Immobiliser or Pump?

[habro]

Evening folks, and sorry in advance as this may get long-winded so I can get the best advice!

I have a V6 VP Commodore [Auto, sedan] & the immobiliser keys don't work. No biggie, on the rare occasion I do use the immobiliser I use the key-switch near the passenger door.

Last night I set the key-switch to 'on' & then when I later came back I switched it to 'off' but the engine wouldn't start. It'd try to turn over but just couldn't make it. Anyway I thought maybe I'd not turned the key enough or something on the key-switch so I tried again, but noticed that when it was turned to 'on' the red light wasn't flashing [first time I'd noticed it not flashing, I didn't check it earlier in the night]. So no matter which way I had the key-switch... no red light.

RAC came out & there was definitely a spark happening, but when he injected some petrol somewhere into the engine [excuse my lack of tech. knowledge] there was a bit more of a response and he said it was fuel pump, although my suspicions were immobiliser due to the red light issues.

Just went outside & turned the engine on, works like a dream. Turned the key-switch to 'on' and the red light worked like normal.

Would you be thinking immobiliser issue or fuel pump issue? I'm thinking immobiliser but I'm basing this solely on a little red light not flashing, I don't even know if the immobiliser cuts out the fuel or electrics or what it's sposed to do.

Anyone got any ideas as to the cause? Thanks

[habro]

Just to add to that as well, there's a "whirring" noise coming from near the petrol tank when I turn the engine off, continues for about 5 or so seconds. Is that normal or a sign of anything? Never heard it before... but never listened for it before either.

[Vt-Brrrlina]

when u turn the key to on - u should heard the fuel pump prime for abour 5 - 10 secs - if it does id say its ok

as for the immobilser i would assume that it stops the starter motor from running as on mine i can still hear the fuel pump prime but when turn the key i get nothing not even the starter kicking over

[habro]

What does the fuel pump sound like when it's priming, just an electrical type noise or winding noise? And when you mean turn the key to on do you mean the one before you actually start the car?

God, reading that question back to myself let's me know what an amateur I am

[Vt-Brrrlina]

HAHA nah its all good ---- umm thepriming noise is sort of a buzzing noise from the front of the car - u should be abe to hear it from the drivers seat

Yes turn the key to on (do not start the car) turn ya stereo off and the fuel pump shoud be the only thing you hear.

and as for my immbiliser when its activated - when i try to start the car i get the fuel pump noise but nothing else - no starter motor no nothing

[greenfoam]

The immobilser switch is probably buggered. They are dodgy as I'm actually suprised your still works :P most of them broke along time ago

[caseyhelen]

go to repco buy a can of " aerostart " spray a bit in the thottle body and see if it starts

[Vt-Brrrlina]

the one in mine still works greeny lol - mines only got 80 thou on the clock tho hahah

[habro]

Ok so this morning I tried it out and the fuel pump is definitely priming for a couple of seconds after turning the key to 'on' - so that'd suggest the pump is fine and it WAS immobiliser?

[delcowizzid]

yeah moving the immobiliser key can cause issues mine was all good untill i turned it on and used the remotes for a while then when i turned it off it wouldnt make contact again so i had to leave it on and use the remote .on my vp you get no pump and cranks just no go.

[Rayz 1992]

what so the immobilisser does stop fuel pump on vp??

[delcowizzid]

yip sure does once you press the remote with key on she wizzes away ready to start