All of our possessions are valuable to us. In fact, a few things are as infuriating as realising that our possessions have been stolen or damaged. When it comes to a costly possession like a car, we leave no stone unturned in ensuring its safety and protecting it from thieves.
Car manufacturers have introduced various anti-theft devices. One of such anti-theft devices is an engine immobiliser.
In this guide, we will discuss engine immobiliser in detail including the following points:
- What is an engine immobiliser
- How engine immobiliser works
- How to check if a car is equipped with an engine immobiliser
- Disabling the engine immobiliser
- Fixing a faulty engine immobiliser
What is an Engine Immobiliser
An engine immobiliser is an electronic security technology installed in a car that stops the engine from starting unless the correct transponder or smart key is attached. This inhibits motor vehicle theft by preventing the car from bypassing the ignition switch on a car and starting it without the key.
How Engine Immobiliser Works
An engine immobiliser comprises two main components: a receiver in the vehicle and a transponder in the ignition key. The vehicle sends a signal to the key when someone tries to turn the engine on. The engine control module, an on-board computer in your vehicle, will let the car’s engine start only if the electronic chip in the car’s key responds with the correct code. However, the engine will stop if the code is not correct or if no code is received.
The engine immobiliser system in an automobile is placed in the engine control unit. The easiest method to know if the car manufacturer has installed an engine immobiliser in your car is to consult them or refer to your owner’s manual.
How Do I Know If My Car Is Equipped with an Engine Immobiliser
The engine immobiliser system in an automobile is placed in the engine control unit. The easiest method to know if the car manufacturer has installed an engine immobiliser in your car is to consult them or refer to your owner’s manual.
Modern cars nowadays come with factory-installed engine immobilisers. If you have bought an old car that doesn’t have an engine immobiliser, you can purchase an aftermarket engine immobiliser from any automotive accessories shop.
Common Faults With Engine Immobiliser
The warning signs that are indicative of a faulty engine immobiliser are as follows:
- If you press the unlock or lock button on your car key fob and the car door does not open or lock, it means your key fob isn’t communicating properly with the engine immobiliser.
- If your immobiliser isn’t working but your key is, look into the wiring of the immobiliser within the vehicle. If the wiring seems to be damaged, worn, or rusted, this is the reason why your immobiliser system isn’t operating. As a result, you’ll need to get all of the wiring repaired.
- Weak fob battery
- Your car’s safety alarm is connected to the immobiliser. As a result, if your car’s security alarm is malfunctioning, the engine immobiliser will not be able to perform its function.
Disabling the Engine Immobiliser
Engine immobiliser significantly helps in reducing car theft and preventing car break-ins. But here’s a word of caution: immobilisers can be bypassed and disabled. This is why it is important that you avoid mistakes that make your car vulnerable to break-in. The anti-theft alarm will not be activated since the car will determine that the lock has been unlocked and the engine has been started with the correct car key.
This concludes our guide about engine immobilisers. If you are looking for cars with modern ignition systems and anti-theft features, check out this huge collection of used cars for sale in the UAE.
To learn more about automobiles, automotive parts and the automotive industry, stay tuned to UAE’s leading auto blog.
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