Immobiliser problem

[tidyclio]

Just got back after two weeks away and tried to start my car but won't start.
The bit for the centrel locking broke of the circuit board before I went away but the key still worked fine. Now when I put the key in and turn it it does nothing so I turn it back then try again and the engine will turn for about 5 seconds.
The red light immobiliser light is staying on. I've checked the key battery and it's flat so waiting on someone dropping me one off, whilst i've been waiting was searching through topics on here and it appears the key battery doesn't make any difference to the immobiliser is that right?
I'm meant to be back to work in the morning aswell!

 

[JuanBoy]

Just got back after two weeks away and tried to start my car but won't start.
The bit for the centrel locking broke of the circuit board before I went away but the key still worked fine. Now when I put the key in and turn it it does nothing so I turn it back then try again and the engine will turn for about 5 seconds.
The red light immobiliser light is staying on. I've checked the key battery and it's flat so waiting on someone dropping me one off, whilst i've been waiting was searching through topics on here and it appears the key battery doesn't make any difference to the immobiliser is that right?
I'm meant to be back to work in the morning aswell!

 

[JuanBoy]

Gunna be your battery mate. If you're in the AA or RAC give a a bell as they carry them now. Save the hassle of getting lifts, waiting for shop to open etc.

 

[tidyclio]

Cheers I hope your right. I've got someone to pick me one up already on Halfords just on here as i'm waiting for them to come and drop it off. Fingers crossed

 

[JuanBoy]

I had the same symptons at one time and that's what it was. I was about 200 miles from home and once fixed had to drive back without the radio as I didn't have the code on me, that was the hardest bit!!

Let us know the outcome. Good Luck

 

[lemonnobby]

What type of clio is this?

 

[tidyclio]

It's a mk2 ph2 mate. I've just changed the battery and I can get the central locking to work using the bit that came off the key but still when I try and start the car the immobiliser light is staying on. Any ideas anybody?

 

[lemonnobby]

Decoder ring fault or the little chip inside the key has fallen out

 

[tidyclio]

The inside of the key is all ok apart from the button to operate the central locking had broken off. The relay in the engine bay seems to click twice not really a sound I recognise suppose it could be this also. Last option really would be to sign up for the AA again hope it doesn't turn out to be something stupid though.

 

[BrianR]

What bit broke off the key exactly. ????

Try holding all the broken bits next to the key when you try to start the car.

 

[tidyclio]

When you press down on the fob to operate the central locking the little switch that you press down on broke off. Luckily at the time the key still worked to start the car. Having been away on holiday I havn't had a chance to get a new one. I held it down on the key and the central locking worked i'll go and try and hold it all together and see if I have any luck.
Thanks

 

[tidyclio]

Ok it was a bit hard as the side of the key with the actual key and the bit with the circuit board are different halfs so I put the key in and held the bit on and as close as I could to the ignition barrel. When I tried that when I turned the ignition on the immobiliser light just flashed rapidly?

 

[tidyclio]

I had the AA guy out and he says it will be because the central locking part has broke of the key. Got two choices somehow get it to Renault or a mobile locksmith he phoned said he might be able to read the information of the key for £70 or bypass the immobiliser for about £145. The AA guy said Renault are even dearer for the keys. Anybody recommend what's best?

 

[BrianR]

So you don't have a spare key............i'm guessing not from what you say.

Post up some pics of the bits of your broken key, the transponder must have dropped out.......where did you take it apart....go look for the chip.

 

[tidyclio]

Nope no spare key unfortunetly. It's just the switch with the button on it for the central locking that dropped out. My neighbour has tried soldering it and it's that fiddly that he has just ended up making things worse I think. I'm not able to post pictures.
What I don't understand is how it worked before I went away on holiday without the central locking part and my key has just been sitting in my drawer and all of a sudden it stopped working.
I know it's a slim chance but the auto locksmith said the immobilisers can be bypassed anybody know how involved this is?

 

[tidyclio]

I got the bit back on the key and tried but no joy. Found the reason it wasn't turning everytime was the connection on the starter solenoid.
I can't remember if when you turn the key to ignition if the red immobliliser light should go out or should it go out when the engine starts anyone remember?
Also the oil level gauge is flashing to say low oil obviously I know this wouldn't be the cause but the oil can symbol light is on aswell isn't that for low pressure?Would the engine be able to detect this?

 

[BrianR]

It could all be to do with the cars battery not being fully charged.
Just because the lights come on and the engine turns, doesn't mean it wont be the battery.

The immobiliser light flashes once per second till you put the key in and turn the ignition on, then it comes on constant till the engine starts then it goes out.

by-passing the immobilser is not a great idea, plus it may invalidate your insurance.


Check all the relays are pushed in tight, one or two people have had this problem and traced it to loose relays.

 

[tidyclio]

Well i'll hopefully be able to test the battery properly in the morning.
I'm starting to wonder if it is the immobiliser, for some reason I was expecting the light to go out before the car starts.
As soon as the AA man went to the car and saw the key wouldn't operate the locking he said it was the key at fault. I explained to him that it worked before without the bit that came off the key. Now it's back on and no difference.
Only other thing I can think of is it's on a slight upwards slope and before I went away there wasn't much fuel in it. The trip test showed 5 earlier now shows 2. My downpipes been blowing slightly and the trip readings have been all over the place and normally I can smell petrol. Would the immobiliser cut the fuel pump?Is their any way to check if it has fuel without spilling it everywhere?

 

[MrMark]

apart from the key issues, ive had the exact same issue with the immobilser not de-activating Turned out i needed a new car battery.

 

[16v_jon]

light flashing quickly - imobiliser locking key isnt working.
light constant - non imobiliser fault/ usually battery is dead or the earth isnt good, also injection locking relay is not working properly.

 

[briny182]

the button on your key isn't your problem, I know because mine broke off also on my old clio dynamique, and I'd also lost my spare key - had to bridge the two solder pads with a 5p to lock and unlock the car until i remembered where I'd put the button when it fell out, which i soldered in again.

no immobiliser issues ever, hopefully you've just got a drained car battery and not lost another part from the circuit board

 

[tidyclio]

When I took the circuit board out the light flashd quickly but when it was in the key it stayed on so hopefully your right.
I can hear a relay that sound weird normally you hear them click once this one seems to click at least a couple of times definetly coming from the engine bay. How are you meant to test them though?
I will check the battery in the morning though I just thought when a battery was low you would know by the starter struggling to turn?

 

[lemonnobby]

im going to say battery or the black injection relays, the button on the fob wouldnt make any difference

 

[tidyclio]

Well I've checked the battery and it was at 12.5 which I know is a tiny bit below normal but shouldn't really be enough to stop it starting.
Which black injection relays? I've got two relays in the fusebox a grey one which I replaced but never helped and a yellow one which I havn't got a spare for.
The auto locksmith and AA man seemed to think that with the bit of the key missing it'd make a difference I just don't see how if it would it didn't make any difference when it happened before I went away.
Can the immobiliser bit in the key really lose it's programming?