1997 xj immobilizer issues

[nitrobrent]

A bit of an update , I'm Carcrazy's Father ,Brent.

Today I got new batteries for the remote , wiped contacts, didn't have contact cleaner.Put new batteries in , nothing.Noticed power windows not working , tried to crank engine , only clicked.Battery sitting at 11.35 volts.
Took Optima out of my TJ and put in , cranks fine.

2 weekends ago , we were out wheeling , last track of the day , big flex , and Liam calls me , check guage light on , and no volt reading.
Head for home , 10 minutes late , he radio's light out , volts back up to +13.
Happened again 20 minutes later , and cleared again on its own.
Cleaned Battery terimals , ,and acc. leads , were a bit loose.
Liam drove it to school all week , no dramas.

Also today , checked rear wiper , has power , will test black wire tomorrow for power.
Took overhead console out , pulled plug on what I assumes the RKE reciever ,looks fine.
Took door panels off , wiggled connectors on window/lock buttons.
Wiggled as many wires under the dash as I could.
I had run a new speaker wire a couple of weeks ago , as drivers door one wasn't working, removed fuse for radio , incase that was an issue , still no go.

One thing I have noticed, sitting in the Jeep , lock the doors , on unlock , the interior lights don't come on.
Still haven't been able to get hold of the previous owner , hes away on holiday , and a pretty clued up bloke.

What will the next step be ?
Thanks Brent

[Roler]

Does he have your optima in it now or is the old battery back in ?

Wondered what happened during that "big flex" that seemed to have caused weird electrical issues. Intermittent electrical problems make me think of bad battery, bad connections and poor grounds..

[nitrobrent]

I ran his in the Tj for 30 minutes and changed them back, as he had to take the TJ to school early this morning.
Bad ground was what I was thinking when the alternator wasn't charging.The battery is probably a month old.

[nitrobrent]

Its ALIVE.
Called the NRMA, guy came out ,Liam showed him what was up.
Guy got in, closed the door, locked it and unlocked it on the armrest.
Pushed the remote and it worked.
We had done this previous, to no avail.
Don't really care , its going and Liam couldn't be happier.
Its got a full tank of petrol, so I dont think he will be home for a while

Thanks everyone for the help, fingers crossed thats it for a while.Might have to keep an eye out for a 98 , to move everything onto.
Don't have much confidence letting him go too far now.
Will keep you posted with any further developments.

[carcrazy]

thanks for the help everyone got the car going ( think it just hates me) got the NRMA out today after school, showed him what was happening, and he got in the car , locked and unlocked it from the armrest then used the remote and it worked, hopefully that's the end of the issue, getting a new remote just in case it isn't

[Roler]

It wont be the end I'm afraid, but that does not matter for now. Mine plays up in episodes, to the point I want to get rid of the XJ, only to find it start working again overnight like nothing happened and will leave me alone for months. Makes you appreciate a normal starting ride even more
Just enjoy it for now, and cross the immobiliser bridge again when you get there. Another rain dance ritual can be added to the book " this is what worked in mine"

[carcrazy]

the rain dance didn't last for long , went for a good drive yesterday and and today and it worked fine, but as i was going to leave a mates place the immobilizer decided it didn't want to work for me, so i tried a few tricks and no result, got the NRMA out and still she didn't want to start.Was in the car for a hour trying to get it to work and gave up, grabbed all me stuff out off it and as i was leaving i accidentally pressed the remove and hey presto it worked, i quickly jumped in and drove home and once again the immobilizer doesn't want to turn off