Starting Problems & Lock Issues in Vauxhall Astra

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2013 Vauxhall Insignia diesel (I have some experience with cars). The symptoms were exactly like yours, had problems with starting and the central locking was acting weird too. Turned out the key needed reprogramming. Took it to my local Vauxhall specialist, and they sorted it out in about an hour. Cost me 45€. Before you rush to the workshop though, which engine variant does your Astra have? Also, does your central locking remote work at all, or is it completely dead? These details would help me confirm if it's the same issue I had.

Just had my latest service done last month, and I've clocked 19974 KM on mine. Had exactly the same problem you're describing! In my case, it ended up being more than just the key, there was a fault in the immobilizer system that was causing both the starting and central locking issues. The mechanic found that the immobilizer's antenna ring around the ignition barrel was faulty. They replaced that part and recoded a new key for me, and it's been running perfectly since. Not the cheapest fix, but definitely worth getting sorted properly. Also worth checking your battery voltage, that can sometimes cause similar symptoms.

Oh thanks for sharing those details! Yeah, that's actually really similar to what happened with my Insignia. After I wrote that first reply about the key reprogramming, the problem came back a few weeks later, and it turned out I was dealing with exactly the same immobilizer antenna ring issue! My car had about 22,000 KM at the time, so pretty close to your mileage. The key reprogramming was just a temporary fix, when the mechanic dug deeper, they found the antenna ring was deteriorating. It's funny how these Vauxhalls seem to have this common weak point. In my case, the total repair ended up costing around €280, more than I initially mentioned for just the key reprogramming, but like you said, it was worth getting it sorted properly. Haven't had a single starting or locking issue since then (going on 8 months now). Good call on mentioning the battery voltage too, that was actually the first thing my mechanic checked before getting into the immobilizer system. These modern cars with their complex electronics can throw all sorts of weird symptoms when the battery's not quite right. Glad you got it sorted! Always good to hear someone else's experience with the same issue.

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! It's actually really reassuring to hear that someone else went through the exact same progression with their Vauxhall, from thinking it was just a key issue to discovering the deeper immobilizer problem. My repair cost was pretty close to yours, around £250, so that seems to be the standard price range for this fix. You're absolutely right about these being a common weak point in Vauxhalls. My mechanic mentioned he's seen quite a few cases like this, especially in models from around 2011-2013. I guess we were both lucky to catch it before it left us completely stranded somewhere! I'm about 6 months post-repair now, and like you, haven't had any issues since. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it's super helpful for anyone else who might run into the same problem with their Vauxhall. Cheers for the great info!