Immobiliser active message

[Russ59]

Hey Guys,

I have another key with remote on order from VW for the Comfortline we just bought, as it only came with one key. The original case was fairly worn as well so I bought a replacement case with key blank off eBay and transferred the guts from the old remote into the new case. It looks like new and works fine. As the replacement also came with a new uncut key blade I put that into the old shell and had the key cut yesterday at a local locksmith. The weird part is that since I tried the new key into both the door and ignition locks to make sure it fitted OK, now, when I use the original key into the ignition it comes up with a message on the MFD saying "immobiliser active" and when you start the car it runs for a couple of secs and then cuts out. When I put the newly cut key in the message is gone and the car starts and runs fine. I know that the easiest solution is probably to just swap the working key blade over to the new fob with remote but I would like to have them all working as they should. There's obviously something in the ignition causing this any ideas on a way to rectify it ??

Cheers
Russ

[Greg Roles]

Jesus that's like a chinese puzzle Russ, but wouldn't the "old" blade in a fob with no electrics not be turning the immobiliser off? The ignition is both physical key and electronic "proximity" chip to my understanding, and it appears you only have "guts" in one key. Yeah??

[Russ59]

Jesus that's like a chinese puzzle Russ, but wouldn't the "old" blade in a fob with no electrics not be turning the immobiliser off? The ignition is both physical key and electronic "proximity" chip to my understanding, and it appears you only have "guts" in one key. Yeah??

Yeah I understood that was the way it's supposed to work too Greg so I just went out and tried the following method. The car was locked via the remote and the flashing red neon was on in the door showing that the alarm was obviously set. Used the newly cut key (without any internals) to open the door and then went straight to the ignition switch with the same key and when I turned it you get the all doors unlocking sound and the red neon goes off, no message saying immobiliser active and car will start and run. Turned off the ignition and removed the key then tried the original key in again and straight away the I.A. message shows up again It's got me stumped !!

Russ

[Maverick]

The is a small RFID chip in the end of the keyfob near the keyblade.

This is a transponder that the car uses to authenticate that you can start the car, if the transponder does not respond the car will stop after 2 seconds. It is in a coated glass cylinder and can be removed carefully and replaced into another remote.

[Russ59]

The is a small RFID chip in the end of the keyfob near the keyblade.

This is a transponder that the car uses to authenticate that you can start the car, if the transponder does not respond the car will stop after 2 seconds. It is in a coated glass cylinder and can be removed carefully and replaced into another remote.

Thanks Maverick, the new replacement case came with very small cylindrical shaped piece of what looked like a piece of plastic that had been punched out using a small hole punch, would this be what your referring to ? if so where exactly do you fit it in ?

Russ

[Maverick]

Thanks Maverick, the new replacement case came with very small cylindrical shaped piece of what looked like a piece of plastic that had been punched out using a small hole punch, would this be what your referring to ? if so where exactly do you fit it in ?

Russ

About the size of a grain of rice?

If so you swap this from your original case to the new one. But be careful and I'm confused as I thought that you new key was working so I assumed you transfered this over? Or is your new key able to open the doors and start the car for 2 seconds but you need the old key to start the car for more then 2 seconds?

[Russ59]

About the size of a grain of rice?

If so you swap this from your original case to the new one. But be careful and I'm confused as I thought that you new key was working so I assumed you transfered this over? Or is your new key able to open the doors and start the car for 2 seconds but you need the old key to start the car for more then 2 seconds?

I found it and the problem is resolved thanks very much Maverick. Just to give you a run down, I bought the new case to replace the old crappy one as all the symbols (in white) were worn off and the flip key part wouldn't lock into place either. Anyway, I swapped the internals from the original case into the new case (except for the small chip you mentioned) I didn't even see it or realise it was in there. I then put the blank key into the original case (which still had the chip in fitted in it) and had it cut from the original yesterday. It wasn't until my son Cam (the cars owner) went to try the keys out this morning in the ignition and he came in telling me about the immobiliser active message on the MFD with the original key in the new case, but that the newly cut key works with no message coming up. I just wasn't sure what was happening because I was reading through another thread on the forums with a similar issue which from memory turned out to be bad contacts in the ignition or something, so I thought that maybe putting in the new key which has no physical wear, may have upset something in the ignition barrel, my thoughts were also that pulling the battery out of the remote and changing it over may have buggered up settings. Fortunately that was not the case. It's all sorted now and once again many thanks for your help

You learn something new every day, obviously the remote only opens the doors and cuts the alarm but has nothing to do with deactivating the immobiliser.

Russ

[gregozedobe]

Russ,

You've got it now. There are functional 3 components in a VAG remote :

The Key Blade which just turns locks (including the ignition lock).

The Remote which locks and unlocks doors/hatches/boots and winds windows up and down (in some cars).

The Transponder (immobiliser chip or RFID), the glass grain of rice which is located near the pivot of the key blade. This disables the immobiliser and allows the engine to run. As you have discovered, without a correctly programmed one of these your car will start, then cut out within a few seconds with an immobilser error message.

If (and it is a very big if) the new transponder is the correct one for your car, the dealer can program your car to recognise it as well. Unfortunately it is unlikely to be the correct transponder (based on my experiences with Transporter and Octavia transponders).

If anyone needs extra keys (and I believe everyone should have two fully functioning keys - it is a world of hurt if you lose your only key) the easiest (and most expensive option) is to buy a complete key/remote from your dealer (last time I checked around $500).

A cheaper option is to buy the key blade and immobiliser half from your dealer (around $200+),this ensures you get the correct transponder, but buy the remote half from eBay (I've seen then under $100 incl postage - make sure you get the correct part number and frequency MHz).

In either case you need to take your keys to your dealer for coding of the transponder (for older VAG cars you may be able to do it using VCDS). Make sure you take all your keys to be recoded (otherwise the ones left home will no longer run your car).

If you want to customise your key all sorts of key badges are available on ebay (GTI, TDI, R, vRS etc). I got some from vag-bitz : http://shop.ebay.com.au/merchant/vag...Q_fromZQQ_mdoZ

[CatonaPC©]

Well, I am amazed. One learns something new everyday. Who would have thought that the key fob has a transponder. Thanks from me, Maverick.

[Russ59]

About the size of a grain of rice?

Hey Maverick,

I should have mentioned also that the small piece that came with the new case was in fact not another transponder but a small plastic plug which fitted into a little hole where the transponder was to be fitted on the new case. It acts as a stopper to stop it (the transponder chip) from sliding out. It's all good now

Russ

[Russ59]

Russ,

You've got it now. There are functional 3 components in a VAG remote :

The Key Blade which just turns locks (including the ignition lock).

The Remote which locks and unlocks doors/hatches/boots and winds windows up and down (in some cars).

The Transponder (immobiliser chip or RFID), the glass grain of rice which is located near the pivot of the key blade. This disables the immobiliser and allows the engine to run. As you have discovered, without a correctly programmed one of these your car will start, then cut out within a few seconds with an immobilser error message.

If (and it is a very big if) the new transponder is the correct one for your car, the dealer can program your car to recognise it as well. Unfortunately it is unlikely to be the correct transponder (based on my experiences with Transporter and Octavia transponders).

If anyone needs extra keys (and I believe everyone should have two fully functioning keys - it is a world of hurt if you lose your only key) the easiest (and most expensive option) is to buy a complete key/remote from your dealer (last time I checked around $500).

A cheaper option is to buy the key blade and immobiliser half from your dealer (around $200+),this ensures you get the correct transponder, but buy the remote half from eBay (I've seen then under $100 incl postage - make sure you get the correct part number and frequency MHz).

In either case you need to take your keys to your dealer for coding of the transponder (for older VAG cars you may be able to do it using VCDS). Make sure you take all your keys to be recoded (otherwise the ones left home will no longer run your car).

If you want to customise your key all sorts of key badges are available on ebay (GTI, TDI, R, vRS etc). I got some from vag-bitz : http://shop.ebay.com.au/merchant/vag...Q_fromZQQ_mdoZ

Hey Greg,

I have ordered another key from VW as well (with transponder) all up it will be around $445 including reprogramming of both remotes. They are very expensive for what they are but in the end I agree it is important to have a spare with the transponder because you will be in big trouble without it if you lose the original.

Russ

[gregozedobe]

all up it will be around $445 including reprogramming of both remotes.

If that includes GST that's a pretty good price by VAG standards Even if you have to add GST its not too bad.

I get annoyed with places that quote prices excluding GST without telling you. You order something coz the price is OK, then when you go to pay they want 10% more than what they quoted

[Maverick]

I should have mentioned also that the small piece that came with the new case was in fact not another transponder but a small plastic plug which fitted into a little hole where the transponder was to be fitted on the new case. It acts as a stopper to stop it (the transponder chip) from sliding out. It's all good now

Thanks, I just put together some more info on my website. I'll add some more information and some pictures when I get time.

http://www.my-gti.com/392/volkswagen-key-fob-immobiliser-and-transmitter

[Russ59]

If that includes GST that's a pretty good price by VAG standards Even if you have to add GST its not too bad.

I get annoyed with places that quote prices excluding GST without telling you. You order something coz the price is OK, then when you go to pay they want 10% more than what they quoted

That is annoying when they do that, I had that only last week when I rang up to price oil and a filter for the 2.0 TDI and was quoted all up around $120. I thought that was bad enough but when I went to pick it up and pay for it the total went to just over $136 (with GST) I know the key price of $385 includes GST because I had to pay up front for it and when it arrives another $58 to reprogram both remotes to the car I think it's a bit of rip off personally but (touch wood) if the cars remain as solid and reliable as they feel and don't give me too much grief, then I guess that will compensate for the high price on everything else for them.

Thanks, I just put together some more info on my website. I'll add some more information and some pictures when I get time.

http://www.my-gti.com/392/volkswagen...nd-transmitter

No worries mate and thanks again for your advice on sorting the issue.



Cheers
Russ

[revhead1016]

i have beed reading this thread and i's so usefull, but a tricky one, my remote immobilser dose everything, open and close the door by remoute and key and start the car.

but when i start the car it run no problem it dosen't die at all, but the immobilser active massage shows and the and flashing icon shows in the dash but the car keep running, so i dont know what is wrong?

any answer to this one?