Forte 1.1 wont start - displaying key icon on dash

[markey164]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and need a little help please.

I have a 2000 Forte 1.1 which i've had for 5 months, and has always started on the button right up until yesterday.

Today i went to start it and it won't turn over. I turn the key, the Ignition lights come on, the starter solenoid is clicking but the engine doesn't turn over at all. At first i thought it was a flat battery, as it was pretty cold last night, and i don't know how old the battery is. Although it did a 100mile drive yesterday, and as expected, i've just hooked it up to the battery charger and it reads it as fully charged, so i don't think the battery is the problem.

I then noticed that each time i try to start the car, a key warning icon is flashing on the lower left of the dash, which i havnt' seen before. I've had a look online and see references to the immobilizer, and this happening when people change the ecu and talking about the chip in the key.

I didn't even know my Saxo had an immobilizer lol, assuming it actually does. Do all Saxo's have them? Does my key also have a chip in it?

Can anyone give me any pointers as to what I can check/test to pinpoint the cause of the problem here please?

Many TIA

[Woody91]

Yes saxos do have immobilisers and the flashing key means its been activated. Try knocking the key of a table or similar as the chip in the key sometimes plays up if that doesnt work then most probably the decoder is broke.

[markey164]

Yes saxos do have immobilisers and the flashing key means its been activated. Try knocking the key of a table or similar as the chip in the key sometimes plays up if that doesnt work then most probably the decoder is broke.

I'm guessing you mean the flashing key indicates the immobilizer hasn't been *de-activated*? As if its working properly the immobilizer should be active every time the key isn't in the ignition.

When you say the decoder is probably broken, are you referring to the chip in the key? I havn't dropped the key recently which i'm guessing could cause this kind of thing. I've tapped it a few times and tried again, but no difference. Is there anything else i can check, loose connections? I'm not sure how the immobilizer is wired in on the saxo?

Is there an easy way to bypass the immobilizer? Its starting to look like i've got an expensive trek via public transport tomorrow grr :err:

[markey164]

Ok, fixed now.

Resorted to an RAC callout in the end. It seems the problem was the battery. Seems the cold snap last night killed it. He put a multimeter across the terminals, and on trying to start it, the voltage dropped to 2 volts which isn't normal.

So although the battery charger thought the battery was ok, putting a spare one on instantly started it. So seems the key icon was a red herring caused by the battery itself.

Hope this helps someone else.

[Dan-Jnr]

Good bit of information that.

[wesley-saxo]

cheeers mate