engine won't crank after locking keys in car

[4My2000Jetta]

My son had the keys to his 2000 Jetta locked inside his car. We used a slim jim set to unlock the car. When he tried to start the car after he got in, the engine would not turn over. I've asked two vw dealerships if his key needed to be reprogrammed since he "broke" into the car. They said that would have nothing to do with it. I can't believe that, since it was working fine before we used the slim jim to open the car.

[autowork7456]

By forcing your lock up without using a key, you have tripped the imobilizer. A vw dealer could reset the imobilizer or you could purchase a vag handheld scanner programmer off ebay and do it yourself.

[4My2000Jetta]

If I tripped the immobilizer wouldn't the car/key symbol on the dash flash, indicating it had been tripped? I tested my started and it's fine. I'm not getting power to the small terminal on the starter. Would the immobilizer cause that?

[autowork7456]

Yes the light should flash, but the terminal you are talking about on the starter that is not getting voltage is the exact way the immobilizer immobilizes your vehicle. The word immobilize means no start situation. The way to tell for sure, that post you are talking about on the starter that you don't get voltage to when you turn the key, turn your ignition switch on and apply 12 volts directly from battery to the terminal on the starter solenoid, if the car cranks and runs, it's not your immobilizer--if it don't, it is your immobilizer.

[autowork7456]

One more thing. If the car does crank and RUN, then the problem is in the ignition switch or ignition circuit.