Car key - help needed!

[mrbeck]

Afternoon all,

I've just put my spare key in the ignition.  When I turn it to stage 1, I get a message on the dash stating 'Immobilizer active' and 'SAFE'.  The engine still starts when I turn the key further though, and the car locks and unlocks fine using the buttons on the remote.  No such issues with my other key.

Any ideas on why I'm getting this message, problems it is likely to cause me, and how I can rectify it much appreciated.  Cheers!

[stealthwolf]

Is this the same key you've always used/had? Has the battery gone flat or have you done any swaps?

Sounds like the key immobiliser chip is no longer in sync with the onboard immobiliser unit. If you've done nothing, then if you have two keys you can reenable this one. There's a guide on here somewhere.

[mrbeck]

Cheers Stealthwolf,

Its the same spare key I've always had, but I've never used it in 2 years of owning the car.  Just dug it out to give it to my partner so she has a key of her own, but keep getting the 'immobilizer active' message.  I've had a search on the forum, and tried the method suggested for sync-ing the key using my other key, but to no avail.  No doubt this is gonna cost me a packet at the stealers to put right.

[mrbeck]

Update: the problem fixed itself the next day and has not reared its head again yet.