ryan_1993
Active Member
So had a bit of an “incident” on Monday with my 300 TDI when out in Peak District.
Driving along and the little red light on the dash for the immobiliser started blinking which it has never done before, as if it was activated, but I was actually driving along.
When coming to a stop and turning off the engine it would no longer start. The immobiliser wasn’t behaving how it normally would. Normally you get a red flashing engine light with an X through it if you don’t disarm the immobiliser, but it wasn’t even doing that.
I tried swapping relays about, but to no avail, being in the absolute middle of nowhere we had no phone coverage and had to call for help from the visitors centre.
AA man discovered it was the last fuse, number 20 which had blown, just a 5amp one. He put another one in and it started right up, but after a minute or two it blew again, engine still was all running fine. I made it home the 60 miles no issues.
Obviously though back on drive it wouldn’t start after switching off, put a new fuse in and it started right up before blowing again. I then put in a 10 amp in and that hasn’t blown yet and started about 5 times in a row, at this point the immobiliser also started behaving more like it should have, by showing the red flashing engine light on the dash when it was armed, pressing the key fob disarmed it and it started right up.
Both me and a mate assume it’s likely spider control box for the immobiliser or possibly it’s associated wiring? I have heard these units can be a bit problematic?
just wondering if anyone else has had anything similar happen to them or what fuse number 20 actually has on its circuit to try and narrow down fault finding?
All the fuse diagram shows for slot number 20 is a picture of what I assume is the Defenders handbook
Driving along and the little red light on the dash for the immobiliser started blinking which it has never done before, as if it was activated, but I was actually driving along.
When coming to a stop and turning off the engine it would no longer start. The immobiliser wasn’t behaving how it normally would. Normally you get a red flashing engine light with an X through it if you don’t disarm the immobiliser, but it wasn’t even doing that.
I tried swapping relays about, but to no avail, being in the absolute middle of nowhere we had no phone coverage and had to call for help from the visitors centre.
AA man discovered it was the last fuse, number 20 which had blown, just a 5amp one. He put another one in and it started right up, but after a minute or two it blew again, engine still was all running fine. I made it home the 60 miles no issues.
Obviously though back on drive it wouldn’t start after switching off, put a new fuse in and it started right up before blowing again. I then put in a 10 amp in and that hasn’t blown yet and started about 5 times in a row, at this point the immobiliser also started behaving more like it should have, by showing the red flashing engine light on the dash when it was armed, pressing the key fob disarmed it and it started right up.
Both me and a mate assume it’s likely spider control box for the immobiliser or possibly it’s associated wiring? I have heard these units can be a bit problematic?
just wondering if anyone else has had anything similar happen to them or what fuse number 20 actually has on its circuit to try and narrow down fault finding?
All the fuse diagram shows for slot number 20 is a picture of what I assume is the Defenders handbook
Last edited:
