating it fixed the problem .

I have exactly the same problem as emp - stuck miles from home at the moment while the missus posts me the spare key. I've quoted the above post in case the spare key doesn't work - the trouble is I don't have a clue what it means . Kynastonp, any advice on where the connector and the pod are, and is this an easy fix to do? Any help much appreciated!

Like you emp, I've also had a go at the emergency procedure in the manual, I can't get it to work either. Partially because all the instruments have gone haywire (the oil temp and fuel guages are like a couple of windscreen wipers moving back and forward).

Cheers guys.

Hmm, hi guys... I have been having what seems to be a similar problem with my Octavia, 99, 1.9 TDI. Started back in January where the immobiliser kicked in and I couldn't start my car. After about 15 minutes of trying and waiting and trying again, it started. This happened a couple more times between then and the end of march when all my dash dials stopped working for a while, then rekicked in. Since then, both probs have been getting worse. The dash dials hardly ever kick back in and the immobiliser is being a complete b*%t*$d!! Sometimes the car will start no problem, sometimes the immobiliser just keeps cutting in. Took it to the garage today and id diagnostic test on it. First it was saying there was an engine blockage, then it changed it's mind and said there was a fault with the key. Trouble is, it happens with both my keys!!

Can anyone help please? We don't know whether to try changing the ignition barrel in case the reader coil is the problem, or to change the engine cluster as that could be the problem... or what????? I don't have a shed load of money to throw at this problem, so any help you could all give me would be hugely appreciated.

Cheers,

Fastkat :#