SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car - RESOLVED

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SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car - RESOLVED

Post by Ninja_Freak »

Hi Folks,

Drive to a meeting in Southampton a d parked in a multi story. Came back after the meeting and the car won't start due to the immobiliser. (blinking key thingy)

Battery has plenty of power and this is my daily driver. Any thought please?



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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by casey »

Have you installed D585 coils from BHR?

I say this as I had this symptom, the cause being the wiring loom to the coils have chafed through where it passed the engine hoist bracket, causing a short to ground, which blew the 15A engine fuse in the main fusebox. I'm not the only one this has happened to, so it wasn't a one-off.
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by Ninja_Freak »

New coils and leads put in a couple of years ago. Nothing since

I checked the engine fuse and it looks OK.

I have full power to the dash etc, I just can't start it.

In a taxi now heading to mazda for new battery for the key. Not sure what to do if that doesn't work..

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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by qwakers »

that wont work most likely, the battery only does the lock functions, the immobiliser is passive, proven by my car having no key with just the immobiliser chip taped to the receiver.

it has been know that local interference can stop a immobiliser reading the key, moving the car a few yards will sometimes sort it, other than that i cant be much help im afraid.
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by Ninja_Freak »

Will it bump start?

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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by Ninja_Freak »

Now at mazda. Spare key won't start it. Same issue.

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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by Cscameron »

Just did a quick google:

Turn the key on. Disconnect the battery. Hold your foot on the brake pedal for 1 min. With the key still on, reconnect the battery and start the vehicle.

Worth a shot 🤷‍♀️
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by Ninja_Freak »

Thanks. I'll see what mazda has to say. I'll let them know your trick..

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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by warpc0il »

I suspect that "trick" was on a US forum, as their cars have a totally different security system.

One way to screw up the immobiliser on ours is to have a loose battery connection when the key is On, which is what that "trick" would emulate. It can also damage the PCM... :(

Hopefully Mazda know better.
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by Cscameron »

No idea - was the only reset method I could see

Maybe ignore that as Dave suggests 😬
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by rx8hunter »

Probably worth giving the engine bay fuse box a good check before going too far down any rabbit holes.
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by warpc0il »

The last time someone reported an "immobiliser issue" the cat had be stolen and the O2 sensor wire was left shorted to the underside... :(
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by Nickp47 »

rx8hunter wrote:
Tue May 24, 2022 4:21 pm
Probably worth giving the engine bay fuse box a good check before going too far down any rabbit holes.
The only time I have had the above issue it was a fuse at fault so definitely a good place to start, unfortunately I don’t recall which one was responsible.
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by Boston Rotary »

Ignition key fuse most likely
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car!

Post by Ninja_Freak »

Hi Folks.

Car was recovered to Mazda Soton.

It was showing an issue with the chip reader / ignition switch. That wasn't the culprit.

It was the 15a engine fuse in the end. Tbf, I looked at it from the top and side but my fuse puller ended up in the road in frustration. Absolute sh*t.

I normally don't carry tools but I've added a few bits including needle-nose pliers. They gave me a couple of spare fuses just in case.

Can someone change the thread title to resolved please?

Thanks for all the input. Much appreciated as always.



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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car - RESOLVED

Post by casey »

Ha, so I was right about the 15A engine fuse then! I would thoroughly check for see why the fuse blew.

When my 15A engine fuse blew, it was in the overtaking lane on the M3. I suddenly lost all power as the ignition was cut. I had to coast over 2 lanes of traffic to the hard shoulder - very, very scary and it could have resulted in a serious incident!

My D585 coils had been installed (by me :oops: ) about 3 years previously with no trouble, but the chafing took that long to work it's way through the loom tape and cable insulation. Yours could have done the same after two years. If it is this issue, it just needs some engine vibration to cause the short and fuse to blow again. You don't want to be doing 70mph in the overtaking lane when that happens :shock:

The BHR D585 has very thin tape insulation on the loom, unlike other kit suppliers (such as Rotary Revs) where the loom protection is much more substantial.

Have a look where the cable loom passes the engine hoist bracket, as this can have a sharp edge and may be in contact with the loom.

Here's a pic of my loom, showing the exposed copper wire...
BHR D585 Loom chafe.jpg
with the loom tape removed....
IMG_3942.JPG
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car - RESOLVED

Post by Ninja_Freak »

Thank you sir! I'll have a look tomorrow. The pictures are a helpful addition.

Thanks for editing the name of the thread. :)
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car - RESOLVED

Post by nightfire10 »

Mine chaffed against the engine hoist loop on the front

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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car - RESOLVED

Post by Cscameron »

Well that's one more thing to add to my paranoia list 😂

Although my coil set up isn't the standard 4 in a row so hopefully will be OK 😬 but will be under the bonnet to check anyway 😊
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car - RESOLVED

Post by MARKTHOMASBRAND »

Ninja_Freak wrote:
Tue May 24, 2022 7:00 pm
Thanks for editing the name of the thread. :)
For future reference you can edit the thread title yourself :thumleft:

Just click on the pencil icon ✏ , on your first post, & edit it till your heart's content :D

If I'm giving you IT advice then you have serious problems :lol:

BTW glad the car is fixed :yeah:
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car - RESOLVED

Post by Ninja_Freak »

Thanks.. I was on Tapatalk at the time and couldn't figure it out! (cheeky git.. )
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car - RESOLVED

Post by Lemon »

i blew the engine fuse at JDM combe in 2019, rear O2 sensor wiring contacted the exhaust, melted and shorted blowing the fuse as i was on my way up avon rise...
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car - RESOLVED

Post by qwakers »

I remember it well :P
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Re: SOS immobiliser won't let me start the car - RESOLVED

Post by Lemon »

qwakers wrote:
Wed Jun 01, 2022 12:31 pm
I remember it well :P
i still have that loop of wire to short the fuel pump relay in the coin tray.

when i was last under the car the harness has been clipped into place this time.
Thanks, Stu

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