Starts up but dies immediately - Immobilizer?

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Jul 5, 2023 | 10:19 AM

mikecannon

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Starts up but dies immediately - Immobilizer?

Last edited by mikecannon; Aug 13, 2023 at 03:01 PM.

Jul 5, 2023 | 03:16 PM

UKXJ

CF Veteran

Joined: Jun 2022

Posts: 1,110

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From: England

Year: 1998

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Engine: 4.0

Could be, especially if it's aftermarket (in which case, disconnect & discard) - but 1st, eliminate automatic shutdown relay as the culprit by swapping with the one for the fan.

Jul 6, 2023 | 03:54 AM

Roler

CF Veteran

Joined: Jan 2012

Posts: 3,170

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From: Australia

Year: 1997 (RHD)

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Engine: 4.0 ltr

No it's not your immobiliser. The immobiliser cuts fuel and spark preventing your engine to run.

As my earlier post:
It acts like it's key-On with the key out-
Ignition switch or relay not opening (deactivate) on key-off would be my initial thoughts.
The attempted dieing in idle which needs throttle is relatively simpler o work out.

Jul 6, 2023 | 12:20 PM

mikecannon

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Last edited by mikecannon; Aug 13, 2023 at 03:03 PM.

Jul 6, 2023 | 12:22 PM

mikecannon

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Jul 6, 2023 | 12:23 PM

mikecannon

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Last edited by mikecannon; Aug 13, 2023 at 03:02 PM.

Jul 6, 2023 | 01:54 PM

UKXJ

CF Veteran

Joined: Jun 2022

Posts: 1,110

Likes: 232

From: England

Year: 1998

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Engine: 4.0

You may have got lucky but I really don't like self-curing faults.

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Jul 6, 2023 | 04:27 PM

Roler

CF Veteran

Joined: Jan 2012

Posts: 3,170

Likes: 312

From: Australia

Year: 1997 (RHD)

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Engine: 4.0 ltr

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikecannon

...
Today, I go to start it up and I get the "Immobilizer key"-symbol light and the car starts but dies after 2-3 seconds.

I tried a couple of more times and all of a sudden it started running again, and the immobilizer-light switched off.
Also no problem with the car still running/trying to run with the key out of the ignition.

Thats how the immobiliser should work- if you attempt to start it without 'unlocking' it, it will start fine but dies after 2 seconds.

So you have the immobiliser. But you didn't know?
my immobiliser played up for some time, to the point I thought to get rid of the xj because there was no fix for it. And then it settled for some reason.

Where are you located?