F800GS, key not disarming the immobiliser

[ILMV]

Went to start the beast this morning any nothing happened... couldn't even get a light on the dash, initially thought it must be a dead battery but couldn't bump it.

Then remembered than an old bike would still power it's lights when the battery is low, so I tried my spare key and the bike started fine.

The key is a sealed unit (obviously) so what can I do about it? Is it something that BMW will cover under warranty?

I haven't dropped the key so a bit surprised why it would stop working, anyone else had this problem?

 

[GunZenBomZ]

Ghost in the system, I would of offered up using the default plastic key. Which you have & should have sorted the glitch. Had it happen once (ages & ages ago), I keep the inner part of the ignition system well oiled.

Throw the query at your local bmw service engineer for a more qualified answer mate.

 

[Greggers]

Sounds like the key's fooked, which actually is a bit of a worry cos who would think of carrying a spare key as a precaution!

The other thing is that you can bet your buns that a new one + re-programming cost ain't going to be cheap! How old was/is it?

Greg

 

[ILMV]

I don't carry my plastic key with me, never really figured out in my mind whether I want to carry it in my wallet. Luckily I was at home so I grabbed the spare set from inside.

The bike is a March 09 model, so the warrenty is up this march. I'm about to phone up CWs and see what they say.

 

[ILMV]

Guy from CWs hadn't heard of a problem like it, should be covered under the manufacturers warranty but going to check the original key again when I get back, might have to stash the plastic key in my wallet.

 

[rce]

who would think of carrying a spare key as a precaution!

Our last Shetland trip suggested to wife we both carry each others spare key, which seemed a bit of overkill.

Then in Aberdeen on way back at petrol station she got off bike without putting side stand down (it was early, just off ferry) and for some strange reason the key ended up bent at 45' halfway out of ignition. Needless to say never been so glad to have the spare key.


On to your problem, sure Rainbow said to me a spare key was about £25

 

[GunZenBomZ]

It's a definite thing I take with you abroad riding; the spare key.

People lose keys & if your ring antenna goes. Only the plastic key will let the new ring antenna be activated.

 

[ILMV]

So, have been taking two keys with me everywhere now as I don't want to be caught out, this morning went to put the second key in the bike (not the one that ****ed up last week) but the dashboard didn't light up, took the key out, slapped it back in again and it started ok. So it's not the key.

I rode the bike out of the garage and the bike was already complaining it was -2*C, the bike was still in gear when I dropped the side stand so obviously the bike cut out, changed to neutral and tried to start the bike again, it fired up, ran for about a second then spluttered and stopped, no lights on the dash. Turned the key again, started it up again and the bike started running, but the dashboard lights went out, then started up again.... whilst the bike was running :O

Once I got going it was alight, my daily commute is a 10 mile ride up the road and back again, I don't have an alarm to drain the battery but heated grips are on all the time. Could this be a sign of the battery running low? I don't have a plug-in charger... wondering if it's something to consider (although I don't have power in my garage... and it's not attached to the house).

 

[maddaddy]

This is very typical with BMW. Your antenna ring is going or has gone bad.

They are require a "special" tool to replace them. but I have found that a pair of vice grips was sufficient to grab and loosen the security bolts that keep them in place.

 

[ILMV]

Cheers maddaddy, the guys are the dealer said they hadn't heard of it before but if it's anything like the antenna ring they'll be getting the bike back, will be calling them tomorrow to see what they say.

If the immobiliser antenna ring and the key lose the connection whilst the bike is started will the engine cut out? Equally would the engine continue to run but the dashboard lose power?

 

[Greggers]

There's definitely a problem, but tracking it down might be an issue ..

Did you get to CW?? I'm wondering whether a diagnostic might highlight the problem.

Going on to the ring antenna - they've been a known weak point for the 1200s for a while, with most advice being to take a spare with you to plug into the loom when the original one fails ... AFAIK, it's a proximity sensor which reacts to a programmed chip within the key - switching off the immobiliser. I don't know if the ring antenna can give intermittent failures, and in all honesty I'd have thought that it was a go/no-go component.

Given that we've had a few battery failures recently and that they've all caused some odd behaviours as they slide down the slippery slope, I wonder if it's worth having yours looked at, or at the very least making sure it's charged to the max before starting the bike...

Greg

 

[wilbjr21]

If the immobiliser antenna ring and the key lose the connection whilst the bike is started will the engine cut out? Equally would the engine continue to run but the dashboard lose power?

You should be ok once the engine has started. The antenna ring pulses the key and reads the response back to the ECU; which allows the engine to start. You would have to turn the ignition off to begin the sequence again.
I would have thought that stopping the engine with the sidestand and then pressing the button to start it again would not bring the key and antenna ring into play.

Non-one seems to have had a ring antenna fault since BMW did the recall and replaced the units with a different one (I think the part number ends in ... 247).

 

[ILMV]

Greggers, have been carrying two keys with me everywhere, going down to CWs on Friday, only think I'm worrying about is that it will work when I get down there :S

The chap on the blower did say they had some issues with the 1200s a little while ago, but hadn't heard about it on the 800.

I'll see what they say, I'm going to have a play around to see if I can video the problem happening at home... just incase they cannot reproduce it at the dealer.