Immobiliser

[matty1626]

After picking my kids up from school today I went to start my car and as I turned the ignition the car just kept turning over and wouldn't fire up. Then it come up electronic immobiliser fault. I tried locking and unlocking the car and trying to start the vehicle several times but the same fault came up. I got my partner to bring the spare key to try but it was the same. So i called the RAC and he couldnt get it started so i got towed home. But when i got home i tried to start the car and it started 1st time, i tried this mutiple times and it started 1st time everytime. The man from the RAC said there is a problem with french cars and secruity camera's something to do with the frequency they are running on it blocks the signal from the key to the reciever he said theres a car park to a local shopping centre and its always happening there.
So has anyone ever expierienced this problem or is it immobiliser reciever on its way out. If it is the reciever is it part i could change myself or does it have to be programmed to the car and is it dealer only part or is there any other way to bypass or fix the problem.
My car is a 2003 citroen xsara Picasso 1.8 petrol

[GiveMeABreak]

The remote keys use a set frequency to communicate, but use a rolling code. Sometimes the keys can become unsynchronised, especially if the remote fob is used frequently for a long distance from the vehicle. Once the allowed number of fails is exceeded, the keys often need to be resynched.

To do this in future, insert the key and turn the ignition on only, don’t start the car. Then hold the ‘lock’ button on the fob for 10 seconds, remove the key, close the doors and then operate the lock and unlocking buttons several times. That should resynchronise the keys.

[MikeT]

A common cause of intermittent immobiliser failures is the reciever antenna ring around the ignition barrel.

[matty1626]

So can i buy the antenna ring separate or does it come with a new barrel

[MikeT]

I believe (don't quote me) you get something like this, keeping your original barrel.

[matty1626]

If i buy a new one do i have to have it programmed

[GiveMeABreak]

No