Immobiliser reset

[burnig1]

Just wanted to share something that happened to me today in my 55 V50.
I tried to start the car as normal, but nothing, nowt from the engine, lights were on etc, I then thought starter motor, tried 4 or 5 times to start and eventually it kicked into life. Strange...let's try that again, turned key, nothing, but this time it started on the 2nd key turn. Then I spotted a warning, Immobiliser check handbook...handbook says (page 90) there is an Immobiliser and needs to be paired with keyfob (brilliant).
Back to the car tried to start several times and sometimes it took 5 or 6 turns others 2 turns.
Looking at the volvo forums there are threads that go on about immobiliser resetting by locking and unlocking the car...so I tried this, standing outside the car I unlocked/locked the car 5 times, then tried to start, nothing...so I tried (whilst in the car) locking/unlocking 5 times...bingo it worked, car now starts first time.
Let's see if it stays OK...but I have a theory, on the key fob you have several buttons, if I put the key into the ignition face down, as it were, with the buttons facing away from me, when I turn the key I may be pressing some combination of the buttons, perhaps there is a combination of keys that 'unpairs' (is that a word) the immobiliser and key in some form???? and doing the lock unlock cycle somehow fixes???? It's a theory

[asterix]

Thanks so much for your post. The same thing happened to me this morning on my 55 plate 2.0 litre desiel V50.

Initially the car was immobilised using either of our keys, but after locking and unlocking it about ten times it started to work again.

Don't really understand what casued the problem or what solved it.

Any further info would be helpful please.

Our local Volvol dealer didn't know what to recommend

[Clan]

there should be some fault codes stored if the immobiliser light has come on , usualy it is the "ignition switch " faulty ..
However, lately its starter motors sticking ! when it fails next listen carefully in the fusebox under the bonnet when someone turns the key to start . if the relay clicks the fault will be the starter motor .( or a faulty relay ,but most unlikely )
Using the central locking is just coincidence , its a separate system to the immobiliser .

[burnig1]

Before my current V50 I had a V40 (97), that one also had it's odd issues when starting, occassionally when turning the key, nothing would happen, the second key turn it would spark into life, now the same thing is happening with the V50. After my initial post about lock unlock sequence, mine has been fine, except for the odd time when nothing happens with the first turn of the key. Always starts on the second turn, it's nothing like the initial fault (is it a fault??) when it just would not start until I turned the key 5 or 6 times.