Immobilizer light flashing...starts for 1 second then dies

TurnerBFC

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2013
Location
Canada
TDI
2004 Jetta PD
My light on the dash that shows the car and the key (not sure what its called) is flashing. The car was running fine yesterday and now this morning for me it will start for 1 second and then die.

Does anyone know what the cause and fix of this is?

Greatly appreciated.
 

Ski in NC

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 7, 2008
Location
Wilmington, NC USA
TDI
2001 Jetta ALH 5sp stock
Immobilizer (anti theft) system is not recognizing your key and thinks the car is being stolen. Two things to try:

1. Do you have another key to try?

2. Put key in ign, turn to run but do not start. Leave it that way for 15min.

Maybe also disconnect battery and leave off for 15min, hook back up and try.
 

scurvy

Good Ol' Boy
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
Chicago IL USA
TDI
2006 Golf
Crazy idea that's also worked a time or two: flip the key over and try the 'other side'. It may position the RFID chip in the key in better range of the immobilizer antenna to be successfully read.
 

PDJetta

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 6, 2003
Location
Northern Virginia
TDI
'04 Jetta GLS TDI Pumpe Duce Platinum Grey w/ Leather
There is a pick-up coil that encircles the ignition switch to be the antena loop to communicate with the chip in the key housing. If the loop is shorted or open, the imobilizer will activate. You may want to check the wiring. Its pretty fragile and the first place I'd look.

--Nate
 
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