Technical Immobiliser Fault

[TheNorthernMonkey]

Hello all,

2006 1.3 multijet Panda.

When I turn the key the immobiliser light comes on (as normal) but then doesn't go out (not normal ). Car turns over happily enough, but then doesn't fire due to the immobiliser.

I've tried disconnecting the battery, and no effect.

Oddly, this only happens about 80% of the time. Today, I've tried it a few times, and once, it worked (immobiliser light went out, then car started normally) . Went for a 10 min drive, and all was fine. On the drive i stopped it, locked it, unlocked it, and it started again fine. 30 min later, I went back out and the fault was back. Since then, I've been unable to get it to start again. I've tried the battery out again, no luck.

Any ideas folks? I'm running out of swearworkds

 

[jrkitching]

Any ideas folks? I'm running out of swearworkds

Try using the second key.

If that works fine, then the problem is the transponder chip in the first key. If it doesn't, then you've ruled out the key as the cause of the problem.

 

[TheNorthernMonkey]

Unfortunately I only have one key for it.

 

[varesecrazy]

Unfortunately I only have one key for it.

A decent auto.locksmith can check the chips function

 

[Wee Smurf]

Sounds like the key to me.

 

[minirib]

Take it it's a remote key you have the ones for the Panda are awful for this. The immobiliser is built into the circuit board. The bit that normally causes the problem is the solder joints to the induction coil in the key. If you carefully open the case and look at the circuit board. You will see on the narrower part at the front next to the flip mechanism. There is s long thin black or grey component. This is the induction coil that the key and car talk to each other through. 9 times out of 10 one of the solder joints at either end has failed. A quick touch with a soldering iron and you should be good to go.

 

[TheNorthernMonkey]

Take it it's a remote key you have the ones for the Panda are awful for this. The immobiliser is built into the circuit board. The bit that normally causes the problem is the solder joints to the induction coil in the key. If you carefully open the case and look at the circuit board. You will see on the narrower part at the front next to the flip mechanism. There is s long thin black or grey component. This is the induction coil that the key and car talk to each other through. 9 times out of 10 one of the solder joints at either end has failed. A quick touch with a soldering iron and you should be good to go.

Thanks for this.

 

[TheNorthernMonkey]

Where abouts am I looking for this dry joint?

 

[minirib]

Flip it over its on the other side

 

[TheNorthernMonkey]

 

[minirib]

This bit it's soldered either end.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

The immobiliser is built into the circuit board.

Depends on the vehicle age, earlier ones were a separate capsule in the remote housing.

Tends to be the ones where only half the rear case removes for remote battery access that have it built into the PCB.

 

[minirib]

Depends on the vehicle age, earlier ones were a separate capsule in the remote housing.

Tends to be the ones where only half the rear case removes for remote battery access that have it built into the PCB.

If you taking other models into account then yes there are three button flip remotes with the glass capsule type Megamos transponder. If we are just talking Pandas then 1995-2002 Megamos capsule type transponder but these didn't come with flip remotes. 2002-2012 is as pictured above TRW remotes with Phillips pcf7941 HiTag chip built into the remote. 2012- Magneti Marelli Remotes with Phillips pcf7947 HiTag transponder built into the remote. The systems that use HiTag have rectangular carbon transponders for the non remote keys.
All the current crop of Fiats use HiTag but all other models use either Delphi or Marelli including the current Panda. They can also suffer this problem but the TRW made remotes for the 2002-2012 Panda both the black and the blue ones suffer from this far far more often.

 

[TheNorthernMonkey]

So, I took the key to timpsons, who put the key in their transponder reader.

It read 1 time in 5, so couldn't be cloned.

I tried soldering the transponder chip, with no joy. It didn't look like a dry joint.

So in the end, I had to order a new key. £220 for a non remote key. So the car works now, I just have to put the key in the door to unlock.