Alfa 159 - 'Vehicle Protection System Not Available"
Discussion
Just wondering if anyone can help with this. I did a search on here but didn't find anything.
My dad just went to start his 159, but when putting the key in it gives the message 'Vehicle protection system not available'. When you press the starter button, it doesn't start and everything seems to cut out, and all of the dash lights etc go off. The remote central locking still operates as normal, as does everything else such as the radio etc, until the starter button is pressed. The central locking still works after, though.
Just wondering if this a common fault and if anyone knows what the likely cause is. It's an '06 1.9 JTS if that makes any difference.
Thanks in advance.
My dad just went to start his 159, but when putting the key in it gives the message 'Vehicle protection system not available'. When you press the starter button, it doesn't start and everything seems to cut out, and all of the dash lights etc go off. The remote central locking still operates as normal, as does everything else such as the radio etc, until the starter button is pressed. The central locking still works after, though.
Just wondering if this a common fault and if anyone knows what the likely cause is. It's an '06 1.9 JTS if that makes any difference.
Thanks in advance.
I've already signed up to Alfaowner and asked on there, but I just thought I'd ask here too. 
As I mentioned on there, I did think it may be a knackered battery, but it seems odd to me that it gives me that error if it was the battery. Fortunately it's still under warranty from where he bought it, but it's around 40 miles away, which is a bit of a pain in the arse when it won't even start. I was just wondering if it might be a simple fix.
I'll try removing the tag key too (I assume you mean take the key out of the fob thing?) and try that.
Thanks for the replies.

As I mentioned on there, I did think it may be a knackered battery, but it seems odd to me that it gives me that error if it was the battery. Fortunately it's still under warranty from where he bought it, but it's around 40 miles away, which is a bit of a pain in the arse when it won't even start. I was just wondering if it might be a simple fix.
I'll try removing the tag key too (I assume you mean take the key out of the fob thing?) and try that.
Thanks for the replies.
My mito did (basically) the same as well - sometimes it'll throw up the message if I lock it with a door not shut properly (Alarm unavailable), and when the battery went flat (because I left the lights on) it did the same thing. Jump started and it was fine, and never reoccurred since.
I had thought that it could be the alternator, but it's been fine since the new battery was fitted, so I think the old battery was just a bit tired. I think it was the original battery too, and the car's only got 18,000 miles on it from new, so I think a lack of use/only being used for short journeys probably contributed to the old battery giving up.
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