Hi guys,

I own a 2004 Legacy Sports Tourer. Recently I've been having problems with (I believe) the immobiliser as follows:

Click key fob, doors open. Turn the key, electrics come on but no ignition. Silence. Occasionally, it will start first time (after hearing a gentle click somewhere near the glove box). Most of the time tho I get the silent treatment. No amount of (re)clicking the fob seems to make a difference.

Solution so far has been to hold the key in the fully turned (start) position. After an unpredictable amount of time, sometimes pushing a full minute, the car fires up like nothing happened.

Strangely, if I stall the car after it's warmed up it will always start straight back up again.

Took it to a local garage specialising in electrics but they don't have the right kit to communicate with a Subaru. Unfortunately the only local dealership lost or dropped the franchise and the nearest official dealership is an hour and a half away.

So my questions:

1. Anyone else had this problem and know the solution?

2. Anyone know of an independent garage in the Truro/Cornwall area that has the necessary equipment/knowledge to solve? The former franchise holder claims Subaru took their stuff back, tho I find that hard to believe since it's just software right? Either way, they didn't want to help me.

At the moment it seems I'm stranded here in the South West with a dodgy immobiliser. Hasn't completely packed in yet but always nervous returning to the car. Any help massively appreciated!

 

Engine tuner Plymouth isn't that far and great guys! There was a guy near the Indian queens turn off but not sure if he's still there? Hope you sort it mate

 

Thanks for the suggestion forged marco. If it's not fixable within a day tho then going to Plymouth becomes a bit of a nightmare with trains back and forth etc. Anyone else know somewhere closer to Truro? And anyone got experience with a similar problem?

 

Quick update. Been all around the houses locally; none of the garages seem to want to touch it, even those that specialise in keys etc.

Finally called the Scooby dealer in Newton Abbot who said he'd had a couple of similar cases recently. Could be:

1. Starter motor wire. Simple to check, so he says.
2. Alarm module. This sounds more likely. Trouble is the modules are on back order with no date for arrival yet. The couple he's seen have been dealt with by temporarily bypassing the alarm, until such time as the new modules arrive. Downside of this is (aside from security) is you have no central locking i.e. back to old school key-in-lock entry.

Apparently both jobs should be able to be handled by a regular independent garage, tho my usual local guy still didn't want to go near the alarm system. Instead he has pointed me in the direction of the only local chap who specialises in this stuff but is notoriously **** at answering his phone.

On a side note, my mechanic commented that scrap yards "used to be full of rusted cars; now they're full of immaculate cars who's electrics have died."

Technology eh.

I am stil trying to get hold of the electrical specialist. If that fails then I'll look at fogedmarco's Plymouth suggestion or even the alarm bypass option at Newton Abbot. Ball ache.

 

Just take it to an alarm shop. Guarantee its your alarm playing silly buggers. The 'click' you hearing (or not hearing sometimes) will be the fuel pump relay.

Have them check your alarm module and then if need be remove it and fit an aftermarket alarm system. Thunder 8 on here had the exact same issue last week. Old alarm system removed and brand new alarm fitted and problem solved. Cost him £250 all in I think.

The other option is to just run an ignition live to the fuel pump. Not ideal but will get you out of trouble

 

Thanks Matty. Can any alarm shop check the module on my Scooby tho? Seems like the electrical folk I've spoken too so far are all scared to open pandora's box unless they can communicate with the car. Which requires equipment/software only dealerships seem to have.

The last garage I spoke to told me he could disable the alarm if requested but could not guarantee it'll fix it, nor that it could be re-enabled if it didn't work. Basically there'd be a risk of it going **** up cos you're half blind without being able to 'talk' to the car.

 

Scoobybits are just outside chacewater mate, have you tried them ? http://www.scoobybits.co.uk/home.htm

 

Collins in probus great guys and know there subarus. Unit 3
Tresillian Business Park, Probus, Truro, Cornwall TR2 4HF
TEL: 01872 520654. Always been helpful.

 

Thanks all for the suggestions, thought I'd pop back to let you (and anyone with similar issue) know how I finally solved it.

Spoke to an electrical specialist called Simon, operating out of a farm in the wilds outside Camborne (Phoenix Cottages/Sparks, Praze an Beeble). He really knew his onions. He said there are three elements to the immobiliser, the most likely culprit in my case being the starter motor (which requires most power). He duly bypassed that element, leaving the other two still functioning, and the car now starts right away. Central locking all fine too.

And all for the princely sum of 50 quid. Legend.

 

That sounds ideal mate nice to know there are some good guys out there not charging the earth!