I suspect that the radio change is not related - you would have to do something drastically wrong with the wiring to prevent engine start (i.e. you would have to connect the radio connections to wires that had nothing to do with the radio originally). I don't ~think~ a 2004 van has CANbus connections on the radio and even if it did, VW use several CANbus networks and the radio and driveline would be on different ones.

If you are in any doubt, simply take out the radio and remove any wiring adaptors and modifications that you made when fitting it.

It should be pretty easy for the garage to figure out if it's an immobiliser problem or not. In fact you can do it yourself - on later vans you should get a "Key?" message or similar on the dash, but on a 2004 van there should a warning light specifically for it - a yellow vehicle symbol. If you don't see that staying lit (it should light briefly when the ignition is turned on, but it should not stay lit if the immobiliser is happy) then it's unlikely to be an immobiliser problem.

Once that is out the way, they should be able to check for more ordinary failures, such as inadequate fuel pressure, failed cam sensor, etc, etc. The van's diagnostic codes should give them a hint about what's going on - though they will probably need a diagnostic code reader that copes with the earlier VW diagnostic interface on a 2004 van.

 

hi and many thanks for reply ! you are right , the vehicle/key warning light is remaining on and flashing which I do believe confirms an immobiliser issue ..... and that is what their reader stated as well. Since they are trying to offload this, it looks like its down to me to insist they try other alternatives.... what else could it be if both sender and receiver have been replaced , is there other parts to this code /warning light that could also be a culprit ?

 

You need someone with vcds and good sparky knowledge

 

thanks for reply Teerak, yep that would be good ......but in a place where it costs over a tenner a pint that thought makes my knees wobble just thinking about it .... so any suggestions or solutions I can throw at these guys first would be greatly appreciated ..... ( just getting van towed to another garage will cost an arm and a leg...and a kidney)

 

I'm guessing you have only one key? I'm guessing too that the new key immobiliser chip has been coded correctly so that the van will recognise it? (I'm a bit unsure how they would have done the latter if the immobiliser itself is not functioning, but anyway).

If so, there's not many options than having the dash taken apart - the immobiliser is in the dash cluster and in all probability it's either the wiring to the cluster or the cluster itself. I hope not the cluster, because that will be very expensive to have replaced - again it needs significant coding to make the new cluster talk to the rest of the van, and to re-instate the existing key codes in the immobiliser.

 

Your radio connections are ISO and this has a K-line wire in the plug.... normally if you have connected a 12v feed to this it just causes the central locking to play up and dosent allow OBD diagnostics....

Disconnect the new radio and see what happens

 

Immobiliser can be disabled in the ecu but bear in mind it will be easy to steal then

 

found a guy that can disable immobiliser for £300 but is 60km away .......but that will cost a sizeable wedge just to get it there ...

 

My guess would be that they haven't coded it correctly. Or, they are lying to you.

 

Hi and thanks for input Upspex, interesting , any tips on how to find out ? !!

 

Put t5 2.5 immo off in ebay search

 

Teerak you are a legend and given me some hope !!

is it just a case of getting code off my ecu and then getting same code. is it a simple job to swap them over ? Am no mechanic/auto mechanic but fairly good at figuring things out so wondering if its within my capabilities or if other hardware?software is required ?

 

Match numbers from label on ecu also send them a picture of the label

 

thanks alot for your help teerak !

 

Did you solve this isse? Im living near, but working in Oslo and have VCDS if it is any help for you.