Starter motor or immobiliser??

[Petrol1]

Hi guys/gals,

Just new to the site.

I have a problem. My VT is booked in on Monday to have the starter motor looked at as it has been touch and go starting it the last week or so. Some times would start sometimes wouldn't.

I recently purchased a new ignition barrel and switch to get replaced also. Picked up the barrel from the locksmith yesterday which was cut to the existing key. He also placed a newly cut blade in the key (replaced the old blade). When I got home I noticed the key now (with the new blade wouldn't even turn the old barrel). I asked him whether I have any probs starting the vehicle with the old barrel still in, he said that it should be no problem.

The new blade turns the new barrel no problem. I then used the old blade to see if it turned the new barrel and it did. I then (rightly or wrongly) used the old blade (without the key head) to see if it still turned the old barrel (still fitted to the car). The car turned over and quickly conked out. I have now put the old blade back into the key head and have no luck what so ever starting it. Just get a click. No I can't work out whether the starter motor has completely had it or whether I stuffed things up by trying to start the car with the blade only. Has the car activated some sort of anti theft mode and therefore wont let me start???

Hope this makes sense.

Any help would be great.

Thanks.

Rob.

[accentstencil]

The car will start for about one second if you use just the key blade. You need the key head (remote) to make contact with the metal ring around the barrel to turn off the immobiliser. Just using the key blade won't damage anything.
Often when you get a click when you are trying to start it means the battery hasn't got enough charge, so check the battery. If that checks out ok then it could be the starter motor.

[Dayvo]

Check the battery to starter motor cable to make sure the nut is tight at the starter motor. I had a similar prob with my VX and the bolt had come loose by about 1 1/2 turns it got so bad that it got to the stage where nothing would work when i turned the key.

[Petrol1]

Thanks for your advice guys. Will check those things out today.