[davidjames84]

hi
my mk2 zs 180 is causing my some trouble.
the car won't start and it looks like it is being held off by the imoblizer. the car won't lock or open by the fob and doesn't respond at all.
i tried using the key to open the car and start it but it just sets the alarm off to a point where i have had to disconect the battery off the car so the alarm stops.
i have tried a new battery in the fob but makes no differance at all.
two things i am thinking is either the battery has gone flat but then would the car lock and un lock with the key?

or the alarm/ fob is knackered and if so anything i can do about it without a new alarm?

 

[peterzs]

Could be a soggy sounder unit, do a search on here and it should come back with the way to sort it.

Can you put jump leads on your battery, to rule out a flat battery??

 

[davidjames84]

would this stop the alarm working or just make the alarm trigger randomly?

 

[davidjames84]

well looks like its not the sound unit as its already been sealed up and looks pretty dry. also if you disconnect it the alarm still does the same just with no sound

 

[peteT16]

I would try charging the battery first, when it goes flat it plays havoc with the immobiliser.

The central locking will only work if there's enough juice in the battery.

 

[davidjames84]

the central locking works with the key.
i think i might just try jump starting it on the safe side.
will jump starting it damage the ecu?

 

[peteT16]

It will jump start fine, but connect the negative lead to a good earth on the car with a flat battery rather than the battery negative.

Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs here.

 

[davidjames84]

ok tried a booster pack and didn't help at all.
im down to thinking its either the alarm contol modual or the fob.
is there anyway i can just use the key? heard you can enter a code with the key but can this be done everytime i need to use the car until i get a new alarm or fix the old one?

 

[TimmR_ZS180]

On the Mk1 - if the key fob battery is flat or hasn't been 'twinned' to the immobilizer there is an alarm sound from the dash and the car won't start ... i'm not sure how it goes with the Mk2.

I'm intrigued by the car not unlocking/locking from the fob.

Do you have the EKA code?

 

[davidjames84]

the mk1 and mk2 alarms are completely different so it won't work the same.
i don't have a eka code yet as il have to pay £18 to get it now but im hoping my local xpower place will help me out monday

 

[peterzs]

Hope they sort it for you, I didnt know about the soggy sounder when my one went. £300 + at the garage for T4, labour and a new sounder.

:wave:

 

[davidjames84]

£300 is stupid.
couldn't you just put a new cat 1 alarm in and overide the standard alarm?
as i only have one fob and its not working now im thinking that might be the best bet for me.

 

[peterzs]

When I dropped my one off, its a Mk2 Derv, with the alarm going off on its own, the garage (old MG speacillist) rung me and said. We are having trouble finding the fault, could be the senders in the car, sounder unit or the SCU. Senders, £100+, sounder unit £300+ or the SCU £600+.

Rung back later and said luckily its only the sounder!!!

Trouble is your in their hands soon as you drop the car off.

Wasnt on the forum as I only had the car a couple of weeks, when I came on here found its a common fault, take out,split down, dry out and reseal. Typical, could have saved a bundle.

If you do drop it off at a garage get them to ring you before they spend any money, once they have located the fault. There may be a quick and cheaper fix, 2nd hand unit etc. All the best with it, hope its an easy and quick fix.

:wave:

 

[davidjames84]

well i have taken off the sound unit and its been sealed before and it looks fine.
im sure its either the fob or the control unit but if its the control unit then getting a £200 cat 1 alarm would be the best bet but would this work and overide the standard unit?

 

[peterzs]

Have you charged up your battery just to rule that out??

Dont know much about alarms etc, thats why it went to a garage.

:wave:

 

[mgdavid]

I thought the alarm & immobiliser were all linked with the main ECU so cannot be bypassed or overridden?

 

[davidjames84]

looks like they can't be bypassed but maybe a code to override it as some people think there is one.
hope its just the fob as that £100 compared to £800 for a ecu.
can i get a secondhand ecu and keys?

 

[LozMachine]

Maybe worthwhile keeping an eye out for something like this and swap the lot over, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MG-ZS-2-5-V6-..._CarParts_SM&hash=item563d4c178a#ht_500wt_928 may be cheaper and less hassle in the long run. Hope ya get it sorted.

 

[davidjames84]

if i bought something like this would it work?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MG-ZS-2-5-V6-..._CarParts_SM&hash=item563d4c178a#ht_500wt_928
#would the fact its been without power for a while knacker it up?

 

[davidjames84]

i have just bought a secondhand unit. there are two boxes and one fob.
where are these boxes located so i can swap them over?
also do i need to change them with the battery disconnected?
thanks