They symptoms sound the same as mines when the steering column lock module failed.

Fuse 8 (5amp) and fuse 23(20amp) both located on the BCM in the passengers footwell.

When the ignition is switched on a signal pulse is sent from pin 8 on the plug at the back of the Instrument cluster should be a purple wire. That pulse signal travels down to a relay located inside the BCM pin 71 on plug C. Can’t quite remember what colour it is but if you can’t find it for yourself I will check tomorrow as I marked mines for future reference.

It then travels on route to tell the Steering lock module also from plug c pin 76 should be a green and orange wire.

It then arrives at the steering column lock module at pin 2 green and orange wire.

At the column lock module check the purple and black wire on pin 3 to earth. Blue and white on pin 4 is CAN line it reports the status of the lock which if incorrect will not allow the immobiliser to be switched off.

as stated before check for the pulse as the key is inserted on pin 2. If not I would loop a 12v supply from the back of the back of the instrument cluster to pin 8 also at the back of the instrument cluster and measure for it arriving at the steering lock module. If it arrives you know that there is no problems with the system between the instrument cluster and the steering column module. I then just threw a lock module at it as I was working without dealer level computers and it was the cheaper of the two. Not something I usually like to do butLuckily enough it was the correct call.

Hope this helps

Jeez if I can work my way through that i'm a genius ... theres a compliment in there really

I'll see if I can check the fuses first, see if they are ok, after that I will most likely need your guidance, hopefully you can oblige. Pity you didn't live local, or do you (couldnt find a praying smilie)

TBH I finished work in January and i'd love to resolve this without a garage intervention, for financial and personal satisfaction reasons, I dont tend to like things beating me, but I do bow in appreciation of the experts ... say no more.

He's in Aberdeen

Yep noticed that after I replied ...

You may have already covered this but your secondary earth strap should run from battery to gearbox casing or starter attachment stud, not to bodywork (where the OEM strap connects)

Yep, it'll go to the starter motor, just waiting on it being delivered.

Blitzer wrote:

Jeez if I can work my way through that i'm a genius ... theres a compliment in there really

I'll see if I can check the fuses first, see if they are ok, after that I will most likely need your guidance, hopefully you can oblige. Pity you didn't live local, or do you (couldnt find a praying smilie)

TBH I finished work in January and i'd love to resolve this without a garage intervention, for financial and personal satisfaction reasons, I dont tend to like things beating me, but I do bow in appreciation of the experts ... say no more.

Cheers Trav, it'll be a few days, it's not just my car that's immobile at the minute, I am too

In the end I had to give the car to a mates garage to resolve, I wasn't mobile enough to do it myself.

The problem was the steering lock module, it was replaced and "remapped" to the car and all is well, thanks for all the advice.