Immobiliser problems with Audi a4 *SORTED*

[N47HAN]

:1zhelp:
Just thought I'd let anyone know who may be having problems with the car immobiliser not coming off when the doors are unlock and when starting the engine the car just cuts out.

The above can be intermittent but when it does happen requires the doors to be locked and unlocked whilst in the car until the engine will continue to run.

If anyone has had the problem I can offer advice on how to get it fixed and it shouldn’t cost more then an hours labour at any reputable garage.

It’s complex to explain so reply or PM me if suffering.
Thanks
Nath
:1zhelp:

[WillPassat]

Nathan,
My father in law has the same symtoms with his 1995 A4. Any info on how to solve it would be really appreciated. You can mail me at partridgew@tiscali.co.uk
Many Thanks
WillWillPassat

[N47HAN]

HI

I have emailed you with the details hope they help!

:beerchug:

[Nisar]

:1zhelp:
Just thought I'd let anyone know who may be having problems with the car immobiliser not coming off when the doors are unlock and when starting the engine the car just cuts out.

The above can be intermittent but when it does happen requires the doors to be locked and unlocked whilst in the car until the engine will continue to run.

If anyone has had the problem I can offer advice on how to get it fixed and it shouldn’t cost more then an hours labour at any reputable garage.

It’s complex to explain so reply or PM me if suffering.
Thanks
Nath
:1zhelp:



i have the same problem, could you email me the fix if possible. cheers - email address is - nis_2572@hotmail.co.uk

Nisar

[realmackay]

Hi I have had similar problems and have just switched ignition on and off key out and in etc usually get it clear in a couple of minutes but was 20 mins recently advice welcome
themackay@gmail.com

[colin219]

hi i have the same problem with my 1996 a4
can you e mail the solution to colin_219@hotmail.com thanks

[moonraker4444]

Hi,I have had this problem with my a4,couldyou email me the fix as it would be much appreciated,my email is moonraker4444@hotmail.co.uk many thanks,Tim.

[cob]

hi there i have the same problem please e-mail me on

avriwilliamsfamily@ntlworld.com

i have a a4 avant 2004 2.5 v6 tdi.

cheers :1zhelp:.

[REMO]

hi,nath i have the same problem too can you email too please steveremovercesi@hotmail.co.uk. thanks

[Toby Unna]

And me - tobyunna@yahoo.co.uk

thanks!

[iulian]

same problem goguiulian@yahoo.com
thanks

[jaydog]

I have the same problem could you email me the details to jason.dixon73@hotmail.co.uk
Cheers

[nihdha]

Hi, I have the same problem. Could you please email me on
nihdha@yahoo.co.nz

Thanks

[Toby Unna]

Just wondering if anyone has received this email and could possibly forward it to me, as I have not received anything and still have a dead A4!

Thanks... tobyunna@yahoo.co.uk

[zorg]

i have the same problem, could you email me the fix if possible. cheers - email address is tyrystor@yahoo.co.uk
Thank u!

[adrianwillis]

And me please adrianwillis@talktalk.net

Thanks

[Steve_o]

Got the same problem on my 96 A4, Could you drop me the email too please?

sherwoodstheman@hotmail.com

With thanks. :D

[Bill Tracey]

:1zhelp:
Just thought I'd let anyone know who may be having problems with the car immobiliser not coming off when the doors are unlock and when starting the engine the car just cuts out.

The above can be intermittent but when it does happen requires the doors to be locked and unlocked whilst in the car until the engine will continue to run.

If anyone has had the problem I can offer advice on how to get it fixed and it shouldn’t cost more then an hours labour at any reputable garage.

It’s complex to explain so reply or PM me if suffering.
Thanks
Nath
:1zhelp:
Sounds like the same issue here bill.tracey@blueyonder.co.uk

[LozW]

Hi Nathan,
Sounds like it's more common than I thought! I've had this problem intermittently, but hasn't reared itself for a while now. Any chance you could post the fix please? Sounds like quite a few people need it! Or could you PM it to me please?
Cheers,
Loz

[donnadiablo]

Hiya...

Please can you send it to me too?? donnadiablo@hotmail.co.uk

Mines a 1996 A4 Avant and it happen intermittently.

Cheers!

Donna x

[LozW]

Does anyone else know what the fix is? If so, please could you post it up here so we can all benefit? Or is there a reason it has to be PM?
Thanks!
Loz

[Bill Tracey]

Sounds like the same issue here bill.tracey@blueyonder.co.uk

If anyone gets the email - could you copy it over to me please?

bill.tracey@blueyonder.co.uk

[auroan]

Why not just post the solution on here ?!?!?!?!?

[amirs]

Same problem here with 97 A4. Appreciate your help - my email amirs@gmail.com

Thanks

[amirs]

Sorry, my email is amirsazali@gmail.com

Please ignore my earlier email....thanks again

[jericho200]

hi there have this problem with my 1995 a4 could you email me the solution my email is stan.briggs@virgin.net many thanks

[ergon ronay]

Help, I'm having the same immoboliser problem on my 1995 Audi A4 TDi. I cant PM you directly as I havent made enough posts. If you could email me on

chrisreadlamb@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks

[ini]

Hi, i dont have the problem, but still want to know the answer.

inigoj@msn.com

[Aeikostx]

Instead of everyone posting their email address asking for a fix, how about you just post the solution here so everyone can view it - even people browsing that have no email address. Just a thought.

[cob]

hi i had the same problem, waited for a answer but got none so i took it to audi (a4 2.5 v6 tdi) took them half an hour. it was the immobiliser. they had to hook it up to the computer a reset it hope this helps :biglaugh:..

[jaydog]

Hi Nath

I'm having same immobiliser problem can you email any advice or fixes - jason.dixon73@hotmail.co.uk
I am most grateful in advance

[Speedy Joe]

hi, i am also having same problems with a4tdi, would appreciate the remedy. tomnugent99@eircom.net

[A4quattro2.5td]

Hi any imformation on the immobiliser fault would be much appreciated
I have just spent the last two hours investigating a non starter, no fuel to engine!
hjplenk@wanadoo.fr
much appreciated

[REMO]

Hi any imformation on the immobiliser fault would be much appreciated
I have just spent the last two hours investigating a non starter, no fuel to engine!
hjplenk@wanadoo.fr
much appreciated
hi, try this, the receiver which surrounds the ignition barrel theres a thin wire,coming off this, trace where it goes to and replace all of this thin wire , make the length of this is a bit longer.

[Storm1n]

Please post the answer then we can all Know? Please! :D

[liam walsh]

Hi ,
I have the same problem can you please email me the fix at liamwalsh04@yahoo.ie
Thanks.

[cob]

hi all could not be bothered trying to sort this problem myself so i took it to audi , took them half hour immob. had cut fuel to engine and needed recoding to match ecu. the computer downloaded it from somewhere in germany as us humans are not aloud to see codes anymore and hey presto... shes alive and kicking also needed a new acccelerator pedal as it went into limp mode when you floored it. hope this helps oh by the way the girl who worked there asked for 125.00 an hour... witch is a lot of money. but as my saying goes its not what you know its who........lol.:approve:

[welsty2003]

Hi, I think I may have this problem with my wifes A4... please could you e-mail me the fix too.

welsty2003@yahoo.co.uk

[98 2.5tdi]

hi have this problem also could you email me ths solution too
neovvlirleand@yahoo.co.uk

[WillPassat]

After lots of twoing and froing, my father in law has pinned his problem down to one of the two keys being faulty. He thought it was an intermittent problem until discovering that it was only when he used his wife's set of keys.

If this doesn't turn out to be the problem the other possibilities are:

1. Cut and pasted from a chap called Nathan........

"Basically there is a wire running along the inside casing of the steering column which connects to the ignition and immobiliser which is apparently just tie rapped to the moving column, hence when the column is moved or adjusted can then stretch and almost brake the wire, with no contact at the end of this wire, the engine just says nope…im being stolen!!

Just requires the Steering column to be stripped down and relocated and put back together.

Cost about £30 labour (one hour) and a few other tie raps and extra bits... About £50 in total, I had that done on the 10th of April and to this day not once had the problem again."



2. Other possbility could be water getting into the car and affecting the "comfort module" under the passenger seat as happened to my wife's Passat (shares most components with the A4). It is really important you check this on your car even if it is not related to the immobiliser problem. basically what happens is the drain holes in the bulkhead where the battery is get blocked, rain water builds up and eventually gets inside the car. See http://weirdlittlebiscuit.com/passat/leak/ on how to fix this very common problem on the Passat, yours should be much the same. If you get water into the comfort module it is very expensive to replace. FYI the comfort module controls many of the car's functions e.g locking, alarm, lights.

Good Luck,

Will.

[welsty2003]

Hmm... cheers WillPassat.

My problem is definately intermittent as we only have 1 key. We're going to get another made up and see how that goes. (Probably a good idea anyway!!)

If that doesn't help I shall check out that wire in the steering column.

I'm also going to check for that leak now that I know about the problem with the drain holes...

Cheers again!

Iain.

[jghataura]

Hi, i have the same problem, anychance you could drop the fix please,
jatinder7826@ayhoo.co.uk

much appreciated.

[jimclarke989]

Hi Nath

I am also having problems with my immobiliser. Could you please email to me at jimclarke989@hotmail.com

[PATRICK PLUMBER]

Hi Nath me too thanks patrick

patrick.amanda@talktalk.net

[richard monagha]

hi richard here suffering with the same problem a4 occasionaly not starting can you help

[richard monagha]

Nath could you mail me at pro.spec1@yahoo.com aboub details on repairing a4 starting problems

[Rhyswevans]

Hi, can you email the solution details to me please.
Thanks
rhyswevans@ntlworld.com

[DanWright]

I have the same problem with a 1997/98 passat, starts up and cuts out, my email address is danwri2002@msn.com

[N47HAN]

Does anyone else know what the fix is? If so, please could you post it up here so we can all benefit? Or is there a reason it has to be PM?
Thanks!
Loz

its been PM due to complex, my then computer system wouldnt load the post on here for some reason, hence i had to PM it to people. I can paste it now, but look through topic as if doesnt work there is another possible fix.
Nath

[rickyboy]

again, me... rickdaprick@gmail.com

Thanks

[JezzaL]

got issue where i have to reseat key to start the car, possible immobiliser fault. Can you please send me your instructions jez@mancta.fsnet.co.uk

Thanks.

[phillipgoffin]

After lots of twoing and froing, my father in law has pinned his problem down to one of the two keys being faulty. He thought it was an intermittent problem until discovering that it was only when he used his wife's set of keys.

If this doesn't turn out to be the problem the other possibilities are:

1. Cut and pasted from a chap called Nathan........

"Basically there is a wire running along the inside casing of the steering column which connects to the ignition and immobiliser which is apparently just tie rapped to the moving column, hence when the column is moved or adjusted can then stretch and almost brake the wire, with no contact at the end of this wire, the engine just says nope…im being stolen!!

Just requires the Steering column to be stripped down and relocated and put back together.

Cost about £30 labour (one hour) and a few other tie raps and extra bits... About £50 in total, I had that done on the 10th of April and to this day not once had the problem again."



2. Other possbility could be water getting into the car and affecting the "comfort module" under the passenger seat as happened to my wife's Passat (shares most components with the A4). It is really important you check this on your car even if it is not related to the immobiliser problem. basically what happens is the drain holes in the bulkhead where the battery is get blocked, rain water builds up and eventually gets inside the car. See http://weirdlittlebiscuit.com/passat/leak/ on how to fix this very common problem on the Passat, yours should be much the same. If you get water into the comfort module it is very expensive to replace. FYI the comfort module controls many of the car's functions e.g locking, alarm, lights.

Good Luck,

Will.

I see many people have requested Nathan's email, has anyone fixed the immobiliser problem by replacing the wire inside the steering column. Or by any of the other suggestions made by Will??

I'll be attacking the steering column wire first as this seems the easiest and cheapest suggestion.

Phill

[Shanoor]

I've recently had the AA out to have a look at my car (Audi A4 1.8t 1996) for this exact problem.

The AA guy checked on his computer and as its a common problem on A4's there was a solution. What he did was leave the keys in the ignition with the key turned so that all the dashboard lights come on, but the engine was'nt on. Obviously the immobiliser light was flashing, signalling that it was'nt reading the key.

He left it like this for about 5-10 minutes and then pulled the key out, and put the key back in, tried starting it, and it started first time.

Obviously a bit of a pain if you're in a hurry, but it seemed to resolve the issue for quite a while.

Hope this helps.

Shanoor.

[audibigjohn]

Hi ive got the same problem did any one find a fix for this problem , if you did would you please let me know , thanks .:confused:

[copesn]

I have a very similar problem, en e-mail would be very much appreciated; copesn@hotmail.co.uk

[carlos2009]

i have the same problem i have checked all the wiring, i have noticed that there are 2 thick wires that looked to have been snapped they are both thick white one white/blue and the other white/green..
also noticed underneath rear seat 2 grey wires with small white plugs on one labelled A and the other B (both are unplugged) tracked one and it leads to the fuel tank under the spare wheel in boot..
pulled out the clifford g4 alarm box from under dash and i think one of them go in there.. or maybe the alarm is not connected to the fuel ????
I use keyfob to unlock doors insert the key red clifford light stays on all the time (no flash)
4 lights on dash flash 1) small round with a key in the middle and the other 3 are the fuel,water & hazrd constant flashing.
turn the key it starts then dies.. starts dies starts dies starts dies then battery dies

i have 2 keys which work the ignition one of which has a black button in the centre and the other which is alot thinner.

recently removed the amp and the stereo..

does it look like the car thinks that i am trying to steel it so its cutting out on me all the time (maybe if i was steeling it it would be easier towing it lol) ha ha bloody car does not think about that HELP

[rickyboy]

Don't know about the alarm but basically the light on the dash with the car and key is the immobiliser light. If that does not extinguish after a few seconds then you have an immobiliser problem. Are the thick wires you are talking about the ones behind the steering wheel shroud? Bit of a give away if they are snapped - fix them!

Good luck...

[keiths1975]

:1zhelp:
Just thought I'd let anyone know who may be having problems with the car immobiliser not coming off when the doors are unlock and when starting the engine the car just cuts out.

The above can be intermittent but when it does happen requires the doors to be locked and unlocked whilst in the car until the engine will continue to run.

If anyone has had the problem I can offer advice on how to get it fixed and it shouldn’t cost more then an hours labour at any reputable garage.

It’s complex to explain so reply or PM me if suffering.
Thanks
Nath
:1zhelp:
Hi there I have the same problem on my 1996 A4 1.8. Any help would be appreciated. keiths1975@gmail.com

[onzarob]

I had this problem on my A4 and I successfully fixed it.

there is an inductive loop around the ignition barrel. this is connected via a small molex connector. i used electrical contact cleaner from halfords uplugged the connector and sproyed waited 5 mins and put it back together.

2 year later it hadn't gone wrong ;)

You need to remove the streeing colomn cowel to access the connector

HTH

Rob:D

[keiths1975]

Many thanks for your quick reply. i have also read somewhere that WD40 would do the trick is that the case?

[onzarob]

WD40 would do the trick is that the case?

NO, WD40 is an oil. Electrical cleaner is not it cleans the metal then evaporates. WD40 leaves a film and will make it worse.

[keiths1975]

Ok I have solved this problem which has been causing me grief over the last few years by just putting the steering column into its lowest position. It has started 2st time everytime for the past few days....I will be taking it in however just to get the wire extended. But this is just a weight of my mind knowing that I can go into the garage and explain what the problem is instead of them just scratching their heads and charging lots of money to change something that isnt broken which has happened many times before. Thanks all

[carlos2009]

Don't know about the alarm but basically the light on the dash with the car and key is the immobiliser light. If that does not extinguish after a few seconds then you have an immobiliser problem. Are the thick wires you are talking about the ones behind the steering wheel shroud? Bit of a give away if they are snapped - fix them!

Good luck...

i would only i cant find where they have snapped from,.. haver seen 2 the same ronning into the alarm box .. would these be ignition wires by any chance ????

[ian12345]

Hi, I have the same problem. Could you please email me the advice to icwilliams@tiscalidotcodotuk.

Many Thanks Ian

[onzarob]

Hi, I have the same problem. Could you please email me the advice to icwilliams@tiscalidotcodotuk.

Many Thanks Ian

Hi Ian, the solution is is the thread, the idea of a forum is to post the solution in a public place to help other ;)

I also edited your email address, because if you leave it like that you will end up with tons of spam email ;)

This is how I fixed the problem with my A4

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=360479&postcount=59

[joner1982]

1

[TurramurraGuy]

A4 B5 series ... anyone know how to get the steering column cowlings off (and back on) withjout taking the stering wheel off so I can get at the aforementioned connector??

[rickyboy]

From memory, 2 phillips (star) screws to take off from underside of the cowel. They're located closest to the outside on either side, you'll need quite a long thin screwdriver to reach the screws at the top. Also remove the 8mm or 10mm bolt (not sure) using a socket from the underside/middle of the cowel.

That should be it, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but as said this is from memory. You definitely don't need to remove the steering wheel to get at the wire.

[TurramurraGuy]

Thanks Rickyboy. I'll look at it tonight.

Dealer offshoot quoted me Aussie $600 to get at it!!

Will let you know the outcome

[paulcd]

In my 97 A4 1.8t I tried taking out the 2 screws and the bolt from the underside of the cowling and only succeeded in getting the top half of the cowling off, the bottom half seems to be secured by screws covered by the steering wheel. I spoke to the dealer and they said they needed to remove the steering wheel and it was just over an hour's work all up. Has anyone got a photo of the connector's location? Thanks

As a work around, I've found that if you take the key out and open the door the car will start on the next try.

[paulcd]

Well I took the car to the dealer who have cleaned up the connector. They said they had to remove the steering wheel and airbag to do it.

[onzarob]

Sorry I missed this thread, but when I fixed mine i turned the wheel a 1/4 turn each way, then you can get at the screws without removing the wheel and airbag.

Glad you got it fixed.

Rob

[jonw85]

Thanks for all the advice, will attempt to fix mine now!

[onzarob]

Anyone else asking for an email solution on this thread will be banned....solution is in the thread read!!!!!!:aargh4:

[incadave]

I am sure this would be easier and safer for everyone who have left their email address for everyone to see just to tell everyone what to do or leave a link as we all know its a common problem.
I don't trust people who ask for personal details that can be seen by everyone.

[onzarob]

I had enough of this thread if you got a problem start a new thread and if you have a fix post the fix up. This thread is more like an email phishing thread than anything usefull :(

THREAD NOW CLOSED PM Me if you don't agree .