My son in law couldn't start his TD6 today because the key would not turn in the lock. I immediately suspected lo battery volts, but on checking these were 12.2v. We also confirmed that he had it in park. Managed to get the key to turn and the car to start by disconnecting the battery negative terminal for a while then reconnecting. Have left a 10 MM. spanner in the car in case we have to resort to this agin.
The Kay fob is the original and is 10 years old, and the car is not used much, so I suspected that might be the cause. We are now using his spare key and all seems ok at present.
Can anyone advise on the likely cause?
I put my IID BT toll on his car, but that is locked to my own VIn. Nevertheless it was able to read fault codes which included one for the immobiliser. I have cleared these faults and they have not recurred.
Any help on avoiding a recurrence would be appreciated 2011 Vogue TDV8 4.4
1992 Mazda Mx5

its the steering lock ecu , known issue and can be gotten around by drilling a small hole in the casing and lubricating the solenoid plunger - use silicone rather than wd40

http://www.blackbox-solutions.com/photos/L322lock.pdf

Does this happen enough that doing a drill and lube as a preventative a good practice?

I wouldn't mess with it if its working correctly tbh

Many thanks dingg1. If it happens again we will give the steering wheel a good shake, before we embark on microsurgery 2011 Vogue TDV8 4.4
1992 Mazda Mx5

Scud it WILL happen again if its started already , putting a toggle switch acoss fuse 18 is also a remedy , the lubrication and hole drilling has worked for a while for me now and I think is the best option , other than stripping down the ecu and solenoid plunger , which may be the next option

theres something in the wiki re this, might help.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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thats for key stuck in ignition

not the same issue the op was having unless I missed something

^  ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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Stan, it may be worth putting this plus the link in the wiki 2011 Vogue TDV8 4.4
1992 Mazda Mx5

I had the same issue, replaced my battery and it worked fine.