Immobiliser fault or something else?

[ed209]

Hi all,
I have an annoying, intermittent fault with my 1998 2.1TD.

Sometimes its a bit of a pig to start!
I recently replaced all 4 glow plugs with Bosch ones as 2 were knackered, and thought this was the cause, and thought I had cured it.
I have checked for air leaks in the fuel lines, and although you can always give the bulb a squeeze, suggesting there is air getting in, I don't think this is the problem!

I am thinking immobiliser as the times that the car will not start right away, it turns over as though there is no fuel getting through. I can give it several cycles of the plugs, which should prime the pump eliminating any air in the system, but I will not fire!
Taking the key out and turning it around will always get it start!! Hence the reason I am thinking immobiliser.

My car doesn't have a key pad, so I am guessing there is a reciever in the ignition to pick up the chip in the key. I have the lovely lucas pump on this one!

I have had a route around the site, and have found similar subjects, but nothing describing my symptoms!

Any suggestions, remedies etc?
I would like to remove the immobiliser altogether, but that looks like a headache!

Many thanks.

[omega]

might be a idea to check the ignition switch as these can sometimes cause proplems
if you do work out how to remove the immobliser please post as i would be intrested in doing this to mine.

[steve_earwig]

I am guessing there is a reciever in the ignition to pick up the chip in the key

You are correct, the receiver aerial is around the ignition barrel and they're known to give problems - usually no starting at all though. You could try changing it.

I can give it several cycles of the plugs, which should prime the pump eliminating any air in the system

There isn't an electric pump on there, so you're not pumping air out of anything. Instead the 2.1 has a squeezy bulb that you pump to prime the system.

Mine occasionally had a slightly similar problem but it turned out one of the three (!) keys I got with the car didn't have a chip in it When I finally figured it out I put the key in the ashtray and left it there until I flogged it.