Xsara Picasso 2008

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thegooche58
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Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by thegooche58 »

Hi,
I had to get 2 new keys for picasso ( 1 with remote buttons , 1 plain ). My problem starts when I drive for a few minutes , stop , lock the car and come back some minutes later. I find I cannot get the car to start as the immobiliser has come back on and will not let me start. The car has been in the garage twice with this problem. They say they cannot find any problem as it starts evertime they attempt to start it and when I collect it. I drive home, go to the shops , come back to the car and it will not start again!!!!!!!!
Could it be that by locking the car I am somehow resetting the immobiliser.
I am at my wits end. I had no problems untill the original key got damaged thus having to get the new ones.
Any hel appreciated
Last edited by GiveMeABreak on 31 Mar 2021, 11:22, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Corrected Vehicle Name to Xsara Picasso
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GiveMeABreak
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Re: zara picasso 2008

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I'm assuming you had the new keys coded to the vehicle, or you wouldn't be able to start the car?

You can't reset the immobiliser, but the keys do need coding and then synchronising to the car.

Follow the part here for resynchronising the keys:

With the key still in the ignition and within 10 seconds of switching the ignition on, hold lock button on key fob down for a few seconds (to synchronise the remote fob). Repeat this part for any other fobs if required (especially if the battery was previously completely flat).
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thegooche58
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Re: zara picasso 2008

Post by thegooche58 »

Hi Marc,
The fob works fine on the doors, opens/ locks. Should I still try this?

thanks for your help
thegooche58
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Re: zara picasso 2008

Post by thegooche58 »

Hi again.
The car starts once the engine cools down but as you can imagine this is of no use to anyone.
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Re: Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Yes try the resynchronisation option as I posted above. The immobiliser part is separate from the locking / unlocking.

In this case, if the locking / unlocking is fine, then it is very likely to be the transponder aerial on the ignition barrel that is faulty and not properly energising the chip in your key / fob, which can prevent recognition and transmission of the handshaking data to the BSI and Engine ECU. This will in turn prevent the car from starting. Incidentally, does your ignition barrel feel sort of loose - does it wiggle a bit with the key in when you turn it?

Often having lots of keys and weight on the car key ring / fob causes the barrel to weaken and become loose as the car is moving about and over time wrecks the unit which can damage the transponder aerial that is built into the ignition barrel. These can be replaced though. It's always best not to have heavy keyring fobs or loads of keys on the car key-ring to avoid this.

Pop your VIN up so I can see which type you have as there are 2 possible types depending on Electrical Architecture:

If it's the BSI Comm 2000 variant, then the transponder part looks like this (item 2): The wiring may be worn / shorting - hard to tell for sure without further testing / investigation though.
Xsara Picasso Transponder.PNG
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Re: Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by wheeler »

A 2008 model will deffo be a com2000 variant.
I would just change the aerial anyway as it’s intermittent, they are not that expensive, easy to change & dont require any coding.
That will at leas rule it out.
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Re: Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by thegooche58 »

Hi again.
Vin= VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff].
Is it possibly some kind of heat sensor as it will not start when it is hot but come back 2 hours later and she starts.
Ignition barrell ok.
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Re: Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by wheeler »

The aerial is just a very fine coil of copper strands, they can go open circuit when warm then be ok when cool down, I have changed loads of them over the years for this fault, admittedly pre com2000 vehicles like Saxo, Xantia & early type picassos. It can be quite a difficult component to prove is faulty (especially when intermittent) without replacing it with a good known one.
Can you confirm that when the car doesent start that a message comes up on the display to say immobiliser or anti theft system fault?
If it does i would replace the aerial before going any further.
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Re: Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by thegooche58 »

Hi.
The immobiliser symbol comes up( a red square)
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Re: Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by wheeler »

Do you have a pic of this light? what is the symbol? Im sure on the Picassso if the key is not detected of there is an immobiliser problem a worded message comes up on the display.
The exact message can vary depending on model but its normally along the lines of 'Electronic immobiliser fault/anti-theft system fault/key not detected. On models with a warning lamp the symbol is normally either a key or a padlock.
Just want to make sure we are not going in the wrong direction.
Is the starter motor operating when the fault happens?
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Re: Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by thegooche58 »

Hi again.
Economy active comes up on the Dash.
Motor operates just does not fire up.
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Re: Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by wheeler »

OK so what is the actual warning light that comes on when the fault happens?
Economy mode is nothing to do with the immobiliser.
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Re: Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by thegooche58 »

It appears to be the Engine autodiagnosis
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Re: Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by wheeler »

It doesn't really sound like an immobiliser fault then unless you have a specific warning message/light relating to the immobiliser system when the fault occurs.
Have the garage done a diagnostic check on the car?
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Re: Xsara Picasso 2008

Post by thegooche58 »

Yes, all they found was a glow plug fault. They also did an injector leak off test, all OK.
Drove the car home and 10 minutes later it would not start again.
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