Heya Guys n Girls,

I am having a weird problem with the car and I'm not sure whats causing it.

Basically, sometimes when i go to start my car, it turns over and the engine starts, but after a second, it turns itself off. Then if i try to start it again straight away, it wont turn over (similar to when you have a flat battery). However, if i pull the key out, put it back in and turn it, the car starts first time and I have no worries.

This seems to happen every third or fourth time i get in my car. Happens when engine is cold or hot.

Car is a TL 3.5 and was recently in a minor crash that damaged drivers side quarter panel and suspension on left passengers side. The problem has only started in the last week, and got the car back about 2 weeks ago from panel beaters, so may not be related. Problem seems to be random, and I have a hard time replicating it.

Any ideas what it could be or things I can check?

Cheers

It sounds like the immobiliser issue (http://martybugs.net/articles/magna-stall.cgi) to me. The BEM is on the drivers side of the car, so it could have been bumped while they were repairing the damage. It can be battery-related too, so if your battery is getting old and the panel beaters let it drain while they had it, that could also be to blame.

Battery is only 1.5 years old. Just read that immobiliser article and it sounds like the exact same problem. So I basically just pullout the BEM and make sure the brown wire is pushed in hard and it should be good :D I'll give it a go and get back to you.

Thanks heaps for the link!

Also check the cables under your steering wheel. I had your problem and it was the loom under the steering wheel under tension
not getting a good connection.

I would check the immboliser connections around the key barrel
Had this problem recently but since rebending the contacts the car has been fine ever since
Could also be the harness as said above