mofri Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Hey guys, My usual key has vanished and my spare is not de-activating the imobiliser. Any ideas? The last time it was used was about 12 months ago when it worked fine. This is my daily driver so I'm in trouble without it. I've just phoned the stealer and they said they can't do anything without seeing the car which is a fat lot of good. I can't even start the engine. BTW, it's a 95 4.2 QS. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Is the battery in the spare key dead? Has the ECU ever been changed and the spare key not been updated? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mofri Posted November 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 The batteries are dead in the spare key but that shouldn't make any difference to the immobiliser system. I'll try and pick up some replacements anyway. The ABS ecu has been changed and the battery has been disconected countless times since the last time the spare was used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Have you tried re-synchronising? Press unlock on the remote key, then lock or unlock the doors with the main key bit. Might help. I assume you don't have any other car keys on the loop? Sometimes they can interfere with each other. Though as Mook says, dead battery is a likely culprit as I think the immobiliser is radio controlled, not through induction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 There are two immobilisers on the car - one is linked to the alarm system (remote unset) and the other works between the key and the ignition barrel. Mofri - the ABS ECU being changed won't have any effect. Try putting new batteries in the spare remote - that should solve your problem, even if the car is unlocked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IT_S8 Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 In later cars > 1998 the central locking and immobiliser are completely seperate. The battery operates the radio wave remote central locking, and the immobiliser is passive. On the flip keys, you can split them in two, and start the car with the bottom half of the key as the chip is built into that, not the buttons as is often thought. This is how the small plastic wallet keys are able to start the car as the passive immobiliser chips are tiny. On a 1995 car though there is no radio wave central locking. At best you have the optional infra red remote central locking with the chunkier keys, and you'll have the earlier immobiliser system which I confess I'm not 100% sure how it works... I'll be interested to see if batteries do make a difference in this instance.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mofri Posted November 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 I've stuck a couple of LR44 batteries into the key, it is an infrared unit. I can see the infrared transmitting but it's not operating the central locking or the immobiliser. I'm about to start turning the house upside down. I can't drive an astra again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Ouch.. may need a visit with someone with a VAG-COM to see if the immobiliser system can be retrained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.