VW Golf mkV immobiliser problem

Nil Desperandum

Looking for some opinion about the following fix / fudge with an immobiliser. VW golf 2007 developed a problem with immobiliser, no issues ever before this with starting. Correct key used, engine would start but cut out within a second. Immobiliser warning light in dash. Second key checked so it was problem with car rather than key.

Car was later towed to VW dealer. I don't know the exact ins and outs as this was my parents car and they're just telling me the outcome now.

VW solution - new key for ignition. Original key fobs still used to open car remotely with original key folded into fob housing but stuck over with tape to prevent them accidently using that key! New key obviously just for ignition. I don't know if the new key has an immobiliser chip or is the car immobiliser system now disabled?

To me this sounds a stupid and annoying solution. If it was something with synchronising or resetting the immobiliser at the ignition could the original key not still be used? A quick web search suggests that sometimes all that is neeeded is a reset by disconnecting battery. Or some reset of ECU?

Think I should contact garage on Monday to see how they came up with this solution. Has anyone else had a similar immobiliser problem and what was the outcome.

cheers.

Toyotafanboi

Sounds like an unusual fix for a main dealer to recommend tbh.

So the problem is that the car will unlock with both keys, both keys will turn in the ignition but the car won't start?

colm_mcm

Could they not just swap over the immobiliser transponder chip?

Neilw

It's very simple to program the new key to open the doors.
Sounds like they did a lazy fix or there was more to the problem.

Nil Desperandum

Saw the invoice this evening. Diagnostics showed coil reader not reading keys. Ignition replaced so obviously meant a new key now to start. Old key had been covered over with tape in the fob housing. Immobiliser chip removed from fob. Don't know if new key has any immobiliser chip in it.

Does anyone know if it would have been possible to just replace the coil reader and keep the original ignition barrel and so keeping the original key?

Toyotafanboi

Is it just me or is that not very clear at all?

Nil Desperandum

Apologies if that last post was not written very clear, I'm probably not using the right terminology for some parts. I can't post uploads yet so I'll quote exactly what was down on the invoice.

'Carried out checks on car found coil reader not reading keys. Striped car as necessary and replaced ignition system. Remote key chips have been removed'.

Parts shown on invoice are:
Switch
Cylinder

so these were replaced. I'll post a photo of the keys when I can to show what I mean about the old fob taped over and a new key given.

Neilw

Go back and get them to program the new key to open the doors, that way you won't have to carry the old key.
It's probably the immobiliser ring around the ignition that was replaced.

If they did fit a new ignition barrel check to see if your old keys turn the ignition. It may be a new barrel and key that now doesn't match the manual door locks.

colm_mcm

Seems very unusual for a VW dealer to do that.

Does this now mean the spare key doesn't work?

Nil Desperandum

Yes, it seems a little strange. The old spare key/remote now only locks and unlocks the doors; there is a second key for ignition. I don't know if the garage did it this way to keep the job cheaper or what the price would have been for a like for like replacement i.e. one key/remote for central locking and ignition. I just wondered had anyone else had this same issue and how it was fixed and what the cost was. The job is done so I'm not sure if there is any comeback at this point.

Neilw

The new key should both start the car and open the doors by remote, same as the original key.
I would be back to them until the fixed they program the new key to open the doors.

Nil Desperandum

The new key supplied though does not have any remote, its just a basic key, like one from twenty years ago! It just seems like a cheap fix. The original was a proper key fob with remote central locking buttons and the key folded into the fob itself.

Nil Desperandum

Photo of new key supplied, which garage attached to original remote key fob. They stuck over the old key with tape, which I pulled away to reveal original key which can still be used to central lock doors. My parents didn't think it was the original key fob because the garage had pulled off the VW disc emblem on the underside and did not stick it back on! So new key just does ignition.

image.jpeg

Neilw

Nothing you can do there so.

Did you ask for them to do it as cheap as possible or a like for like job?

Nil Desperandum

Neilw wrote: »

Nothing you can do there so.

Did you ask for them to do it as cheap as possible or a like for like job?

Unfortunately, I had no direct involvement - it is my parents car and it was being fixed when they told me about it. It was €545 euro for the job so I wouldn't think that was as cheap as possible?

I just wondered could the coil reader at the ignition have been replaced, so keeping original cylinder barrel and orginal key for ignition. Seems expensive for what the fix was.