A car immobilizer does exactly what its name suggests. It is a technological security device that will prevent your car from moving. In other words, it is an anti-theft device that will prevent thieves from being able to wire your car and drive it away.
As you might expect, if you have a faulty immobilizer, it can make your vehicle impossible to drive. Here is how an immobilizer device works and what you should look for if you suspect immobilizer problems.
How a Car Immobilizer Works
With many modern cars, the only person who will be able to start your vehicle is the one who has the key. There is a digital token that is sent from the key to the immobilizer every time you try to start your vehicle.
If the wrong token is sent or no token is used, the starter, ignition, and fuel system will remain disabled by the immobilizer device.
This is great news for responsible car owners who want to prevent their car from being stolen. However, if you lose your car key, you may have to go to the dealership and pay hundreds of dollars for a new one.
Common Symptoms of a Bad Car Immobilizer
For the safety of your vehicle, the car’s immobilizer system and the key’s transponder chip must function correctly. If either one wears out or is damaged, it can cause a whole range of
problems and symptoms.
Below are five common symptoms you can expect to encounter with a bad car immobilizer.
1) Doors Do Not Unlock
If you press the unlock button on your car key fob and the car door does not unlock, it means your key fob is not communicating with the immobilizer system. Perhaps the battery in your key needs to be replaced, or the immobilizer system itself has issues.
Whatever the case, your key fob will not be able to transmit properly without a functioning key and immobilizer. In the meantime, you will either need to call a locksmith or have your car towed to the dealership to be able to unlock your door again.
2) Doors Do Not Lock
If you cannot unlock your door with a key fob, you probably will not be able to lock your door with the key either. This means you will have to leave your doors unlocked or keep the windows closed if the doors lock automatically after a certain period of time.
Until the issue is resolved, your vehicle will be vulnerable to thieves, vandals, and bad weather if you leave your windows down.
3) The Alarm Will Not Work
Your vehicle’s alarm system is tied to the same security function as your immobilizer. If you have a faulty immobilizer, you will likely also have a faulty alarm system.
Depending on the type of alarm system you have installed, this means that anyone breaking your windows or approaching your vehicle will no longer trigger the alarm to sound.
4) The Engine Does Not Start
The immobilizer will normally prevent the engine from starting if the proper security token is not given to it. Sometimes, you may be able to lock and unlock your vehicle, but the engine still does not start.
If there is no other logical explanation or mechanical issue to explain why you are experiencing engine problems, it could be associated with the immobilizer wiring inside your vehicle.
5) Bad Wiring
If you are experiencing issues with your immobilizer device but your key is working correctly, you then need to physically inspect the wiring of the immobilizer device inside the vehicle.
If the wiring appears to have damage, wear, and/or corrosion, that clearly indicates why your immobilizer system is not working.
Therefore, you will need to replace all the wiring. This can only be done at the car dealership where you purchased your vehicle.