Old Santana Anti-Theft Lock Fails to Start the Engine
3 Answers
This issue might be caused by incorrect wiring connections. It is recommended that you find two new power cables. Below is relevant information about the old Santana: 1. Introduction: The term "Pusang" refers to the standard version of the Santana, a shorthand for the Volkswagen Santana 87 model, used to distinguish it from the Santana 2000 and other newer Santana models. 2. History: The Santana (SANTANA) sedan is a brand vehicle produced by Volkswagen in California, USA. Starting from 1985, over more than 20 years of production, the standard Santana sedan (Santana 87) became ubiquitous across the country. In October 2012, Shanghai Volkswagen announced the discontinuation of the old Santana (Santana 87) and released a "Goodbye, Santana" advertisement, declaring to the world that the old Santana (Santana 87) would become a classic of the past.
I've been repairing cars for several years and have encountered the issue of the old Santana's anti-theft lock preventing ignition many times. The most common cause is a faulty or dead battery in the key's anti-theft chip, causing the car to fail recognizing the correct signal and the engine to refuse to start. You can first try the spare key to see if it works. If that doesn't help, it's likely a fault in the anti-theft module itself or loose wiring. Aging wiring is common in older cars, and a loose connector on the induction antenna can also lead to poor signal. If you're checking it yourself, disconnect the battery for a few minutes and then try resetting the system, but in most cases, you'll need a professional scanner to read the fault codes. Once the anti-theft system mistakenly judges it as theft, the car will lock down completely—safety first, after all. If you lack experience, don’t mess with the battery or pry the key; instead, take it to a reliable repair shop to avoid damaging more components. Additionally, regularly replacing the key battery can prevent this issue. The old Santana has a relatively simple structure, making repairs both cheap and quick.
I'm an experienced driver with nearly 20 years behind the wheel of a Santana. That time when the anti-theft lock malfunctioned really had me sweating. I needed to go out for business that day, but no matter how much I turned the key, nothing happened, and the anti-theft light on the dashboard kept flashing. I recall it was because the key had been used for too long, and the chip was worn out—the anti-theft system didn't recognize it, so the car thought someone was trying to steal it and wouldn't start. I tried the spare key, but that didn't work either, which made me think it might be due to aging wiring or a dirty sensor head. My advice is to first try re-pairing by placing the key close to the dashboard area—sometimes poor contact can be the issue. You can also try cleaning the sensor connector yourself or disconnecting the battery to reset the system, but don't go overboard to avoid damaging the ECU. That's how it is with older cars—anti-theft components need regular checks, especially during the rainy season when moisture can cause short circuits. If you really can't fix it, take it to a reputable repair shop; a good technician can sort it out in an hour without costing much. Always take good care of your keys—don't drop them or let them get wet—these small details can save you a lot of hassle.
