maccaj wrote:
Is it easy/simple/cheap or even worth replacing the aerial ?
It's easy enough to get to, in fact you can see the end of it by looking at the end of the ignition switch. What looks like a rubber ring around it, between it and the plastic cowls is in fact the end of the aerial. To get at it completely it is necessary to slip off the cowls. That;s two screws underneath, one to the left (as you look at it) and then one at the back. Then prise off the top half from the bottom half but leaving the bottom half in place. You will then see a single screw holding the bottom half on the right-hand side, remove this screw and the bottom half will then come off.
The aerial in its entirety can then be seen sitting snugly around the ignition switch barrel. Check it's correctly in position and that it's connector is secure. It may have slipped back and away from the end of the barrel and out of range. Try moving it forward along the barrel and see if the light now goes out on a start attempt.
The aerial 'reads' and RFID chip inside the fob end of the key and needs to be in quite close proximity to it.
Did the spare key ever work?
Not sure how much new ones are. I don't believe they're cheap but a scrapper might provide. they're not coded to the transponder and can be replaced at will.
To prove fully if the aerial is at fault you need a Lexia to go through the key programming procedure. You also need the confidential code (a four character originally supplied with the car on a 'credit card' with a scratch panel on it) to program keys. If you don't have this code you need to get the code from a dealer who will need to see the V5C and proof of ownership before releasing it for a small fee.
If the keys can be programmed then the aerial is OK.
