This article is for if you want to learn how to remove an engine immobilizer, but first what is an engine immobilizer? The car-immobilizer system is an important standard in most vehicles made in the last 20 years.
Once your car is working properly, it significantly reduces the possibility of theft. If you find the engine immobilizer to be malfunctioning keep reading to find out more.
An engine immobilizer is an electronic security system used in most modern-day cars to reduce the rate of theft. In this article, you will learn all you need to know about immobilizer and how to remove engine immobilizer if your car won’t start.
What Is an Engine Immobilizer?
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An engine immobilizer is an anti-theft system built into the engine ECU. It can better be seen as 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. The primary function of an immobilizer is to prevent the engine from starting without using the vehicle’s authorized key.
This system has been a very good improvement in auto security ever since it was invented. However, the system has its shortcomings and causes difficulty in starting the car if it is faulty or unauthorized access has been attempted.
Read Also:- 23 Common Hyundai Dashboard Warning Lights
How to Remove Engine Immobilizer
An immobilizer as i have mentioned before is a piece of electronic that provides extra security for vehicles. They were invented in the last 2 decades and have evolved and become more advanced since then.
Snick pick
Insert the key into the ignition and
turn it to the on position, which activates your accessories but not the engine. Leave the key in position for about 10 – 15 minutes. Step 3: Check the anti-theft light again. If it’s no longer blinking, turn the key back to the Off position and allow it to set for a minute or two.
Immobilizers add an extra layer of security to your in such are way that only the original key will be able to start the car. In some advanced vehicle security systems the system will put up an emergency lock if attempted to bypass.
With all these values and importance the automobile security system has added to make fair of vehicle theft less, it still has its floors and downsides. If you do not have knowledge about how immobilizers work, the system can frustrate your whole life.
Tips to Hotwire a Car with an Immobiliser
The success of a hot-wiring job is dependent on a few key factors:
- The state of the ignition system.
- The length of the wire leads from the starter to the battery.
- The length of wire from the starter to any accessories fitted to the car, such as fog lights or a stereo system.
- The number and type of accessories fitted to the car that will need power from the battery, such as air conditioning or an alarm system.
- The type, size, and condition of the wiring in this circuit between the start and accessory points.
There are various immobilizers on the market. They vary in size, design, and method of operation. In the following article, we will be looking at some of the best immobilizers for cars available in the market and help you decide which one is best for your needs.
Why Would You Want to Remove Immobilizer
On that note let me point out some reasons why you might want to remove engine immobilizer from your car. Over the years and due to vehicular usage, the system could get damaged due to moisture or water.
Corrosion will be the result if moisture or water finds it way into the system and corrosion is not good for the connectors and wire harness. When wires and connections get corroded current fails to flow which can lead to the immobilizer system from working.
Another thing that can cause an advanced auto security system not to work is a dead key fob battery. Your key fob is used to send the dedicated key token to the transponder in your car, if the battery is dead or depleted it will not be able to send the signal correctly.
In such case, you can just easily change the key fob battery and continue using your car or you can still remove the engine immobilizer. In the case where the system is old-fashioned and you will want it upgraded, you can opt for the removal of the old security system too.
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What Causes the Immobilizer Problem?
The major and most common cause of the immobilizer problem is in the car key fob. The key fob is used to send a signal to the car security transponder which in turn temporarily disables the system.
1. Dead key fob battery
If you have tried all you can and your car would not still start then you should check the key fob’s battery. The battery could be dead and it could be the reason why your car is not recognizing the key let alone to start the car.
The key fob depends greatly on the battery to be able to send a small wave signal to the system transponder. If the battery is dead then the key fob will not be able to send the required signal to the transponder to disarm the system.
2. Damaged or corroded wire connection
The immobilizer system itself barely has problems, in a worst-case scenario, the system wires can get corroded due to water damage. Due to day to day activities, the immobilizer wiring connection can become corroded.
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.
The wiring harness can also get damaged due to accidents or so. If this is the case for your car, the best option is to remove the engine immobilizer, if not your car won’t start.
How to Boost Performance With Immobiliser
We all want our cars to run at optimal levels, but what you might not know is that there are a few simple things you can do to make sure your car is running at its best.
In the present era, the right immobilizer has been introduced to make sure that cars are secure from theft. They vary from keyless entry systems in which a keypad with a numerical code is used instead of a physical key.
Immobilizers in cars have been in use for decades and have proven to be an excellent deterrent against car theft.
The main advantage of an immobilizer is that it cannot be accessed by another person without the permission of the owner.
Common Symptoms of Bad Engine Immobilizer
Just like most other parts of your car, the engine immobilizer does not just stop working once. The system starts to show some signs of malfunctions that indicate that something is wrong.
These signs are the same as the symptoms that the system puts up to tell the car owner or driver that something is wrong and needs to be checked. Some of these signs and symptoms would determine whether or not to remove engine immobilizer from your car.
- Difficulty in starting the car
Generally, when vehicle security systems start to develop problems difficulty in starting is a common challenge. This issue can be localized to the engine immobilizer in most cases.
The immobilizer can suffer major damage due to corrosion as a result of water and moisture if finds it its way through the wiring. This can cause the immobilizer to malfunction thereby making it difficult and sometimes impossible to start the car.
If you find yourself in this shoe, the options are either you remove the immobilizer, or you call for a professional help to trace the problem. Whatever the cause may be please weigh the consequences before you take action.
- Door Locking and unlocking Problems
This is another problem that could be sometimes traced to auto-security systems. The door is said to become unstable and difficult to open and lock at a go.
If you are experiencing this, you might want to check your key fob battery to be sure it is correctly installed and okay. If it passes that check and the door is still been difficult to open and close, then consider visiting a professional auto lock smit for help.
- Key in Ignition Does Not Turn
If your key fob has a physical key that you must insert into the ignition and turn and it doesn’t budge, you may have a problem with the transponder chip inside the key fob base. For some reason, it’s not sending the security code to the car immobilizer.
This is often due to water damage (water + electronics don’t mix) or actual breakage of the chip due to the fob falling or being crushed. Before ordering a replacement key, make sure you’re using the correct key fob for the car. Just because your spouse drives the same make of car doesn’t mean her key fob will work in yours.
- Car Alarm Problems
The alarm system in your vehicle is associated with the same security feature as your immobilizer. If you have a bad immobilizer, then you’ll likely have a bad alarm system too.
Depending on the type of alarm system that you have installed, this means anyone breaking your windows or stepping near your vehicle will no longer cause the alarm to go off.
If you have any questions or want more clarity about how to remove engine immobilizer please ask us using the comment section. Do not forget to share this article on your social media platforms too, it could be of help to someone.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed how to remove engine immobilizer and some of the many reasons why you should invest in an immobilizer today. First and foremost, immobilizers are one of the most reliable ways to protect your vehicle from theft. One study found that up to 85% of stolen vehicles were taken without the use of force or bypassing any security mechanisms.
This means that when you invest in an immobilizer today, you are ensuring your car will be protected even if someone has found a way around your other security measures. Secondly, when you invest in an immobilizer today, it is easy for anyone to find out if your car has been stolen or not. This is because they come with tracking devices installed right out of the box which will allow police officers to easily track down your vehicle should it go
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