Mazda Forum - Mazda Enthusiast Forums - 2006 Mazda 3 Won't Start/Immobilizer Question

Hi everyone, I'm new here.

I have a 2006 Mazda 3 and it will not start. It was working fine for the most part, but I started having some issues starting it recently when I had to turn the steering wheel and unlock it to start the car.

Now, it has gotten to the point that it will not start at all even if I turn the steering wheel. I got to turn on briefly for one day and I had the parts store run the scanner on it and they confirmed that the battery and starter are in good working condition. So, in that case the most likely cause is the immobilizer/anti-theft system. There is a red light with a key that blinks in my instrument cluster that keeps blinking even when I unlock the car and try to start the car. The lights and radio will turn on, but it just clicks when I try to start it.

I called the dealer about this and the service tech told me I might need to have it reprogrammed so the best option is to purchase a new key from a locksmith.

I just have a basic transponder key with a metal portion that unlocks the doors and starts the car. I don't have a key fob or anything like that.

I really need to figure out how to get my car to start again, so any advice would be helpful. I have tried to remove the battery terminals, I tried leaving the key in the ignition for a certain amount of time reprogram it, I tried locking and unlocking the doors a number of times, but nothing has worked so far.

I just need to figure out how to disable the immobilizer or reprogram the system or the key to get it to start consistently.