Well that was a close call and a waste of 5 hrs.

[twinturbo]

Got up this morning and we decided to go and see Disney Planes with the Kids,
Organise to pick up some freinds on route in the galaxy.

Leaving with 10-15 mins easy to spare..

Put key in ignition, dash lights up, turn to start.. Nowt. ZIP.

Did this last month after changing a door, put that down to low battery voltage so hauled the Jag off the drive and tried a jump start.. No Go..

Checked all the fuses, Non Blown
Jumperded the starter solenoid and although it turend over there was obviously no ignition/fuel...

Give up and drop family in town then zip back for freinds...

I then miss film to look at galaxy.

checked all fuses again,
checked relays in fuse box, fuse 30 is known for causing starter issues. All seems fine.

Decide I need to fix the warning LED for the security system , LED has not worked since we got the car 5 years ago. Traced that to a bent pin in the door multiplug. But that took a while.

LED then indicated that the key was not being read, bo....x

I then checked the wiring for the transponder ring was seated correctly, that took ages as it was an absolute pig to get to the module. I had to get the cluster out , or at least I thought I did, and the stereo! to find said module.
Battery had been off as well to charge ( just in case )..

Eventual gave in and decided it must be a faulty key or PATS system.

Then I found a few threads saying that the PATS chip had fallen out of the key whilst batteries were being changed etc... Had a look in the key and low and behold no bloody chip! Well where the XYZ has that gone.

Wife had no knowledge of the key being appart, eldest had no knowledge and was asked if he had droped them or anything (NO replied)

Wife turfed out handbag just in case, then eldest asked why and we were doing that. And at that point he says he did drop the keys by the front door.

So at 8:30PM in pitch black I am there on my hands and knees by the front door scowering for a tiny little black box ~ 9mm,4mm,2mm!!!

I found the little blighter after about 60 seconds

Popped it back in the key and the car fired up spot on

Just got to put half the dash back together tomorrow....


Phew!

Could have been very costly!

TT

[Short]

a friend of mine did that in the pub with his astra. The key split in 2 in his pocket. The chip fell out, and he (unfortunately) though it was a bit of broken plastic.

Long story short, we ended up spending 4 hours searching through the pubs rubbish bins looking for said chip. Needless to say, after we eventually found it amongst ash tray remains and half eaten pub dinners, he sheepishly bought my beers for the next month!