Why does my immobiliser not always work?

[Aerial_stu]

Hi, I'm getting fed up with my immobiliser not triggering every time I switch on the ignition.  Sometimes it takes a few seconds, and that's fine, but sometimes it just doesn't work.

I have to then re-try buy switching on ignition again.  Sometimes I have do do this several times.

is there anything I can be doing to remedy this?

2016 310S 

 

thanks

[Jonathan Kay]

What type is it? Is there a battery in the fob?

...

There's a common issue which can sometimes be addressed by increasing the exposure of the aerial wire. It's usually near the steering column.

Jonathan

[Benton]

Rather than before having to frantically wave the immobiliser fob around near the ignition switch, I've found that having fitted this highly expensive piece of Caterham plastic (that holds the aerial wire in a loop away from the ignition barrel), the immobiliser always nearly immediately disarms just by turning the key with the fob naturally swinging from the key ring

This does assume however that the immobiliser itself isn't on the way out ...... I've had one pack up that had to be replaced.

[Aerial_stu]

It's a Sterling type, and don't think it has a battery in it.  The aerial wire is very close, it is wrapped round the ignition barrel where the key goes in.

[Aerial_stu]

Thank you. I'll look into it, and might buy a new fob anyway to be safe.  Assume it can be paired with my system.

[Benton]

There's a description in the Owners Manual on how to "couple" a new tag, the question is does your car display the same characteristics if you use the other "spare" tag?

In my case the actual immobiliser "black box" on one occasion packed up completely. It had as it turns out given some early warning signs insofar as I noticed the red indicator would flash occasionally for about a minute whilst driving the car!, even though it didn't affect the cars running.  
Then one day when I went to start the car, the led status never changed from its slow flashing (armed) to the quick flashing (ready to disarm) state and the car had to be recovered to Caterham and a whole new unit fitted.

[Aerial_stu]

Thanks, I'll test the other key fob first.

[aerobod - near CYYC]

Decided that I'd better put some electrical tape around my remaining fob, after I went to start the car today and only had two outer shells on my key ring, luckily I was at home at the time. At least Caterham has plenty in stock, as it doesn't seem as though Toad Alarm will sell the fobs on their own, at least they don't show them on their website as being available.

[AdrianC]

I have a cut out switch which cuts all power to the car and got into the habit of switching off the ignition and then the cut out. The immobiliser takes 20-30 secs to arm itself so cutting all power straight away does not allow enough time for the unit to actually arm itself.

As a consequence when you go to start the car the immobiliser need to first arm itself to then be able to disarm. No amount of fob waving will do anything until its ready to disarm.

[Aerial_stu]

Just wanted to say, so far, this antenna ring is working great!

[Benton]

#10  Since fitting mine I haven't had to "wave" 

Why Caterham don't fit them as standard I don't know.