[TomAdam]

Hi all - I'm new to the forum.

I bought a 2000 MK4 Golf TDI on Saturday that runs real nice, but it has developed an immobiliser problem. It wouldn't start when I turned the ignition and the immobiliser light stayed on. After about 30 minutes of trying things with the doors and the door locks and the keyfob (at the time I thought the two systems were linked) I tried to start the engine again, giving the key a bit of a wiggle and it started fine. I turned it off to to see if it would start again, but the same fault occurred and the immobiliser light stayed on again. It wouldn't start at all so I had a poke about in the engine pushing any electrical connectors together just in case. It started fine after that, and has done all day.

Does anyone have an idea what the problem was / is? I don't want it to happen again as my partner uses the car to get to work. If anyone could help me diagnose the issue I would be very appreciative.

I only have one key to the car so I am also looking to retrieve the SKC. This is my first post so I can't see the instructions yet, but I'm assuming I need a VAG-COM or similar. Does anyone in Bristol, UK have one of these they could let me use? I'd be willing to pay for your time.

 

[TomAdam]

Doing a bit more reading, it seems that this might not be an immobiliser problem. The engine does not turn over at all when it happens and the immobiliser light stays on. Could it be something to do with the starter solenoid?

I'm not that clear on how the immobiliser functions. Does it let the car start then switch it off just after it has started if the key is not valid? Or does it not let the car start at all?