240CDI ECU Failure?

[gazzer]

A friend cant get into (without the alarm sounding) or start his 52 reg car here in southern Spain. The immobiliser doesent respond to the key fob. The alarm goes off and the car wont start. Local mechanic diagnosis is ECU failure. DC quote 3000€ plus recovery to the local dealer. Easier said than done because car is down a driveway and wont come out of park. This means a full crane lift over a wall onto a transporter.

So, is there a way of bypassing the immobiliser? Can the ECU be re-educated to recognise the original key? Or what have you?

Any previous history on such failures because he'll be looking for a policy claim under 6 year product liability to DC.

 

[carabind]

These seems more of an immobiliier/alarm fault rather than the ECU, it's unlikely the two are totally integrated. Are we talking about the standard fitted alarm/immobilser ? If yes, I don't think it's a common fault though.
Others will be along soon and be able to comment better. It should be possible to move it out of park, but might need a tiny bit of dismantling

 

[gazzer]

Ive not checked the car over personally but it is the OEM immobiliser and it was thought to be linked or part of the cars ECU system (by previous engineer).

For some reason the owner thought it wouldnt come out of park if the imobiliser was armed. Part of the security system. But I agree, it prob wouldnt take much to disable the operating system.

 

[jberks]

It will come out of park quite easily. There is a rod in the tool kit which can be inserted into a slot between the shift panel and the cubby hole door (look in the manual). This overrides the lock out and will enable you to shift to N. How you override the steering lock however, I don't know.
I too doubt it's the ECU but if it is, they can commonly be repaired at a fraction of replacement cost.

 

[gazzer]

I have heard that there are exchange ECU's available. Waiting on info at the mo.
Thanks.