Oh, I seem to be immobile !

[mikeatvillage]

This could be a long story but I'll try to be brief...

Went to start my old (1994) 405GRDT on Friday morning and nothing happened - battery light dimmed and came back when I turned the key but no activity from starter motor. Everything else seemed to work OK though. I suspected the starter solenoid so popped to my local scrappy this morning, got and fitted a replacement starter motor. Same problem ! Tried a known good battery... same problem !

When I got this old car there were 2 keys. One fits the ignition and the other fits the doors and has the remains of a button for an alarm system. The alarm system/remote locking didn't seem to do anything when I pressed the button so I've ignored it for the past year or so :-)

Thursday evening as I set off for home water came dripping from the (I assume) alarm sensor up by the sunroof switch and courtesy light (sunroof seals are rotted) but I ignored this.

Just now I've found that I can activate the alarm and central locking but only when sitting in the car and aiming the key at close range to the sensor.

So, is the immobiliser preventing me from starting the engine ? Haynes manual 3198 chapter 12 section 23 explains some of the alarm system but I can't seem to find the 'deactivate' switch mentioned in para 8. Can someone describe what it looks like please and then how to deactivate the system completely.

Or any other suggestions for a solution to my problem ?

An update (6pm)... if I disconnect the wires (grey & blue) from the small terminal on the starter motor and run a lead from that terminal to the battery + it starts !

Many thanks :-)

Mike

[vee1]

I have similar problem on my 205 STDT. The cure would seem to be to remove the immobiliser and reinstate the starter solenoid circuit. Or by pass the immobiliser with a new wire from the start switch to the starter solenoid. Alternatively in my case to obtain another infra-red remote. Anyone know the location of the immobiliser? And does anyone have a servicable remote for sale?

[405stdt]

Hi Mike,

I've been experiencing exactly the same problem as you with my 405STDT!
The problem lies with the infra-red receiver in the roof panel. Where your sunroof seals have perished (in my case I left the sunroof ajar during a heavy downpour last week) they have let water in which gets the receiver circuit board wet.

When I unscrewed the roof panel and removed / disconnected the receiver I noticed some of the terminals were slightly corroded. I let it dry out for a while then gave the terminals and plug a little spray with WD40. When I plugged it back in, my indicators flashed three times and the immobilser was deactivated.
The next day I went to use the car and the alarm/immobilser had armed itself again. I took the roof panel apart again and gave the receiver a spray with some proper electrical terminal water repellant. Touch wood, it seems to have done the job.

I'm about to start a new post to see whether it is possible to upgrade the alarm/immobiliser to radio instead of infra-red, as I'd like my alarm to work rather than have a mind of its own!

[blackbess]

Guys, according to the Pug handbook your alarm and infrared plipper is separate from the immobiliser - I say this because it says "the immobiliser is activated as soon as the key is removed from the ignition" - not when the plipper is plipped.

For the alarm and central locking, "the in-car sensor must be able to 'see' the key" and you must be behind it. So it cannot be done from a distance like modern ones, and it canot be done through the windscreen. You must point it through one of the side or rear windows. But it does need to be close range, ie a distance where you can touch the car.

Mine occasionally arms the alarm without locking the doors. I just unplip it and plip at again and it normally works. Did have a problem once, as above I took down the unit from the roof, cleaned it all up, got rid of the spiders nesting in it and all ok again.