Double check my diagnosis; having immobilizer issues & I think it's the door lock module

[Yurko]

This is a 2000 NB GLX (1.8T; APH), ATM

I've been dealing with immobilizer issues off and on for a while now, without having completely diagnosed them. Usually the car wouldn't start, I would fiddle around with the key, let it sit for a few minutes, and then it would start. This happened most often in the late summer, usually when it was most humid and hot.

It started happening again this past week or so, and then a couple days back it just stopped wanting to start altogether. Unfortunately it's in the parking garage at work, and I didn't have time to take my laptop up there and run a scan until tonight. After some reading and a conversation with a guy at a local shop, I decided it might be caused by the door lock module.

I cleared all the codes again, and it still wouldn't start, so I looked at the door lock stuff, and it was reading the driver door as locked all the time (even when it was unlocked), but it was showing it opening and closing. the passenger door was reading accurately.

I was looking at the DIY to fix all the solders and microswitches, but that's more than I would like to deal with time-wise, so I'm planning on replacing the door lock assembly in the morning.



Here's my Autoscan (my SAI is going out, hence the emissions codes):

Friday,07,September,2012,19:50:00:31374
VCDS Version: Release 11.11.4
Data version: 20120807



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Chassis Type: 1C - VW New Beetle
Scan: 01 02 03 08 15 17 19 22 25 26 29 35 37 39 46 54 56 65 75

Mileage: 235970km/146624miles
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine Labels: 06A-906-032-AVC.lbl
Part No: 06A 906 032 A
Component: 1.8l 5VT NB AT G 3157
Coding: 00003
Shop #: WSC 00066
VCID: 1C29036E8CD149F8DDD

7 Faults Found:
18058 - Powertrain Data Bus
P1650 - 35-10 - Missing Message from Instrument Cluster - Intermittent
17524 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor Heating; B1 S1
P1116 - 35-00 - Open Circuit
16839 - EVAP System
P0455 - 35-00 - Large Leak Detected
17978 - Engine Start Blocked by Immobilizer
P1570 - 35-00 -
16518 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor B1 S1
P0134 - 35-00 - No Activity
16684 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0300 - 35-10 - - Intermittent
16688 - Cylinder 4
P0304 - 35-10 - Misfire Detected - Intermittent
Readiness: 0010 1101

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Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: 01M-927-733.lbl
Part No: 01M 927 733 FB
Component: AG4 Getriebe 01M 4609
Coding: 00000
Shop #: WSC 00000
VCID: 75FF36CA4FBBB8B0023

No fault code found.

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Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 1J0-907-37x-ABS.lbl
Part No: 1J0 907 379 AF
Component: ASR 20 IE CAN 0001
Coding: 13204
Shop #: WSC 02334
VCID: 75FF36CA4FBBB8B0023

No fault code found.

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Address 15: Airbags Labels: 6Q0-909-605-VW5.lbl
Part No: 6Q0 909 605 A
Component: 06 AIRBAG VW5 0003
Coding: 12342
Shop #: WSC 00066
VCID: 357FF6CA0F3BF8B0C23

No fault code found.

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Address 17: Instruments Labels: 1C0-920-xx0.lbl
Part No: 1C0 920 901 G
Component: KOMBI+WEGFAHRS. M73 V02
Coding: 07202
Shop #: WSC 24313
VCID: 2051379EA0B96D18015

Subsystem 1 - Part No: Ident
Component: Nr. Wegfahrs.:VWZ5Z0X9195128
Ident.-Nr. Wegfahrs.:VWZ5Z0X9195128

1 Fault Found:
01176 - Key
65-10 - Unauthorized - Intermittent

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Address 19: CAN Gateway Labels: 6N0-909-901-19.lbl
Part No: 6N0 909 901
Component: Gateway K<->CAN V022
Coding: 00007
Shop #: WSC 00066
VCID: F0F187DEB0D91D98515

No fault code found.

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Address 46: Central Conv. Labels: 1J0-959-799.lbl
Part No: 1J0 959 799 AJ
Component: 5X Zentral-SG Komf. 0001
Coding: 00256
Shop #: WSC 00066
VCID: 861DC106A25D23289B9

Subsystem 1 - Part No: 1J2959802C
Component: 5X Tõrsteuerger. FS0002r

Subsystem 2 - Part No: 1J2959801D
Component: 5X Tõrsteuerger. BF0002r

4 Faults Found:
01329 - Convenience System Data Bus in Emergency Mode
35-00 - -
00943 - Heated Exterior Mirror; Driver Side (Z4)
35-00 - -
00912 - Window Regulator Switch; Front Left (E40)
28-00 - Short to Plus
00944 - Heated Exterior Mirror; Passenger Side (Z5)
35-00 - -

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Address 54: Rear Spoiler Labels: 1C0-959-733.lbl
Part No: 1C0 959 733 B
Component: Heckspoiler 0002
VCID: 2A45D5B6D685A7485F1

No fault code found.

End ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, I looked at blocks 3 & 6 in central convenience. At the time, both doors were closed, and both unlocked:

Address 46: Central Conv. (1J0 959 799 AJ)

20:09:06 Group 003: Central Locking (Driver Door)
Not Oper. Central Locking Key Switch Drv.
0 1 Rotary Latch & Thermal-Protection
Locked Central Locking Feedback Driver
Safe Safe Feedback Driver Door

20:09:06 Group 006: Central Locking (Passenger Door)
Not Oper. Central Locking Key Switch Pass.
0 1 Rotary Latch & Thermal-Protection
Unlocked Central Locking Feedback Pass.
Safe Safe Feedback Passenger Door

[OddJobb]

I doubt it is the door lock module. With all the other codes showing up it looks like you have wiring/electrical issues. You need to start here:

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index...ry:Fault_Codes

Look them all up and it will give you leads as to what may be going on here.

[Yurko]

yeah, however the combi pump (SAI) has been going out for a while, hence all the emissions codes.

I replaced the power mirror switch with a heated mirror switch when I got the car 6 years ago (and a couple years before the immobilizer issue started), but I don't have heated mirrors, that covers those.

I had to replace a coil pack last year, and it isn't the bolt-down kind, so it gets loose every once in a while, that covers the miss-fires.

that leaves 18058, 17978, 01176, and 01329.

after I cleared the codes the only one that recurred was 01176.

[Jack@European Parts]

Hello Yurko,

Thank you for the scan data.

Not lock unit related but that could cause alarm issue's or battery voltage sleep mode problems.
Lock unit is on CCM and not the immobilizer.

Based on the scan, I would check at the back of the instrument cluster for coolant damage, traveling up the harness to the connector, causing all kinds of connectivity issues.

The cluster itself could be faulty.
During condition another helpful test is advanced blocks for key coil and key status. Additionally the engine ECU at 0x01-08-125 to watch the W-CAN high/low data bus. There is additionally a Resistance test in the repair manual for the resistor value in engine ecu but I doubt this is your issue based on scan.

Cars of this age, a feasible cheap solution is usually deleting the immobilizer.
Cost is one and some part #s for the beetle are no longer available.
There are alternate security features which could be installed to secure the car.

You definitely want to fix the OXS heater issues ASAP or you could burn the ecu down.
I see no SAI codes.
The leak looks like a gas cap or LDP related issue.
Verify for vacuum leaks. Specifically the FPR to Intake and the booster to intake are most common.

[Yurko]

wow, thanks, that's super helpful. I'm glad I checked this before I went to buy a new door lock module.

I did have to replace the heater core a few years back, and that preceded the immobilizer issues, so coolant damaging the harness would make sense.

I did look at the key measuring blocks as well, and it said the key was readable, but not programmed to the immobilizer, but that there are 2 keys saved. I assumed this was because the immobilizer was blocking startup, but now that you make the point about the door lock module, that conclusion might be incorrect.

I haven't replaced the batteries in the switchblades in a while, could that address the issue?

I had looked into the Immo delete (in fact I emailed you about doing it the other day). What additional security features are you referring to?

Also, regarding the SAI, I've thrown codes for that in the past, so that's where that came from.

[Jack@European Parts]

10-4 on the SAI

Batteries are not related to a faulty RFID transponder, they are for the CCM alarm clicker.

Usually the coolant comes from the coolant tank like a candle wick through harness.

Additional security could be added, with tuning, and an external hardware device to enact it.

Along with the proper legal removal of the immobilizer.

Note:
Removal of the immobilzer, will not impair the alarm features.