Immobiliser Problem

[HH14]

I have an 03 Ford Galaxy TDI. It has had an intermittent starting problem. Garage could not detect what was causing this problem. Yesterday car would not start, turned out to be an immobiliser fault. Been told today main ECU is at fault. Has anyone else had this problem

[mumof4]

Welcome H, who told you the main ECU was at fault??Was a diagnostic done??if so what fault codes were thrown up?

[HH14]

Ford dealership. Believe this is going to be expensive to resolve. Wondered if it was a common problem.

[mumof4]

hun, did ford give you a diagnostic report??..there are quite a few immobiliser probs that can occurr..the keys may have lost their programming and may need to be redone....bit drastic IIRC for the ECU to go nuts.

 

if ford have the car..then yes it will be expensive..if you have the car then could be a few things to try..but if they already have the car..........be prepared for a very hefty bill..we dont have a lot of faith in ford fixing Galaxys ..well i most def dont.

[HH14]

fords have the car, will speak to them tomorrow for diagnostic report. Thanks for your help.

[mumof4]

Your welcome, if we know the fault codes from the diagnostic report, may be able to help you or explain what the problem is/was.

[mancini602]

I had a fault where when you turned on ignition, all normal ignition lights came on but when you turned the key to start, it was dead...nothing happend, not even turning the engine over. Ford insisted that it was an immobilser fault.

 

This starting issue was an intermittent fault and left me stranded a couple of times and needing the car recovered back to Ford.

 

The car went in and out of Ford for repair and each time, they could not reproduce the problem until one day when it was in again for the same fault (after me complaining again as I'd only just bought the car from them), they had the fuse box dangling down inside the car as well as other electrical bits being tested...the car did the same to them...ignition lights OK, but wouldn't turn over or start...

 

They then found the fault. They reseated the fuse box in the car, turned the key and voila!! Another quick investigation from them deemed that the Starter Relay was arc'ing and basically stuffed. They changed the offending part and for the next two years never had a starting problem again.

 

Course...I now have other electrical faults!

Edited September 20, 2007 by mancini602

[NikpV]

we've heard the 'its the ecu' fault before but I can't recall a case where this has been confirmed ... if there are case they are not that common on here :D :D

[Zonal_82]

I just got a 1998 galaxy and on the second day it wouldnt start, same as mancini's problem, mine is an automatic and i have now realised that if the release button on the gear stick is in the wrong position then it wont start!! no noise nothing.

 

Figured out that all i have to do is touch the buttton very gently and it will start straight away.

 

Very strange but unless it gets much worse i dont think i'll atempt to get it fixed.