Ford fiesta immobiliser malfunction

V2001

My car Ford fiesta won't start up. Its been sitting idle for a few weeks. I tried to jump start it with no luck. 
When I turn the key I get immobiliser malfunction service required 

Any ideas?

Grey_Critic

Never came across that in my years with Ford. Ring your local dealer and ask them.

Goudy

Sounds like the key needs re-pairing (not repairing) to the immobiliser.

There are more than a few reports of the immobiliser (PATS system) failing to recogise keys after a while.
If so, the system needs the key reprogramming and that requires Ford's diagnostic software.

You might find a local Ford specialist that may help.

neilmcl

V2001 said:

My car Ford fiesta won't start up. Its been sitting idle for a few weeks. I tried to jump start it with no luck. 
When I turn the key I get immobiliser malfunction service required 

Any ideas?

Have you followed the correct procedures to jump start the car?

It's quite common for car owners that have never jump started a car before to just whack on some leads and expect it to work straight away and when it doesn't they give up.

Grey_Critic

Back in the 90s there were problems where the ignition key was carried as part of a bunch. Supposedly you could get a magnetic field created that could wipe the memory, it also applied to Range Rovers

V2001

neilmcl said:

V2001 said:

My car Ford fiesta won't start up. Its been sitting idle for a few weeks. I tried to jump start it with no luck. 
When I turn the key I get immobiliser malfunction service required 

Any ideas?

Have you followed the correct procedures to jump start the car?

It's quite common for car owners that have never jump started a car before to just whack on some leads and expect it to work straight away and when it doesn't they give up.

I tried to jump the car with another car it didnt work. Anyways someone had this power pack jump starter and it worked. But wouldn't start with my car which is strange.
Anyways battery was low at 6volts when it shud be 12v. So going to get a new battery.

Ebe_Scrooge

V2001 said:

neilmcl said:

V2001 said:

My car Ford fiesta won't start up. Its been sitting idle for a few weeks. I tried to jump start it with no luck. 
When I turn the key I get immobiliser malfunction service required 

Any ideas?

Have you followed the correct procedures to jump start the car?

It's quite common for car owners that have never jump started a car before to just whack on some leads and expect it to work straight away and when it doesn't they give up.

I tried to jump the car with another car it didnt work. Anyways someone had this power pack jump starter and it worked. But wouldn't start with my car which is strange.

For future reference, it's worth looking at the quality of the jump leads you're using.  Several years ago I needed to jump-start my wife's car.  Found my cheap 'n' cheerful jump leads from the garage (tiny thin little things, they were), connected them up and ... not a sausage, the "dead" car wouldn't even turn over.  My neighbour saw me, came over with his massive thick jump leads, told me to give them a try.  The car fired up straight away, no messing.  I think it's to do with the amount of current the leads can carry?

Anyhow, I went and bought myself a "decent" pair of jump leads after that.  Cost more than the cheap ones I'd already got, but still not expensive, and they are well worth it.

I'm just wondering whether the jump leads you were using were quite thin, but the leads on the booster pack were more heavy-duty?