How to Disable a Car Immobilizer

Learning how to disable a car immobilizer can be come in heady if you are finding it hard to start your car due to bad Immobilizer. Factors like dead batteries and damaged Immobilizer chip can cause your car’s anti-theft system to malfunction.

If the security system starts to malfunction, problems might start to arise, the most common is difficulty in starting. If this happen you will have not choice but to find and alternative way to start the car which means you will have to bypass the car immobilizer security layer.

In this article, you will learn how to disable a car Immobilizer and how to bypass Immobilizer. You will also learn how to program a transponder key without original keys, the same procedure works for Nissan but you might want to check this out How to Program Nissan Key Fob.

Before then lets see what an Immobilizer really is and how it functions. We will also see it benefits and short comings.

What is a Car Immobilizer

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Immobilizer is an advance electronic form of security layer that makes it impossible to start a car with an unauthorized key. An immobilizer or immobilizer is an electronic security device fitted to a motor vehicle that prevents the engine from running unless the correct key (transponder or smart key) is present.

This prevents the vehicle from being “hot wired” after entry has been achieved and thus reduces motor vehicle theft. Due to usage a and age, at some point, the anti-theft security system might start malfunctioning.

Disabling a car’s immobilizer is not a hard task to perform, in fact our expects here on cookip.com have put together simple steps to get this done within a 10 minutes. You can get this done in 3 different ways to if one methods does not work for you then you should try the other.

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Signs of a bad car immobilizer

If the immobilizer is faulty, the security system would start to malfunction. These malfunctions are signs and symptoms to look for to know when to disable a car immobilizer.

Below are the major signs and symptoms a bad immobilizer you should look for.

Unlocking Problems
Locking Problems
Engine Does Not Start
Key in Ignition Does Not Turn
Car Alarm Problems

1st Method

How to bypass immobilizer by resetting the system

If someone has attempted to steal your car or gain and unauthorized entry, the system will automatically put up the anti-theft mode. Yes the security system is as good as that, it is designed to engage and emergency lock when the system is tampered with.

If this happen to your car, you would not be able to start the car because the system have immobilized the engine. To be able to bypass the immobilization security lock follow the guide below

Park your vehicle
Look at the dashboard warning lights
Check to be sure the anti-theft light is flashing
close up of ignition with key inserted
Turn the ignition key to “ON” position
Make sure you do not start the car
Now leave the key in the on position for 10 to 15 minutes make
Check the dashboard again to see if the anti-theft light is still on
If the light is no longer
Turn the key to “OFF” position
Now wait for about 2 or 3 minutes
Now turn the key to switch on the ignition and start the car

After completing this steps successfully, you should start and the engine should run without problem. This method have been tested and proven to work on several car makes and models including Toyota, Honda, Ford and even Dodge.

However if this method does not work and the anti-theft security light is still on, the battery might be faulty. Check the car battery and replace with a new one then repeat the process the reset the security system.

2nd Method

How to disable immobilizer by resetting key fob

This method is a good alternative to reset the immobilizer security system if the first method did not work for you. The anti-theft security system in your vehicle responds to signals from your your car key fob.

The key fob itself relies greatly on the on the battery inside the key to function and send signals the transponder in the car. To cut the long story short, if the battery is dead the key fob will not be able to send signal to the transponder.

Now you will need to change the key fob’s battery to be able to get it working and be able to reset the immobilizer. Follow the simple steps below to change the battery of your key fob..

Using a flat pices of metal carefully open the key fob
Check he battery compartment to see it the battery is installed correctly.
Also check to see if the battery is ok (you can test it with a multi meter)
If the battery is bad, replace it with a new one
Now try repeating the first method again

You car would definitely start if you have replaced the key fob’s battery and make sure there is no rust inside it. Should in case you are still facing challenges, come out of the car and have a look at the door lock cylinder.

However, if the drivers side door lock would not open you should try the passengers side door lock. If it has not been tempered with, there is a great possibility that you can gain entrance through the door.

If the door lock cylinder have been broken or forcefully bent, you car would not start either ways. At this point you will have to replace the door lock cylinder.

How to disable a car immobilizer using the car key

This is pretty simple and straight forward, no technical skill is needed. All you have to do is to start the car using the traditional key method.

To archive this you will have have access the car key. Insert the car key into the door lock cylinder. Turn the key in the direction like you want to open the door but hold it for about 5 to 10 second.

Doing this will let the system know you have the correct key, and will in turn disable the immobilizer and alarm system. Some vehicles recognize the key simply by turning the key back and forth in the door lock key cylinder.

How to Fix bad transponder key symptoms

Many immobilizer problems can be fixed simply by simply replacing the battery in the key fob. Many transponder keys depend on a small battery to relay the security code to the car immobilizer. Be careful replacing the battery so you don’t accidentally damage the transponder chip inside.

If you’ve replaced the battery and it still doesn’t work, you may have some type of damage to the transponder chip. In this case, you will have to contact your local car dealership and request a new key.

Conclusion

They are not cheap to replace so be prepared to shell out a hundred or even a few hundred dollars for a new key. Usually, the more expensive the vehicle, the more a replacement key fob will cost.

If the actual immobilizer system in the vehicle is to blame, then it could be due to the wires being corroded or damaged. Perhaps the engine control unit or its sensors are malfunctioning or faulty.

These situations would require you to go to a car dealership or auto repair shop that specializes in electronics for further troubleshooting. Please use the comment section to as us any question if you need more explanation.