Key not recognised

[Margo]

Hi there, I have recently acquitred a 1.9 S TDI 1998 - IT HAS BEEN GOING OKAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT TODAY WHEN I TRIED TO START IT, IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER, THE LITTLE LIGHT WITH THE CAR AND KEY KEPT FLADHING, ON LOOKING IN THE HANDBOOK IT SAYS THAT MEANS THAT THE KEY HAS NOT BEEN RECOGNISED. HOW IS THIS - IT IS A GENUINE KEY AND WAS WORKING PERFECTLY TIL NOW! PLEASE SOMEONE HELP.........

[iep]

If the key is not recognised then this means the little radio transponder in the key is not being recognised by the car. In this case, the cars immob will cut in a and prevent the car from starting.

Four possible causes:

1. key has become damaged (unlikey). Not sure what could be done about this. Do you have more than one key? Does the other work?

2. Reader coil around ingnition has stopped working (this is the part that speaks to the transponder in the key). Not sure how to test this.

3. Conection between reader coil and imob has become disrupted. Trace lead back from reader coil (orangy plastic ring sits around key barrel behind ingnition cowling) and follow it to immob unit. Unplug and reconnect, it might be a dirty connector (people have reported this before).

4. Immob unit on the fritz. This should show up in a diagnostic scan of the car by VAG_COM.

hope that helps a little.

[kenney]

Hi When you say IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER do you mean it would not start?or it would not crank over.What happens when the immobilizer activates is the engine STARTS and stops again after a few seconds

[Margo]

Hi there, eventually had to have it towed to garage (£100) and they said that the key had somehow deactivated itself -apparently this is a very rare occurance -but it has been known before! They then charged me £110 to have the keys recoded as I do not have the black plastic key? Seems to be working now -anyone else had the same?