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[Lagondanet]

Car wouldn't start last week. Has a new battery.
Went to local VX garage who said it needed new immobiliser unit which was fitted.
After fitting they said it started but only on each second attempt and to correct it would need new ecu which are no longer available and cost £1000++++ anyway.
Not very helpful.
I picked the car up on Tuesday night and it started fine then and also yesterday.
Today however wouldn't start and seems back to problem of last week notwithstanding new immobiliser.

Can I ask for your advice please? Anyone capable of fixing this near me? I am just off M1 exit 12 Toddington, Bedfordshire.
Thanks.

[VXL V6]

Does the dash lamp with a picture of a car with a spanner through it flash when you crank the engine?

What are the codes?

[Lagondanet]

No the 'spanner' lamp does not flash stays solid.

Codes? Remember you are talking to a complete pleb when it comes to my knowledge of cars and how they function. 

[TheBoy]

Look up the "Pedal Trick" under code reading in Maintenence Guides section

I think the immobiliser issue was misdiagnosis  , and you have either a fuel/injector issue, or crank sensor problem.

[Lagondanet]

Thanks. Will do. Crank sensor was replaced in January.

Last week 18th AA extracted this:

'Patrol found the following fault code/s:System : Engine control - 34F / Motronic ME 3.1.1P1614 - Immobilizer. Error Message : Incorrect signal.P0420 - Catalyst system efficiency (bank 1). Error Message : too low..P0430 - Catalyst system efficiency (bank 2). Error Message : too low.'

[Lagondanet]

The pedal trick for me just seems to be returning 1614?

[Dave DND]

I think the immobiliser issue was misdiagnosis  , and you have either a fuel/injector issue, or crank sensor problem.

I have to agree here - the immobilisers seldom give any cause for concern, and if they did fail, it would not be a case of starting every second turn, if they fail, they fail.

Really does sound like crank sensor to me - and the fact that you have previously been playing in this area with a replacement just confirms my suspicions. The aftermarket ones are poor and any wiring in the locality seems very fragile.

I`d start here again

[Lagondanet]

Thanks. My local VX garage are not very helpful on this issue. There are other VX garages in the area but they are similar.
I need to find an alternative.

[Kevin Wood]

The DBW V6s can suffer from a failed crank sensor without generating a fault code, so this would be my suspicion too.

If it starts some times, and the spanner light doesn't flash when it fails to start, then it's an indication that there's nothing wrong with the immobiliser. It probably had a spurious immobiliser code and the dealer failed to do a proper diagnosis.

[Lagondanet]

I hoping to have it taken to Serek @ SOS in Huntingdon to do a proper job.
Thank you all for your help. Much appreciated.

 

[Bigron]

You beat me to it! I was going to urge you to see Serek.....

Ron.

[Lagondanet]

You beat me to it! I was going to urge you to see Serek.....

Ron.

It's with him now.

[Lazydocker]

I fear this is another dealership taking advantage of unsuspecting customers

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Its difficult to find one which doesn't do that these days.

[Nick W]

I fear this is another dealership taking advantage of unsuspecting customers

Too incompetent and/or lazy to do some proper diagnosis is just as likely.