18 months ago (at home) my car started, immediately stopped, then would only turn over. It was similar to when a locksmith was testing a new, unprogrammed, key. The RACV serviceman diagnosed a fuel filter or pump issue, but I disproved that. The following day, after I had checked various electrical connections, the car started. I assumed I'd fixed a poor connection that related to the immobiliser, although the immobiliser error code didn't display - only code 44 (ignition coil & transistor unit system).

Last Friday I drove 40kms, left the car for 15 minutes, went to restart but had the same experience as above. I tried disconnecting the battery for 1 minute - no help. Called the RACV & the serviceman diagnosed a faulty fuel pump. He said he couldn't check for error codes.

The car was trucked home. Still wouldn't start yesterday with either key. I checked error codes - it displayed 44 once then kept repeating 54 (immobiliser system). The battery (a 7 month old Century) was now low - the serviceman had me turning the engine over for what I thought was a ridiculously long time while he bashed at the fuel tank & did other things. So I put the trickle charger on it for 10 hours. I deliberately didn't touch any wires/connectors at this stage.

This morning (Sunday) I reconnected the battery & checked that the error codes had been cleared - but they still displayed. How can that be? So then I tried starting - which it did!
Given that I didn't touch any connectors, the source of the problem remains a mystery.

Can anyone tell me where the code 44 comes in? I'm assuming its just a "byproduct" of the code 54 problem.

What model

KJ (Series 1)

Update.
I had the car scanned at the auto-electricians, but they didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.
They logged the immobiliser error code, which they cleared (& confirmed).

When I went to leave, the car started but instantly stopped & wouldn't start at the next attempt. Then it started (stumbled a bit) so I let it run for a while before turning off & starting again. Now I find the same error codes are back.

I'm wondering about having the immobiliser by-passed (which Madmagna said, in another thread, he can do).

Hi Shepherd,

Sounds similar to a problem this guy had with his TJ Magna: http://martybugs.net/articles/magna-stall.cgi

Think I found his page a while ago on this forum actually. Had a problem similar to this and tried reconnecting the immobiliser antenna which improved things temporarily. I was due for a new battery anyway so once I got rid of the old P.O.S. it starts up beautifully now!

Cheers.

Thanks discomonkey. If the car fails to start at home I'll try to get it going. But what I found last time is that there are wires bunched tightly together & tightly fitting connectors, making it hard for an amateur to do much. Plus if it does then start I won't know if its just a fluke or if I have fixed it - and for how long? Its a pity it eventually started when I was leaving the electricians.

The pictures on Marty's page give a fairly accurate indication of what to look for. There's only a couple of screws to undo the shrouding underneath the steering wheel then you just need to poke your head under there :) When I inspected mine I didn't see any signs of corrosion or a bad connection that he mentioned however it did seem to improve things.