300Tdi immobiliser

Could somebody please explain what I might be doing wrong.

When stopped in heavy traffic for example, I can turn off the engine, and then when I go to start it up again, it would have immobilised itself.

This means me having to take the keys out, lock, unlock, alarm, disarm alarm numerous times before it will start.

Am I doing something wrong here? It's driving me mad, and I'm sure there must be an easy solution!

I realise the engine should immobilise itself after a certain amount of time when turned off, but should it do this whilst the keys are actually still in the ignition?

Thanks!

What is the make/model of the alarm? I'm not aware of any 300tdi Defenders with a factory fitted immobiliser, so assume this is aftermarket?

My immobiliser self-arms after a set amount of time, but it's just a case of pressing the disarm button on the alarm fob to disable the immobiliser again.

I don't imagine your immobiliser will be fancy enough to know/care if the key is in the ignition. We are talking about a 16+ year old vehicle after all!

Not that I have ever bothered turning off the engine in a queue of traffic...

they were factory fitted immobilisers ,spiders in seat box and unit behind dash, can be removed or fixed

The receiver ring around the ignition can often struggle to read the chip in the fob unless it's right next to the ignition barrel. You should be able to hold the fob tight against the ignition barrel or else just hit the unlock button and it will then start.

The immobiliser is easy enough to remove/bypass if you take it to a garage/auto electrician.

My fender has factory alarm, if you read user manual it states something along the lines of the immobiliser will auto arm after something like five minutes after turning ignition off or after opening drivers door if you don't press button to arm alarm (it doesn't turn alarm on, just activates immob). When mine does it all I have to do is press the disarm button once and the immobiliser is turned off (for another 5 mins)

Kwakerman said:

My fender has factory alarm, if you read user manual it states something along the lines of the immobiliser will auto arm after something like five minutes after turning ignition off or after opening drivers door if you don't press button to arm alarm (it doesn't turn alarm on, just activates immob). When mine does it all I have to do is press the disarm button once and the immobiliser is turned off (for another 5 mins)

Click to expand...

pssssssssssssst.. It should be less than 30 secs.

ratty said:

pssssssssssssst.. It should be less than 30 secs.

Click to expand...

Yep, just had a reread 5 mins after switch engine off or disarming the alarm or 30 seconds after opening drivers door

Cheers guys, I think something is amiss then, as when I press the de activate button it still does nothing at all when turning the key. Will investigate further! Thanks all

Next time it doesn't crank try giving the black box in the front of the battery compartment a thump with your hand, if it then starts you have dry solder joints in the immobiliser. Fairly easy fix if you are competent with a soldering iron but takes a bit of effort to get the box open (grinding or drilling a few rivets that hold the box together)

Cheers kwakerman.

I've got a spare set so will try with that set instead and see if the issue persists!

If you have a spare immobiliser you will still need to grind/drill the rivets to change it (it just plugs into the loom inside the box). Would be worth trying to repair the one that is fitted (if it is the cause) as I think the immobiliser and alarm box may be paired (but not 100% sure)

Sorry mate,

Read your reply last night after returning from holiday, and thought you were talking about key fob! :5bbanghead:

I did think I'd struggle to punch it!

That makes a lot more sense, I'll try that

Cheers!