Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
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- Joined: Tue 11 Jun, 2013 16:01
- Posts: 75
Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Right, I had my bonnet open earlier whilst doing a bit of work on the Z3, and got caught out in the massive storm we had earlier today. Thought nothing of it as I rushed out and closed it as soon as I realised, but upon trying to open my car to drive my sister in to town, I found I couldn't. Only by manually opening the drivers door could I get in, and then once I put the key in the ignition (all the dashlights, interior/exterior worked) I couldn't get the car to turn over. I realised the clock had reset so I straight away assumed the battery has reset itself.
What I need to know is, how do I go about calibrating the key to the car again?
Please help, in desperate need of the car tomorrow for work, and then to drive to Essex!
What I need to know is, how do I go about calibrating the key to the car again?
Please help, in desperate need of the car tomorrow for work, and then to drive to Essex!
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Hi Mark,
For the car not to turn over suggests a power issue, even if the immobiliser had kicked in it would turn over.
Have you checked the battery connections in the boot?
If you had the boot open for a long time when working on the car yesterday the interior light in the boot is a battery killer, maybe it just need charging or starting of a set of jump leads?
Brian
For the car not to turn over suggests a power issue, even if the immobiliser had kicked in it would turn over.
Have you checked the battery connections in the boot?
If you had the boot open for a long time when working on the car yesterday the interior light in the boot is a battery killer, maybe it just need charging or starting of a set of jump leads?
Brian
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- Joined: Tue 11 Jun, 2013 16:01
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Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Hi Brian,
Thanks for the reply. The boot wasn't left open yesterday, only the bonnet. My first port of call was to check the battery, but the boots deadlocked and I can't get in. I tried jump starting it using the terminals under the bonnet, but it shows no life at all after the ignition turns on, no crank at all.
Thanks for the reply. The boot wasn't left open yesterday, only the bonnet. My first port of call was to check the battery, but the boots deadlocked and I can't get in. I tried jump starting it using the terminals under the bonnet, but it shows no life at all after the ignition turns on, no crank at all.
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- Joined: Tue 11 Jun, 2013 16:01
- Posts: 75
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Fixed.
If anyone has this problem, exhaust all your options until your head clicks and you think "I wonder if the simple idea of putting the key in the ignition and leaving it for a while will recalibrate the coding to the car?" because it will. Put the key in to the first click position for all of 10mins (making sure all windows and doors are shut, and all lights are off), went back outside to it and when I opened the door no immoboliser light/hazard lights flashing at me - got all excited, jumped in the seat and started her up first time!
If anyone has this problem, exhaust all your options until your head clicks and you think "I wonder if the simple idea of putting the key in the ignition and leaving it for a while will recalibrate the coding to the car?" because it will. Put the key in to the first click position for all of 10mins (making sure all windows and doors are shut, and all lights are off), went back outside to it and when I opened the door no immoboliser light/hazard lights flashing at me - got all excited, jumped in the seat and started her up first time!
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Glad you have sorted it.
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- Joined: Tue 11 Jun, 2013 16:01
- Posts: 75
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Spoke too soon. It works fine, but then as soon as you lock the car using the key fob you start the whole ordeal over again. Don't think I can stand owning a car I have to leave the key in the ignition for 10mins for every time I want to take it out, so a call to BMW it will have to be!
Before I shell out any money I will disconnect the negative battery terminal and leave that for 15mins to see if it resets, since I can open the boot after the key codes itself!
Before I shell out any money I will disconnect the negative battery terminal and leave that for 15mins to see if it resets, since I can open the boot after the key codes itself!
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
To me this hints at a battery problem - the clue is the clock resetting after the first episode. I can't see that an alarm/immobiliser issue would have any impact whatsoever on resetting the clock. The clocks only reset themselves when disconnected from battery power. On the basis that most car faults are something simple rather than complicated - I would put the battery under the spotlight.
As Brian said, a car with an immobiliser issue will normally still turn over. The fact that nothing happened leads one to suspect either the battery or starting motor - but the latter would not mess up your clock and deadlocking around the car.
Modern batteries are strange beasts - they don't slowly fade away like the old days - they suddenly fail or start acting unreliably with no warning. I had a fairly new battery "play up" on my daily driver and it affected all sorts of things including the central locking.
As Brian said, a car with an immobiliser issue will normally still turn over. The fact that nothing happened leads one to suspect either the battery or starting motor - but the latter would not mess up your clock and deadlocking around the car.
Modern batteries are strange beasts - they don't slowly fade away like the old days - they suddenly fail or start acting unreliably with no warning. I had a fairly new battery "play up" on my daily driver and it affected all sorts of things including the central locking.
- BladeRunner919
- Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
- Posts: 2225
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
The 10mins with the key in the ignition is a red-herring. There is no recalibration that takes place - the EWS either recognises the key or it doesn't.
Also, the central locking and deadlocking of the boot has absolutely nothing to do with the immobiliser system - they are completely separate. And the fact that you have two separate electronic systems playing up points at battery/fuses/etc...
Also, the central locking and deadlocking of the boot has absolutely nothing to do with the immobiliser system - they are completely separate. And the fact that you have two separate electronic systems playing up points at battery/fuses/etc...
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Which alarm? If you have the separate fob, the alarm is a separate unit. If the buttons are on the key it is more closely integrated.
In both cases the immobiliser is purely operated by the chip in the key. The difference is that the key can be used to cancel the alarm on the integrated button version.
I am not aware of a deadlock on the boot. Even when locked with the remote, the key should still open it. I wonder if you have a short in the boot lid wiring loom?
Disconnecting the battery may help with the battery issue, but it may well cause the separate fob type alarm to forget the remotes, so you could lose remote locking and alarm.
Cheers R.
Sent from my Galaxy SII using Tapatalk 2
In both cases the immobiliser is purely operated by the chip in the key. The difference is that the key can be used to cancel the alarm on the integrated button version.
I am not aware of a deadlock on the boot. Even when locked with the remote, the key should still open it. I wonder if you have a short in the boot lid wiring loom?
Disconnecting the battery may help with the battery issue, but it may well cause the separate fob type alarm to forget the remotes, so you could lose remote locking and alarm.
Cheers R.
Sent from my Galaxy SII using Tapatalk 2
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
On our facelift car, if I use a key without an immobilizer chip in it (bought a s/h key off ebay and put its remote locking internals in a new case with a new cut blade), I can open the car and can use the key in the ignition to turn on all the dashboard lights but the engine will NOT turn over. It seems that the immobilizer chip is needed not only to start the car but to crank it over (at least in a facelift model).
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- Joined: Tue 11 Jun, 2013 16:01
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Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Firstly I just want to say thank you for all the replies - great to be among enthusiasts who can lend a hand when needed!
I understand the way in which I've worded it might be confusing, but simply put I can use the car fine, so long as I don't use the key fob. If I do, it immobolises the car. I imagine it's a case of needing two new keys reprogrammed to the car.
Thanks for all the above replies again, really appreciate it!
Absolutely, as soon as I saw that the trip computer and the clock had been reset I instantly turned my thoughts to the battery, but since doing the "10min in the ignition trick" and being able to pop the boot open and start the car fine, I soon realised that it must surely be something related to the chip within the key fob.Del wrote:To me this hints at a battery problem - the clue is the clock resetting after the first episode. I can't see that an alarm/immobiliser issue would have any impact whatsoever on resetting the clock. The clocks only reset themselves when disconnected from battery power. On the basis that most car faults are something simple rather than complicated - I would put the battery under the spotlight.
It's a facelift so it's the integrated unit, all within one key. Both the main key I use and the spare (identical fob) won't unlock/lock the doors. If you unlock the car manually you can start the car fine, but the second you touch any button on the remote (lock, unlock or the headlight button) it locks the car and you're then immobolised from getting in or starting it once you do (manually) get in.Robert T wrote:Which alarm? If you have the separate fob, the alarm is a separate unit. If the buttons are on the key it is more closely integrated.
In both cases the immobiliser is purely operated by the chip in the key. The difference is that the key can be used to cancel the alarm on the integrated button version.
I am not aware of a deadlock on the boot. Even when locked with the remote, the key should still open it. I wonder if you have a short in the boot lid wiring loom?
Disconnecting the battery may help with the battery issue, but it may well cause the separate fob type alarm to forget the remotes, so you could lose remote locking and alarm.
Cheers R.
Sent from my Galaxy SII using Tapatalk 2
I understand the way in which I've worded it might be confusing, but simply put I can use the car fine, so long as I don't use the key fob. If I do, it immobolises the car. I imagine it's a case of needing two new keys reprogrammed to the car.
Thanks for all the above replies again, really appreciate it!
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- Joined: Tue 11 Jun, 2013 16:01
- Posts: 75
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Update; when driving the car earlier, the car locked itself and closed the drivers and passengers windows automatically, and wouldn't let me reopen them. Something seems to have gone seriously wrong with the electrics, would this sort of thing show up on a diagnostics?
- bobandshar
- Joined: Sun 22 Aug, 2010 22:36
- Posts: 76
- Location: Spilsby
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Your car's not called Christine by any chance
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Short in the lock signal wire would be my guess. Locking the car and putting the windows up can be done by holding the drivers door in the lock position until the windows close. This could possibly be the boot loom or drivers door loom.
Cheers R.
Sent from my Galaxy SII using Tapatalk 2
Cheers R.
Sent from my Galaxy SII using Tapatalk 2
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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- Joined: Tue 11 Jun, 2013 16:01
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Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
sharon1967 wrote:Your car's not called Christine by any chance
The Plymouth might have been a more reliable choice, lol!
Sounds plausible, where would the connection be for this? Is it possibly under the bonnet near the drivers side suspension turret? I can see an exposed earthing cable there and this might have shorted under the rainfall!Robert T wrote:Short in the lock signal wire would be my guess. Locking the car and putting the windows up can be done by holding the drivers door in the lock position until the windows close. This could possibly be the boot loom or drivers door loom.
Cheers R.
Sent from my Galaxy SII using Tapatalk 2
Thanks!
- BladeRunner919
- Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
- Posts: 2225
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
The boot loom is on the left when you open the boot. Have a look at:
http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... 18&t=34807
The drivers door loom is in the driver's door, or the wiring running to it. I'd start with the boot loom as a known weak spot and therefore the most likely culprit.
http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... 18&t=34807
The drivers door loom is in the driver's door, or the wiring running to it. I'd start with the boot loom as a known weak spot and therefore the most likely culprit.
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- Joined: Tue 11 Jun, 2013 16:01
- Posts: 75
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Never did update this with the resolution, so for anyone with a similar (albeit a very rare) problem, this is what had happened;
The positive battery on my terminal was not secure enough, allowing the car to think the battery had been momentarily disconnected whilst the car was locked. I noticed this a while later when I went to start the car on a separate occasion and found it wouldn't crank, and completely killed all the electronics. Went in to the boot and pushed the terminals down, which is when I realised the positive one was ever so slightly loose (still connected, but with a good push you could turn it), but upon pushing it back down the boot light came on and I could start the car. Simples. Lead spacer and it's fine.
To resolve the key fob issue I went about reading the manual of all things, and reprogramming the keys as you would a new fob (holding down the unlock button and pressing the lock three times within 10secs - mines the all in one unit key which comes with the facelift, so I believe the procedure is slightly different for those with the earlier models), which brought both keys back to working spec - unlock, lock and turning on the interior light at will, allowing me to go back to my "James Bond" style of locking the car; turn and shoot (click!)
Hope this helps anybody with a similar problem!
The positive battery on my terminal was not secure enough, allowing the car to think the battery had been momentarily disconnected whilst the car was locked. I noticed this a while later when I went to start the car on a separate occasion and found it wouldn't crank, and completely killed all the electronics. Went in to the boot and pushed the terminals down, which is when I realised the positive one was ever so slightly loose (still connected, but with a good push you could turn it), but upon pushing it back down the boot light came on and I could start the car. Simples. Lead spacer and it's fine.
To resolve the key fob issue I went about reading the manual of all things, and reprogramming the keys as you would a new fob (holding down the unlock button and pressing the lock three times within 10secs - mines the all in one unit key which comes with the facelift, so I believe the procedure is slightly different for those with the earlier models), which brought both keys back to working spec - unlock, lock and turning on the interior light at will, allowing me to go back to my "James Bond" style of locking the car; turn and shoot (click!)
Hope this helps anybody with a similar problem!
Re: Immobiliser won't allow me to unlock/start the car
Thanks for updating, glad it was something simples