Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Key transponder issue

Hannes, it could be anything. Sometimes this coil around the lock is defective. Can you see the LED of the immobilizer, which (on my, 4/4) unfortunately is not on the dashboard but shines in the middle of the footwell at the very front end? You can only see it with a mirror or if it is dark, it shines indirectly. It should blink continuously when the key is removed and be completely off or on in the ignition position (my memory is weak here). Other TMs here can remind you more precisely how the LED behaves in which phase. This way you or a professional can see if the key is recognized. I would test all fuses that affect the startup process. Fuel pump, starter (relay?) ignition etc. Because maybe the immobilizer is not the reason.

I googled briefly, at least on a Ford you can't just remove the immobilizer. It is part of the vehicle registration. Whether it is different in the Morgan, I don't know. The immobilizer is in the Morgan 4/4 in the small black separate plastic box, which lies on the control unit in the metal container with the fuses.

Hi Hannes,

Yours is like mine although the boss with a hole has been cut off.
Does it rest against a cable tie to stop it falling down and is there anything to stop it rotating (mine didn't)?

And, are you saying if you hold the ring in place and insert the key it still doesn't work?

I had this problem for a while but found I could start the car by placing the key handle flat against lock. Mine seems to have fixed itself I don’t know if it has rotated back into the correct position or if now the car is used more in the summer the battery is in a higher state of charge.

At rest the light flashes regularly.

Put the key in, push it hard in, and the light should go off. After 30 seconds it will pulse either two short and one long, or one short and one long I don't remember.

If that doesn't work. wipe the plastic part of the key on the barrel, and you get 20-30 seconds to start the engine.

It is definitely temperature and battery voltage related.

Sometimes mine needs the swipe first start then after it is OK. Just now as it's hot there isn't a problem.

It's "character".

And on the issue of the flashing LED light, I noticed mine wasn’t working can’t remember checking if it ever had in the short time I’ve owned the car but as it had a windscreen fitted last week I contacted Shaun at AWSC To ask his opinion if there was a small multi plug that might have come adrift he said he didn’t disconnect anything when fitting the screen but then emailed back to say he’d spoken to Phil and on that model (2012 4/4 Sport) although MMC fit the LED they don’t wire it up!

Every day is a school day with a Morgan.

BR
Colin

Colin, as I said, the working LED flashing light of the 4/4 is down in the footwell for some reasons. The LED on the dash is not connected, if there is one. You can see it flashing in the very dark as a reflection if you have a look in the direction of radio or even further down, if I remember correctly, on the left side of the tunnel.

On my 2009 Sport it was just dangling in mid air as the loom was about 1' too short to reach it's holder in the dash !!!

Yes I looked thanks, garage is totally black and nothing in either footwell or in area of heater. Car does not have a radio. Maybe it’s U.K. market

BR
Colin

I got a new transponder ring today (€155,-) and replaced the old unit - no positive result.

The car is booked on a trailer tomorrow for the Morgan garage.
The positive thing: my car mobility insurance will carry the transport costs.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the new transponder has to be programmed to the immobiliser unit otherwise it makes a joke of the immobiliser if all a thief has to do is unplug the harness and plug in the transponder he carries in his pocket with a matching key?

BR
Colin