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MG MGF Technical - Imobilizer -driving me mad or not

Hi, is there anyone who has suffered this mgf imobilizer problem. My alarm/ central locking has been temprimental for some time and I have got used to opening/locking the car with the key.Over recent weeks it has become increasingly dificult to disengage the imobilizer.It seems pretty random, as some times I can start the engine after one press of the remote and half an hour later it can take 50-60odd presses and then later one again or maybe 3,then back to,I lose count.Very frustrating for everyone at the petrol station.I have changed the remotes battery several times with no improvement.Unfortunatly,I was only supplied with one remote for the car.I had, recently,a problem with a drained battery. The RAC man put it down to a faulty ECU relay which i replaced.This solved the flat battery issue,but, dinot help with the imobilizer which he thought it may.The RAC chap did try to use the key code proceedure in the door lock to disengage the imobilizer system at the time as the alarm/central locking/imobilizer was being temprimental
but with no success.I would be grateful if anybody advise Thanks.
B J LACEY

The remotes can get dirty contacts in side, and can die completely. As you have only one remote why not buy another remote and get that programmed in? If the remote is the problem (as it likely is) then your problem will be solved. If not, you have a spare remote and it is always useful to have a back-up set of remote & keys anyway (just in case you are dumb like me & lock them in the boot) ... and know you are looking for the problem elsewhere.

If it is the remote, check whether the contacts are dirty. They get that way especially when the casing buttons get worn & punctured. new casings are available quite cheaply if that's part of the problem.
Paul Walbran

The PCB in the remote has the battery socket soldered to it. The soldered joints can break leading to intermittent and worsening ability to unlock the car and trun off the immobiliser. The key turn override digits can be one digit out see the archive.
Jon Baker

Yep, it's increase the 2nd and 4th number by one digit.

And ... within the deactivation process for secure meeting the upper rest point, do override this point by a few degrees.
Dieter

Thanks alot for your advice Paul, Jon and Dieter.I have managed to de-activate the imobilizer.Cheers for that, it has got me mobile again.Im in the process of sourcing a new remote and getting it programed on a budget.And Paul, I have done the keys in the boot trick
but luckily the RAC man had seen it before,but embarrassing and spoilt a day out.I have previously changed the remote casing,but, i will re-solder the joints as suggested.Searching the archive was informative and I checked the wiring in the boot only to find a completely severed cable coming off the loom to the bootlid held together,but,not electricly with black tape.It was hidden well,unscrupulously I would think, so this will need rectifying.Could well be the cause of it all,I will see,thanks again.
B J LACEY

This thread was discussed between 23/09/2011 and 27/09/2011

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