OT dead VW Golf GTi

[Tim Lamb]

I know this is way off topic but a few pointers might help....

Delivered to my yard last night after 6 weeks parked up in London while the owner (my youngest) swanned off to Australia. Two failed attempts by the AA to get it going followed by a tow home.

R reg. Gti, AA comment *probably a partly disconnected immobiliser*.

Apart from putting the battery on charge and poking Google for a circuit diagram (buried in a zillion Haynes download offers), failed, I have done nothing:-)

Where do I start?

I can check ignition and fuel for power but, assuming one or both are disconnected what then?

Where do these gizmos get fitted, is the key fob transmitter relevant etc.

regards

[John Rumm]

Firstly note I know nothing specific about VW security - so what follows is generic and may be irrelevant!

If its an aftermarket alarm/immobiliser, then finding out which, and looking for a download of the installer manual would probably help. It will at least show you want bits it knobbles.

Check the terminations to the main immobiliser are ok. If they are and they remain dead when theoretically un-immobilised it would suggest a faulty immobiliser.

Probably depends on the vehicle. On mine the box of tricks is stuffed up above the drivers footwell under the steering column. The siren is under the bonnet, and then various sensors etc connect back to the main box.

Note some cars of that age would potentially have a factory fitted immobiliser - these only release when in range of a transponder built into the key itself. Some of these require batteries.

Is there a LED or something in the car that indicates when the immobiliser is active?

[Jules]

I had an after-market one on my last Truimph - dangly bit hanging from the ignition key had to be present and in close proximity to the steering column for it to work. The actual module was tucked under the dash with a bazillion black wires connecting to it.

As I recall it'd immobilise the entire system, though - not just starting. Maybe they're not all like that, but if you're seeing a few telltales light up when you turn the key a click or two then it's perhaps an indication that the immobiliser's OK and you've got some other kind of problem...

(can you poke the owner? If it were me and I were leaving it for an extended period I would have pulled things like relays and hidden 'em somewhere)

cheers

Jules

[Tim]

He's not left you with a "service key" has he? The one that will open doors etc. but not start the engine? (Can't see how that's any use for "a service" but such things do exist).

Tim

[F Murtz]

The service keys usually start the engine but not open the boot or glove box.

[nick]

What Mark is it? e.g. Mark 4

Factory immobiliser or aftermarket?

What are the symptoms?

[Tim Downie]

Doh! Yes, you're quite right. A moment of madness on my part.

Tim

[Chris Bartram]

That will be a MK3, with probably a factory immobiliser built into the ECU.

There's a chip in the key, and a pickup coil around the ignition barrel which can fail.

If the immobiliser is triggered the car will usually fire and then stop after ~1 sec.

If you can find someone with VCDS that might be a good start, but also try another key.

[Tim Lamb]

Hmm.. that sounds well beyond my capabilities!

I have been busy laying and levelling hardcore all day so the VW has not progressed beyond having the battery charged.

The vehicle was acquired *well second hand* and is said to have had the immobiliser disconnected.

The AA could find no fuel or ignition spark but, beyond thumping the boot floor over the fuel pump, did not attempt further diagnostics.

Armed with the various suggestions, I will look for an electrical supply to the fuel pump and ignition during cranking. Search under the dash for dangly boxes and look for manufacturers details.

I'll report back as soon as I have more information.

What is a VCDS? Some sort of plug in analyser?

regards to all

[Chris Bartram]

Yep, it's software that emulates the dealer computer.

us posted.

BTW, the key is involved, but the battery in it isn't- the remote control for the locks and the immobiliser chip are seperate.

[Tim Lamb]

Techie! I suppose if all else fails, I could put it on a trailer and get it to a dealer. Cost/value issues though.

regards

[Chris Bartram]

The thing to do is join one of the VW/Seat/Skoda/Audi forums, and ask a member there local to you to scan the car for you. Most will do it for a pint or 2. A dealer will want £40+.

[Tim Lamb]

OK. Noted.

No progress today. I read in a forum that immobilisers can reset after a

12 hour interval. No such luck:-(

No supply to either fuel pump or ignition coil with ignition turned on. I didn't try it during cranking; not enough hands.

At least the barn floor has benefited from an unpaid, wheel-less motorist driving the whacker plate.

regards

[Andy Dingley]

"driving the whacker plate"

Is that another of Adam's euphemisms?

[Tim Lamb]

Not knowingly:-)

Her camper van, parked up in one of my barns, is now active so I expect she will go back to London shortly.

On the subject of VW camper vans.... were they ever fitted with battery restraints? Having struggled to remove her *leisure battery* and fit a smaller but free (my mobile cold weather jump start job) I found no means of clamping it in place. Polyprop rope is the usual farm fall back:-)

regards

[Bruce]

I have owned three VW campers, two based on Transporters and one on a Caravelle. They have all had fixings for the main vehicle battery, but not for the leisure battery.

It is up to the company that does the conversion, or the owner, to provide fixings for the leisure battery.

[Jules]

So she owns a more manly, butch van too?

[Tim Lamb]

:-)

She works as an assistant locations manager and thought it might be more convenient than temporary accommodation. So far it has mainly kept the dust off the floor in one of my barns!

Californians are making money exporting ancient VW campers back to Europe to satisfy a demand for *classic* vehicles.

regards

[Tim Lamb]

In message , Bruce writes

Quite. It now has a fabricated steel bracket trapping the foot flange.

regards

>

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Same as most modern cars if left that long. The quiescent current is such that the battery will be totally flat. And maybe ruined.

First by re-charging the battery and making sure it is ok.

Some charge up when in the lock so it's possible that has gone flat too. So leaving that in the lock and perhaps switched to 'aux' overnight might sort it. Otherwise it might be a dealer job to re-code, etc.

Next time, disconnect the battery when leaving the car for more than 3 weeks.