Hello all,

The problem with the W reg (2000) carisma 1.8 GDI is that it doesn't start at all. As you turn the key the engine management light starts blinking on the dash. Tried jump starting it, bump starting it but it jus doesnt start. Theres more than quarter tank of fuel remaining. The car started perfectly in the morning did about 60 motorway miles and went to start it after 5 hours and jus didnt want to start.

Does any one have any ideas what can be the problem?

Thanks

Initially , does it start and kill and then just does not start after that? Like after letting it sit for a while and trying to start it. It turns over starts and immidiatly kills.

Does the starter turn the engine over at all?

It turns on for less then a second then cuts out immediately. But when trying to start again it will just try to start but not actually start.

This is an immobilizer issue. Sumtimes with a faulty key , but a persistant issue like this can be the immobilizer unit itself.

There is no easy way around it. DO yu have 1 key or 2 keys made for the vehicle? Do both keys , it still does the same thing? If it does it can be the ignition switch itself or the immobilizer control unit.

Had a RAC guy have a look at it last night, he said the fuel pump has gone. I'm not sure how many keys I have will have to check with my brother on that one.

Frum my knowledge this seems to be an immobilizer issue. I could be wrung. But sum systems has a key fob symbol on the gauge cluster and others use the MIL(engine light) and when yu are attempting a start and there is a read /run error signal within the immobilizer the key fob emblem or MIL will flash when starting. And the ignition cycle will be killed. In immobilizer the injectors and fuel pump and ignition is usually killed by the ecu and immobilizer so the engine will not continue to run.

Initially , lets say the car has been sitting , yu attempt to start, it will run very very breifly and then kill , like onlee a second or 2. The MIL/check engine will flash in this period of cranking or the key fob logo will flash (most 99 up or 2000 have the key logo
) after the initial start and kill , it will no attempt to start at all. Or brief second. At this time the immobilizer totally has disabled fuel and injectors.

If the immobilizer totally has disabled the fuel and injectors, will the other key still allow the car to start?

Ps: Its taking abit time to reply becuase im 180 miles away from where the car is.

Will ask my brother to try and update you with the result shortly.
Cheers

Yes , if its a issue with the key itself , the car will start with the spare. Its not normal that both keys become defective at the same time. Thats why its always good to have 2 keys handy for the vehicle especially if its immobilizer equipped.

I have not seen many immobiler units go bad , i have seen the keys and ignition switch fail tho more often.

Tried the other key but the car didnt start. So ended up towing it to another garage who have said the ecu is faulty and needs replacing. Any one know where i can get a second hand ecu for the car?

the Garage has quoted £300 including fitting.

ECU or the Immobilizer control module?

The garage said the ecu has gone. Can the garage be wrong? I dont want my brother to pay £300 for a secondhand ECU and it doesnt solve the problem.

Its a weird thing , and yes the garage can be wrung , especially if they do not have experiance with Mitsubishi Immobilizer issues. As in the symptoms i stated early on. And the ones that yu have stated.

Does this shop have a MUTT II or a Diagnosis scanner? HAve they tried getting faults or linking to the immobilizer unit? this is on way of weeding out the main issues

The key has been reprogrammed and it starts the car but only revs to 2000rpm. Taken the car to several mechanics but they cant find what the problem is. The mitsubishi dealer is a bit far (about 11 miles) to take the car. What could be wrong?