2002 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Logo
Posted on Aug 17, 2008
Answered by a Fixya Expert

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Electronic immobilizer my vw jetta wont start and the electronic immobilizer light is flashing but it starts then just turns off.

  • 5 more comments 
  • arlenavery Nov 25, 2008

    2002 jetta tdi starts and runs for a second then shuts down airbag,abs, lights are on tried both keys no luck

  • Anonymous Mar 04, 2009

    2001 jetta 1.8T the car was sitting for a few months the battery was dead so i boosted it and it started. after 5 min it died and now electronic mobilizer light flash's and the car wont start the door still unlock and trunk but thats it. will this happen with week battery in car .

  • moodmastr Mar 15, 2009

    2003 VW Jetta cranks and quickly dies. Immobilizer light flashes. This started after battery died and was replaced. Usiing same key as always.

  • redlineer239 Mar 19, 2009

    electronic immobilizer light comes on,car wont start,remote wont work,i replaced the battery,and it still does it.

  • druth49
    druth49 Nov 07, 2012

    THANK YOU!! alphgraywolf

  • Joshua Henry
    Joshua Henry Feb 14, 2019

    Ok so my 2002 VW Passat was fine yesterday but today I get in and turn the key and my gauges all jump to Max and my door locks make an unlocking sound and there is a clicking behind the dashboard. The immobilizer is activated and I can have the key recoded fir a fair price but I am wondering if it is something electrical causing a short in the ignition. Can't find anyone with same story online so I need help.

  • David Mar 14, 2019

    I believe volkswagen jetta is the Germans way of screwing us I have an 2006 jetta and the immobilizer is on and nothing any body does will deactivate it I have spent 1000 dollars and never got to drive the car and now I don't know what to do unless some one has the answer with out costing me more money I am going to use it for target practice and then a boat anchor!!!!

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9 Answers

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  • Posted on Jan 26, 2010
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I recently had the problem with the immobilizer after mo 03 jetta battery had died after speaking with the dealer they said i would have to tow it to them. yeah a 160 miles after reading several blogs i put the battery charger back on put the key in the ignition and turned it to the on position and left it for @ 20 minutes when i returned the immobilizer light was out i then cycled the key off and back on the light came on then went out as it should then proceeded to crank the engine over and it fired without problems and seems to be fin now......curse greedy dealers

  • 3 more comments 
  • cocopath1 May 29, 2011

    alphgraywolf you are a genius!!!!THIS REALLY WORKS AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL AAA OR SPEND A DIME ON TOWING!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH, I WAS GOING CRAZY!!!!!

  • JochenElon Jul 14, 2011

    This method worked perfectly with my 2002 Golf. I had a drained battery after a long vacation. The car would start with a jumper cable, but then the electronic immobilizer shut off the car after a couple of days. Thanks for the post!

  • Anonymous Jun 22, 2013

    Thank you! After putting the key on the on position and leaving it for 20 minutes, it started right up. Excellent advice. *****

  • Eric J Plett
    Eric J Plett Jul 16, 2018

    Just did this today to my 02 Beetle and it worked like a charm. Thanks ALPHGRAYWOLF!!!!

  • Dominique Eybers
    Dominique Eybers Sep 02, 2020

    My 02jetta died today with this issue, let me try this.

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  • Posted on Sep 13, 2008
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The immobilizer isn't recognizing your key. You need to reprogram your keys to your car. Unless you know the SKC and know someone with VAG-COM you are going to have to go to the dealer.

Did you try all the different keys you have for the car? If you are lucky only one key is bad and you can drive to the dealer and get the bad key reprogrammed or buy a new key and have them program it to you car. Otherwise, you are going to have to get towed.

If it is just one key, make sure you bring all the keys to the dealer so they can do the reprogramming correctly.

Was any work being done on your car to cause this?

  • tv3rd Sep 17, 2010

    DC-Guy knows what he is talking about! This totally worked for me! Try it and save yourself a headache and a ton of money.
    Thank You! DC-Guy

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  • Posted on May 15, 2011
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2004 jetta problem after i tool the battery off and i took the ecu off and i put them back and the car starts and dies after it start

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  • Posted on Dec 28, 2012
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So jus wanted to comment on a solution that worked for my case and may help others like it. I decided to change the battery on my girls key for her 01 vw jetta next thing I know she can't start her car after trying everything I notice the immobilizer sign was on I did some digging and realise that the key was the issue. I did not put back the transponder. But even after I did it still didnt work. I looked up this issue and at first I thought I needed to re program the key . To do this I needed a second key which we did not have. Then I read about recharging the battery here . Unfortunately I did not have a charger. So what I did is I left the key as on connected jumper cables to my car and left my car on for 20 mins. I came back I tried again to start up her car and it worked the light was gone. No need for a 2nd key or battery charger. Again this worked for me may or may not worked for you but if it does it beats money spend at the dealer best of luck.

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  • Posted on Nov 25, 2008
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Runs with key but not with remote transponder worked fine until itook the battery out to replace it 2001 jetta

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  • Posted on Oct 18, 2010
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Electronic immobilizer light comes on,car wont start,remote wont work,i replaced the battery,and it still does it

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  • Posted on Feb 27, 2019
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Try leaving the ignition on for 15 minutes

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  • Posted on Feb 14, 2019
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Try hooking up a battery charger and turning the key to the on position and leaving it for 20 minutes. The immobilizer light should turn off. If not just wait longer. It could take an hour.

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  • Posted on Jul 18, 2018
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Check the dash connections and faults in the dash ecu.

1 Related Answer

Anonymous

  • 102 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 28, 2009

SOURCE: electronic immobilizer

most likely cause is the gauge cluster, this will have to be tested and service by your local dealership because the dash cluster and keys have to be coded. I have seen the immobilizer loose it's coding for apearantly no reason. therefore have them recode cluster and see if problem goes away, if it doesn't the gauge cluster will have to be replaced.

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Related Questions:

0helpful
1answer

How to start a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta after replacing the battery.

If your car has the yellow car key symbol on the instrument cluster when you turn the key to on shown activated below it has an If your car has the yellow car/key symbol on the instrument cluster when you turn the key to ON shown activated below it has an immobilizer This light comes on for a second but quickly goes out when turning the car on and all is normal If it stays on you have an issue immobilizer This light comes on for a second but quickly goes out when turning the car on and all is normal If it stays on you have an issue
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Need to override factory keyless entry wont start

First of all you need to programm all ignition keys using suitable diagnostic equipment (VAS, VAG-Com) connected to the data link connector of the car.

You have an electronic immobilizer key recognition problem. Now your key chip is not recognized by the transponder antenna fitted on the ignition switch barrel.

  • Everytime when you had a new key you must programm all available ignition car keys before trying to start the engine with this new key !!!

    tdisline_775.jpg


    This warning lamp indicates that the engine is locked by the immobilizer system, and the engine start sequence must be repeat again.

    From year 1995 in Audi-VW (VAG) cars is used engine immobilizer. The VAG group immobilizer system consists of an immobilizer ECU which controls the recognition of keys and the Engine Management ECU system. Immobilizer is activated when the ignition key is removed and, together with the engine control unit, largely prevents unauthorized starting of the engine. The system uses a transmitter and receiver unit in the ignition key (transponder). Whenever an attempt is made to start the engine, it transmits a new code to the car's electronics. The immobilizing is only cancelled and car motor electronic receives permission to start engine if the key sends a right authorization code.

    tdisline_776.jpg
  • 5helpful
    1answer

    2002 eclipse wont start. electronic immobilizer light flashing. how do i deactivate immobilizer?

    disconnect the neg battery terminal for 30 sec leave drivers door open, reconnect and start your car, if the alarm turns on after conecting battery use your key in the drivers door and unlock
    3helpful
    3answers

    My jetta won't recognize the key

    I have had this same issue ever since I purchased the car new in 2000. It seems to be a very intermittent issue, but I found that when it occurred, it was typically damp and between 40 and 50F.

    In any case, the dealer was not able to diagnose and fix the problem. I did get them to give me a 4 digit pass code for the immobilizer. This pass code is entered by using the clock adjust knob and the odometer reset button. Once the pass code is entered, the car will start. However, this is not a permanent fix as you may need to enter the pass code again should the immobilizer activate.

    Sometimes the Jetta will start after 5-6 trys when the immobilizer is activated, but if I crank anything past 10, I usually resort to the pass code.

    I am searching today for solutions since I have needed to use the pass code twice in the last 4 times that I have neede to start the car, and the weather is perfect.
    1helpful
    1answer

    Electronic immobilizer

    most likely cause is the gauge cluster, this will have to be tested and service by your local dealership because the dash cluster and keys have to be coded. I have seen the immobilizer loose it's coding for apearantly no reason. therefore have them recode cluster and see if problem goes away, if it doesn't the gauge cluster will have to be replaced.
    0helpful
    1answer

    VW Jetta 2000

    If it is the immobilizer, there should be a symbol on your dash that flashes a key/car. If that is the case, only a VW dealer is authorized to program your key.
    0helpful
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    Engine starts, runs (3 sec.), dies

    Sounds like your immobilizer is activating. Try another key or you need to take it to a vw dealer for diag and adaptation.
    2helpful
    1answer
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