Wet EWS and 'engine disabled' message

agw_01 · 14th February 2018, 22:45

Hi all,

I've owned my 03 ZT CDTi for 12 months and until very recently, it's been very reliable.

The other week the car wouldn't start with nothing from the starter motor, not even a solenoid click. I only had 8 volts at the solenoid wire which after a bit of Googling, found quite a few people reporting similar issues which were appointed to a wet EWS disrupting the crank signal. I tried to send 12v directly to the solenoid and still had nothing so removed the starter from the car for further investigation.

I wasn't entirely happy with how the starter was performing off the car so decided to replace it. The car sat around for a week before I had chance to fit it giving the EWS time to dry out. New starter fitted, car cranked off the key and started as normal. Everything was fine for a week or two.

Got in the car on Friday, started it and drove it to my destination 10 miles away, the weather was dry. I got back in the car a short while later and once again, I had nothing from the starter. I replaced the solenoid wire with one that I'd made up to allow me to connect the solenoid directly to the battery and the car fired up without issue. I did a 600 mile round trip this weekend and the car ran well, apart from me having to manually trigger the starter solenoid each time.

Drove the car to work on Monday and again, it ran fine. There was quite a lot of rain and spray on the motorway but got to work and parked up. Came back to the car about an hour later, key into position 2, jumped out to trigger the solenoid and it wouldn't start. I got back into the car and noticed an 'engine disabled' message on the cluster display.

A bit of googling later and I guessed that the EWS had got so wet that it was no longer reading the RFID chip in the key and as such, refused to start the car. I located the EWS, removed the end cap and sure enough, water came out of the unit. While I was under the dash, I noticed the sunroof drain directly above the EWS was hanging loose!!

The car is currently sat at work with the battery disconnected while I wait for some 5 star torx bits to remove and assess the EWS, but what are my options here? I'm hoping that allowing the EWS to dry out and giving the PCB a clean/repair any damaged components will restore its functionality. If the unit is past saving can I get a 2nd hand EWS and have it coded to my ECU and keys, or can only new EWS modules be coded?

Apologies for the long post but I figured it'd be useful to get as much information in as possible.

Thanks for any assistance!

Vanbursta · 14th February 2018, 22:48

You need to PM Marinabrian, he's probably your only realistic hope here.

Rogue · 14th February 2018, 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanbursta

You need to PM Marinabrian, he's probably your only realistic hope here.

You beat me to it

... Marinabrian is certainly the specialist of all things of this nature on here.

agw_01 · 14th February 2018, 22:58

Cheers guys, I had noticed through browsing the forum that there were a few members specialising in this area hence the post and hoping that they'd see it

For both of you to mention the same person is good enough for me... I'll drop Brian a PM.

Thanks!

agw_01 · 14th February 2018, 23:01

His inbox is full, if possible could somebody direct him to this thread.

Thank you

Rogue · 14th February 2018, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by agw_01

His inbox is full, if possible could somebody direct him to this thread.

Thank you

No doubt he'll be along soon

Arctic · 15th February 2018, 08:22

I presume you have also checked the plenum area for water, your ECU may have been for a swim also ?

agw_01 · 15th February 2018, 09:08

Yep, ECU was replaced a few years ago by the previous owner. I check the plenum regularly.

pletevl · 15th February 2018, 09:49

What's an EWS ????

stevestrat · 15th February 2018, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by pletevl

What's an EWS ????

Its the immobiliser, actual name is German and about three feet long that's why its abbreviated to EWS.

14th February 2018, 22:45	#1
agw_01 Regular poster MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: UK Posts: 64 Thanks: 4 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Wet EWS and 'engine disabled' message Hi all, I've owned my 03 ZT CDTi for 12 months and until very recently, it's been very reliable. The other week the car wouldn't start with nothing from the starter motor, not even a solenoid click. I only had 8 volts at the solenoid wire which after a bit of Googling, found quite a few people reporting similar issues which were appointed to a wet EWS disrupting the crank signal. I tried to send 12v directly to the solenoid and still had nothing so removed the starter from the car for further investigation. I wasn't entirely happy with how the starter was performing off the car so decided to replace it. The car sat around for a week before I had chance to fit it giving the EWS time to dry out. New starter fitted, car cranked off the key and started as normal. Everything was fine for a week or two. Got in the car on Friday, started it and drove it to my destination 10 miles away, the weather was dry. I got back in the car a short while later and once again, I had nothing from the starter. I replaced the solenoid wire with one that I'd made up to allow me to connect the solenoid directly to the battery and the car fired up without issue. I did a 600 mile round trip this weekend and the car ran well, apart from me having to manually trigger the starter solenoid each time. Drove the car to work on Monday and again, it ran fine. There was quite a lot of rain and spray on the motorway but got to work and parked up. Came back to the car about an hour later, key into position 2, jumped out to trigger the solenoid and it wouldn't start. I got back into the car and noticed an 'engine disabled' message on the cluster display. A bit of googling later and I guessed that the EWS had got so wet that it was no longer reading the RFID chip in the key and as such, refused to start the car. I located the EWS, removed the end cap and sure enough, water came out of the unit. While I was under the dash, I noticed the sunroof drain directly above the EWS was hanging loose!! The car is currently sat at work with the battery disconnected while I wait for some 5 star torx bits to remove and assess the EWS, but what are my options here? I'm hoping that allowing the EWS to dry out and giving the PCB a clean/repair any damaged components will restore its functionality. If the unit is past saving can I get a 2nd hand EWS and have it coded to my ECU and keys, or can only new EWS modules be coded? Apologies for the long post but I figured it'd be useful to get as much information in as possible. Thanks for any assistance! Last edited by agw_01; 14th February 2018 at 23:05..

14th February 2018, 22:48	#2
Vanbursta Posted a thing or two Rover 75 2.0 V6 Conn Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Stainton Grove Posts: 1,637 Thanks: 266 Thanked 406 Times in 257 Posts	You need to PM Marinabrian, he's probably your only realistic hope here. __________________ I am NOT a number, I am 75

15th February 2018, 08:22	#7
Arctic Give to Learn Freelander 2 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: West Midlands Posts: 18,695 Thanks: 1,155 Thanked 6,407 Times in 3,874 Posts	I presume you have also checked the plenum area for water, your ECU may have been for a swim also ? __________________ Arctic Givology Learn to Give Everything is Achievable ad altiora tendo. Check out our Nano meet dates http://www.midlandsnanomeets.co.uk/ http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/index.php?thepage=howto " You do the work , we supply the expertise "

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

14th February 2018, 22:58	#4
agw_01 Regular poster MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: UK Posts: 64 Thanks: 4 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Cheers guys, I had noticed through browsing the forum that there were a few members specialising in this area hence the post and hoping that they'd see it For both of you to mention the same person is good enough for me... I'll drop Brian a PM. Thanks!

14th February 2018, 23:01	#5
agw_01 Regular poster MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: UK Posts: 64 Thanks: 4 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	His inbox is full, if possible could somebody direct him to this thread. Thank you

15th February 2018, 09:08	#8
agw_01 Regular poster MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: UK Posts: 64 Thanks: 4 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Yep, ECU was replaced a few years ago by the previous owner. I check the plenum regularly.

15th February 2018, 09:49	#9
pletevl Posted a thing or two rover 75 cdti(rhd), MG ZR(lhd), MG TF(lhd), MG TF(rhd), mini mpi (lhd), Renault megane III (awful) Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: East of France Posts: 1,278 Thanks: 124 Thanked 114 Times in 93 Posts	What's an EWS ????