A new year and it looks like the mrs car does not want to embrace it!
It's a Mk1 Focus 1.8 tdci ghia and it won't start. When you put the key in and turn the ignition on, the immobiliser light starts to flash like crazy. All the lights come on on the dash as usual but when you try and crank the engine nothing happens apart from the immobiliser light flashing rapidly.
I've tried disconnecting the battery and leaving it for 45 mins but that didn't work. I've tried using the spare key incase the usual one was faulty but that didn't work. Checked the fuses in the engine bay and they all look good. Tried plugging a fault code reader into the obd port but the car wouldn't even connect to it. My mechanic mate has been round and tried a starter pack on it incase the battery was fucked but that didn't work. He's gonna investigate further on Wednesday when he's got more time, but I just thought I'd see if you guys might have some idea of what's going on and if there's anything I can try in the meantime.
Any help with this would be great.

​​​​​​​Nick.

 

Sounds like the immobiliser has gone tits up. I would try and get both keys reprogrammed to the car if you can.

 

Count how many times the light flashes. It'll give you a fault code.

 

Gonna give that a go in the morning. Found some information about it online, so hopefully that might give us a clue as to what's going on. Will let you know how I get on.

 

I hope its not the fuel pump.

I fookin hated diesels cause they just seem to fook up all the time compared to petrol cars.

 

There may be a glass fuse inside the ECU as a backup against power spikes. There was on my old 2000 Fiesta. Battery level dropped as it was not used, started the car and it spiked the ECU, blowing the fuse inside. Same symptoms as yours.

 

Right I've just been out and tried this and I'm getting the code 1:5 which I've found out means 'Key not programmed to PATS Programme key'.
It brings up the same code with both the regular key with all the buttons on and also the spare key which is just a bare key. So I guess I just need to get the keys reprogrammed? How do I do this?

 

However! When I initially turn the key to position 2, all the lights come on on the dash but then after a second or so the odometer goes blank, most of the lights go out with just a couple staying dimmly illuminated. The clock also goes dim, but then after a pause the dash comes back to life. Sometimes you can hear the locks doing something as well. Very odd.

 

I'd reckon the keys are OK. Sounds like an electrical problem somewhere, id start by checking earth points, connections to the ecu etc.

 

Yeah because of the wierd things the dash is doing I'm not convinced it's the keys either. My mechanic friend is gonna have another look tomorrow evening, but I'll be at work so I'm just trying to get as much information as possible to maybe give him a head start.
I'll try and post a video of what's going on so you guys can see exactly what's happening.

 

Unable to upload a video as it won't let me for some reason.

 

put jump leads straight to the starter on the live side and earth side from a battery that you now is good and go from there that will eliminate bad earth and a poor live

 

Well finally the Focus lives again
My mates auto electrician mate finally came over tonight and it turned out it was the keys that had lost the codes. Yesterday I found out the battery was fucked so fitted a new one. Was hoping that might fix it but no luck. It did however bring the dash back to life and stop it from doing strange things, apart from the immobiliser light. I did think then that maybe it was the keys.
Anyway this bloke turned up tonight, hooked up his computer and diagnosed the keys, got hold of his mate to get some new codes from Ford, reprogrammed both keys and job done
Just got to get an MOT on it, clean it and then put it up for sale. Happy days

 

Good stuff mate bet your well chuffed

 

Yep just got to keep my fingers crossed for the mot next week. It passed with no advisorys last year so hopefully it'll be ok.

 

Well its passed it's MOT, just needed a bit of welding. Now for sale on eBay, item number 162379648589.

Mods - if I've broken any rules by posting up the eBay item number for my listing then please accept my apologies and remove this post.