Immobiliser playing up?

[GasDoc]

Stranded in a field after football match this morning after driving there uneventfully. About to drive home. Disarmed immobiliser (or so I thought) as little flashing light goes out and fuel pump kicks in but then nothing from the starter motor. Tried this several times with same result. By the way, when working correctly, if I don't disarm the immobiliser and try to start the car, there is no power to both the fuel pump and starter motor. So fuel pump working but not starter motor. All the fuses seem to be intact in the fuse board.

Breakdown guy arrives and finds that there is no power going to the starter motor, so he bypasses the immobiliser, the starter motor operates normally and the car comes back to life. Driven home now, and on re-testing everything works as it should with no starting problem now. Result - paranoid to go anywhere in case this happens again!!!

Any thoughts as to the problem. Is it an intermittent immobiliser fault and is this common?

Thanks for your help

[EGB]

Check clean and retighten battery terminals. Also check there is at least 12volts in battery. If a META imobiliser, try using the emergency tab by inserting in slot near the ignition key. Good luck.

[Loubaruch]

It could be poor earthing or the feed to your starter motor but the symptoms you describe strongly suggest a failing relay in the immobiliser. Search for "Hot start problem" on here.

This is one solution:

http://www.djbeer.hostingbt.com/id32.html

If the relay has failed there is no guarantee that even with the Hot Start kit that the problem wont reappear but with much less current passing through the immobiliser relay contacts you will have given it half a chance.

[Chimpafrolic]

I had the exact same problem.

What you are experiencing is a very common issue with the Meta system.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=2&a...

Your breakdown guy did the right thing to get you going and his solution proves you have the classic starter circuit relay failure within the Meta unit.

Even if it has now returned to normal operation the problem will almost certainly return, and it will be just when you least expect it and at the most inconvenient moment.

PM me if you want me to explain how I permanently solved the problem on my Chim.

[GasDoc]

thanks to all for the replies and useful suggestions. I think chimpafrollic has hit the nail on the head - so Dave, i have pm'd you and looking forward to hearing your fix. Just hoping i have the technical nouse to understand it. Thanks again

Rob

ps- i'll let you know how i get on

[5.0ltr]

For alarms I always find Carl Baker gives the best and free advice on his mobile
phone, and ultimatly the best fix as well.

[Colin RedGriff]

Second a recommendation for Karl. I was down there a couple of weeks ago with exactly the issue you describe. He replaced the immobiliser in a couple of hours while I waited, top bloke. He has to tweak the wiring because tvr have it wired up wrong which is why they all will eventually fail.

We did discuss replacing the whole system which is a longer job but gives you a new key unit combined with remote boot opening. But as I had previously had a new siren and the key converses ion and remote boot opener then we decided just to do the immobiliser

He did mention that business has been dropping off recently and if it continues into 2012 that he may pack it in which I think would be a huge loss to the TVR community.

[bsdnazz]

Colin RedGriff said:

Second a recommendation for Karl.

I'll third Carl. My Chim hasd the same problem - intermittent failure of the starter but not the fuel pump.

A trip to Carl's and a new immiboiliser was fitted and problem solved.

Edited by bsdnazz on Tuesday 18th October 20:03

[bsdnazz]

Colin RedGriff said:

Second a recommendation for Karl.

I'll third Carl. My Chim had the same problem - intermittent failure of the starter but not the fuel pump.

A trip to Carl's and a new immiboiliser was fitted and problem solved.

Edited by bsdnazz on Tuesday 18th October 20:03

[GasDoc]

Thanks for the last two, nay three replies. I met Carl at the last Growl and would agree with everything you have said. He knows more about TVR alarms and wiring than TVR ever did. Really nice chap to talk to and happy to explain things at great length. Always an education. Was planning on paying him a visit in the very near future - which may now be sooner.

regards
Rob