MK5 Immobiliser / Key Problems

34095 Views 31 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Imagewerx, Mar 10, 2018

yeahdisk

Discussion Starter · Dec 23, 2010

Hi - I thought I would post my problem on here to see if anyone could offer any insight...

On Monday, my wife tried to start her '56 Golf 1.6 and the immobiliser promptly cut in. Tried a few more times and the same thing happened. Stuck for what to do, she called the RAC who tried a bunch of stuff but eventually towed it to the local VW dealer to recode the key.

On Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday (today) the VW Dealer have been trying to diagnose the problem. The current situation is that they cannot re-code the original key or any other key succesfully. Which, they say, points to the actual immobiliser being at fault.

However, their diagnostics show that there is no fault found with the immobiliser unit. They're now waiting for 'VW Technical Support UK' (?) to get back to them with some bright idea.

Upshot is - we've been without a car all week and will almost certainly be without a car over Christmas. The dealer can't give us a courtesy car.

Does anyone have any ideas on what it could be?? We just can't afford any massive expense, and we're already up to £130 on 'investigation fees' - whatever that is. We're both confused / angry / anxious in equal measure! Any help / advice would be very gratefully received!!!

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

BlackMagic20vt

· #2 · Dec 23, 2010

Tell them you wont pay the investigation fees why should you if they cant find the problem. The immobiliser is not massive,ey complicated on the mk5 so I dont see what the actual issue is? Are the clocks at fault? As I dont think your car has a seperate immobiliser unit think on yours its still buil into the cluster hence the coding of ECU Clocks and key together.

Try and get more info? Does the car start and then cut off after 2 seconds with the immobiliser light flashing?

yeahdisk

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 23, 2010

Yes - the car cuts out after 2 seconds with the immobiliser light flashing. It kept doing it and kept doing it (the RAC bloke hung around for a few hours before towing - he even kept the key in the car for an hour to see if it would re-code?)

I find it an odd co-incidence that it happened during a particularly cold spell of weather - could that affect anything? VW assure me not.

Their chief mechanic is looking at it at 9am tomorrow (for another £70 AN HOUR) so might know more then. Anyone know a good indie VW garage in Derby / Notts area?!?

aham_uk

· #4 · Dec 23, 2010

Does the car beep and indicate immobiliser active as soon as the ignition is on?
Do you have a spare key? That includes any emergency plastic keys.
The main things it could be are:
1) broken immo chip in key. VW might have to charge you for a full new key to get a virgin key transponder.
2) dodgy coil around ignition. Try starting the car with just the metal part of the key. It should detect that there is no chip ruling out the coil.
3) check the ecu for fault codes as this could also cause the immobiliser fault.

The first thing to do is disconnect the battery for a few minutes, this can reset them

yeahdisk

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 23, 2010

Thanks for the advice - I'd love to try your ideas but the car's at the dealers and will be for some time unless it gets fixed. I'll try speaking to the mechanic tomorrow.

They told me that there were no faults found on the diagnostics - which I guess means its 1) or 2) from your list?

Thanks for the responses - I'll let you know how I get on. In future should I get the car taken to an independent garage?

aham_uk

· #6 · Dec 23, 2010

Since your paying for VW time they are working for you. Ask them to first disconnect the battery for 5 minutes. Once that is done ask them to check the measuring blocks in the cluster to see if is reading any transopnder present in the key. If VW have had a go at recoding your key to the car they may hav deleted it from your car. It should be able to reused that immobiliser chip but all ohers will have to be new. Don't think an independant would be any better at fault finding.

aham_uk

· #7 · Dec 24, 2010

Any update?

yeahdisk

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 24, 2010

Hi. Thanks a lot for the interest...

VW have given up. Their last communication was that they had no idea and they wanted to changed the entire dash cluster???? For about £500.

Does anyone know of a vag-com enabled person who could provide us with a second opinion before we splash this kind of money!?!? We're in Long Eaton NG10.

aham_uk

· #9 · Dec 24, 2010

To be fair it sounds like they have not got a clue. Changing the cluster will not solve the problem on it's own. As soon as they fit it they would learn that they need a virgin transpnder chip in the key.
There are a few opiions.
1) keep paying vw whilst they learn how their immobiliser system actually works.
2) get the ecu immobiliser killed (software and a lead). It would still beep but run.
3) find someone who has can program mk5 keys and has virgin transponder chips available.
4) find someone who is breaking the same car and swap over the cluster and immobilser chip in the key then it's just a case of telling the car it has a replacement ecu.

aham_uk

· #10 · Dec 24, 2010

To be fair it sounds like they have not got a clue. Changing the cluster will not solve the problem on it's own. As soon as they fit it they would learn that they need a virgin transpnder chip in the key.
There are a few opiions.
1) keep paying vw whilst they learn how their immobiliser system actually works.
2) get the ecu immobiliser killed (software and a lead). It would still beep but run.
3) find someone who has can program mk5 keys and has virgin transponder chips available.
4) find someone who is breaking the same car and swap over the cluster and immobilser chip in the key then it's just a case of telling the car it has a replacement ecu.

yeahdisk

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 26, 2010

Hi - thanks a lot for the responses above. I really appreciate it.

What would I need to do 2) above? If I could just do that to get it working until we find a more cost effective place of fixing the problem that would be a real life line for us. I'm computer literate and have used VAG-COM before (the free version with an ebay cable) on my MK4.

Or, anyone with experience in this fancy meeting me at Parkway VW in Derby and embarrassing them by getting it going? Obviously we'll reward you for your time.

Thanks All, Merry Xmas

aham_uk

· #12 · Dec 26, 2010

Post a wanted thread in the vcds.
I know CAN commander has a box which you s elect for immo off. I've never needed to use it so don't know how effective it is. Most online ecu repairers and good engine tuning companies can do it.

yeahdisk

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 30, 2010

Yesterday VW agreed to replace the clocks and waive all previous labour costs. The 'Master Mechanic' came out and said it had to work, because in his 'expert' opinion, that was all it could be.

Just had a call from VW: it still doesn't work.

Getting beyond a joke now.

aham_uk

· #14 · Dec 30, 2010

You need to ask them if the replaced the transponder in the key either before or after fittingthe new cluster. A used key is effectively dead to all other clusters.

yeahdisk

Discussion Starter · #15 · Dec 30, 2010

I asked him about that yesterday - when he said he would replace the clocks I asked him if that would require a new key, he told me that yes, that was included in the price of replacing the clocks...

I bet you're right though and that is the problem. He now has to wait until tuesday when he can phone up 'Technical Support'??

I also logged a call with VW UK today to let them know what has happened so far.

yeahdisk

Discussion Starter · #16 · Dec 30, 2010

In fact - now I think about it - when we spoke yesterday he assured me that keys will work across different immobilisers provided the car is from the same year?

That is why his original investigation was to try and re-programme a different (known working) key to our immobiliser to start the car. is this incorrect??

aham_uk

· #17 · Dec 30, 2010

Since 2002 you have not been able to reprogram any key to another car/cluster.

I'm not sure that VW workshops can replace just the immobiliser chip or would have to replace the cut key and immobiliser chip. When VW dealership have a mechanically working key with a virgin transponder, they connect it to the computer which directly rings the VW database to get your login codes to code the key.

They are probably coding it correctly but with duff keys.

I wish you were closer.

dave_g62

· #18 · Dec 30, 2010

Hi

This happened to my partner's '06 Golf 3 days ago. This is now with the main dealer and they have not been able to reprogram the ECU so are saying a replacement is now needed. Quote for replacement fitted is £1024 !

We asked about goodwill from VW but as it's last service was not by VW but with genuine VW parts they will not offer any goodwill to the cost. The agent are saying they not seen this fault before but the AA man said he's seen a few of these.

Now hunting around for replacment. (Wonder if the snow caused the problem [

] )

yeahdisk

Discussion Starter · #19 · Dec 30, 2010

I'm gonna call the guy first thing in the morning and challenge him on this key thing.

If it turns out to have been the key all along - which he claimed to have confirmed was OK in the first hour's work - and would have prevented them spending lots and lots of my time and money replacing the clocks etc. I will be seriously upset.

What is the point of having a Master Tech at a VW dealer if they don't know anything about their systems?

metalstock

· #20 · Dec 30, 2010

ive got the exact same problem but with my mk4 Bora. Is the immobiliser system the same as the one in the mentioned mk5 golf? because its not sounding good at all to my ears, really dont want to resort to the dealers cos they sound as useful as a chocolate fireguard. ive tried splitting my key and holding the battery part close to the ignition and that doesnt help but at least it rules out one problem of the coil not being dicky. going to try disconnecting the battery, will this cause any problems in its current state?look forward to any replies.thanks, scott!

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

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