Understanding Car Immobilizers: The Basics
Immobilizer is an electronic safety device installed in automotive vehicles. It prevents the vehicle from unauthorised start. Technically speaking, it is an electronic code (constant or variable – depending on the type of immobilizer) that is written into an electronic memory located inside a transponder – car key – which starts the car.
The Importance of Immobilizers in Vehicle Security
Does protecting the car using an immobilizer system decrease the chances of car theft? In the 90s it became mandatory to install this protection system. Currently it is installed in virtually every manufactured vehicle. The latest reports based on the data from Europe, North America and Australia show that the use of immobilizer is highly effective – car theft decreased significantly after the year 2000.
Immobilizer Fundamentals
In order to start the car, the driver has to insert the key into the ignition switch and start the ignition. At that moment, an exchange of signal takes place. When the signals sent out by the transponder and the Engine Control Unit match, the car is allowed to start.
How Do Immobilizers Work?
In simple terms, the process is as follows: first, the electromagnetic field induces the voltage within the transponder (key), which generates a unique code. The code is received and verified by the immobilizer module. Subsequently, the immobilizer emits its own code which is received by the transponder in order to write it into the key. An exchange of code signals between the immobiliser and the Engine Control Unit takes place. If the ECU recognises the valid code and the codes match, the locks are released and the car starts. In practice, the entire signal comparison takes only a fraction of a second, which means that the whole process is unnoticeable to the driver.
Signs of Immobilizer Issues
What happens if the signals sent by the transponder and the ECU do not match, thus failing the verification process? Depending on what solution has been applied by the car manufacturer, in the event of code mismatch, the engine may either not start at all or start only to stop after a short while.
Common Symptoms of a Failing Immobilizer
It often looks as follows: When the Key warning light (or Security in some cases) shows up on the dashboard after turning the ignition and doesn’t disappear after 2-3 seconds, it means that
there is a problem with the immobilizer control unit, antenna coil around the ignition switch or the transponder (key). As mentioned above, in such case the car will either not be allowed to start or will start for a brief moment and turn off.
How Immobilizer Problems Affect Your Vehicle
All kinds of issues, ranging grom from key transponder, antenna coil around the ignition to built- in immobilizer system, give the same result – the car is unable to start.
Diagnosing Immobilizer Issues
If there are issues with starting the car, and the Key warning light doesn’t turn off, then the car key should be looked into. It may be that transponder inside the key got damaged. To verify this, it’s best to use a second, spare key – on the condition that the transponder inside of it is working correctly. If the car can be started using the spare key, then we can be 100% certain that it is indeed the damaged immobilizer transponder that it the reason of the issue. However, what if the car won’t start even with the spare key? It may indicate that the problem might be elsewhere.
Professional Diagnostic Approaches
Another component which could get damaged is the antenna coil, the function of which is to pass the signal from the transponder to the immobilizer control unit. A multimeter can be used to check the coil for resistance of a few to over a dozen Ohm without any interruptions. Next, an oscilloscope can be used to check the coil signal on the pins leading from the immobilizer control unit. If there’s no signal, then the immobilizer unit has no power supply or is damaged. If the signal appears, then a deeper analysis needs to be conducted, e.g. CAN ID gateways check via the vehicle’s diagnostics port.
Repairing Your Immobilizer
Immobilizer repair consists of locating the damaged component and replacing it with a new one.
The Feasibility of Immobilizer Repairs
It takes specialised tools as well as sufficient technical knowledge in order to perform the repair.
Common Repair Techniques for Immobilizers
After making sure that the immobilizer unit is damaged, the immobilizer content should be checked. Original content should be retrieved an compared with the content found in Immo Bypass App. If the content looks valid, then a search for electronic issue needs to be conducted. Using an oscilloscope and a multimeter, the voltage leading to the MPC and the memory located on the ECU board need to be checked. If the voltage doesn’t look valid, or is non-existent, then a switching regulator should be inspected. The oscilloscope can again come in handy to check the correct functioning of the crystal oscillator, particularly whether the clocking is consistent with the values printed on the casing. Having located the faulty component, one can replace it with a new one and verify the functioning of the immobilizer system.
Immobilizer Repair Vs. Replacement
An alternative to replacing an immobilizer is to repair it. But, is it always more economic to do so?
When to Repair and When to Replace
If the damaged components are not available or very expensive, then it’s often more cost- effective to purchase a second-hand, functioning module and adapt it to the vehicle with the help of Immo Bypass App.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Repairing vs. Buying New
Another option to be considered is purchasing a new module – it goes without saying that it involves higher costs. If, however, the costs of parts are higher then purchasing a new module, the choice is obvious.
Carlabimmo’s Role in Immobilizer Solutions
Supposed that a new module it very expensive and the spare parts or the second-hand module are unavailable? The fourth option – and probably the most reasonable alternative – is to purchase an emulator. One of the most popular and wide-use emulators on the market is Julie™ PRO Emulator from CarLabImmo. The price of the Julie™ PRO Emulator is relatively low compared to purchasing a new module or even a second-hand one. The Emulator’s reliability is another advantage.
Overview of Carlabimmo’s Products
Apart from the constantly improved Julie™ PRO Emulator, CarLabImmo company also offers the Immo Bypass App that was mentioned earlier in the article. It allows users to edit ECU content or to completely remove immobilizer (immo off). Additionally, the app contains the Toolbox section – a set of expert calculators and algorithms. What’s more, the company has launched a tech support forum as an integral part of the program. Another popular CarLabImmo products are Fiat Bypass – Emergency Start Device (which makes it possible to start Fiat Group vehicles in emergency situations) and Bypass Gold (a device that permanently removes immobilizer in VAG Group vehicles – Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, Seat).
Why Choose Carlabimmo for Your Immobilizer Needs
CarLabImmo company has been dealing with car electronics for over 25 years, focusing on developing and programming of ECU repair emulators. Reliability and a vast database is what makes the products stand out. Immo Bypass App contains over 14500 solutions: text instructions, photos, original and modified ECU files as well as a built-in Toolbox section – a set of calculators and advanced algorithms that are useful to car workshops. As of today (January 2024), the latest version of Julie™ PRO Emulator is version 122, containing 76 programs capable of supporting over 270 ECU types that are commonly installed in many car makes and models.
Technical Aspects of Immobilizer Repair
From a technical point of view, damaged immobilizer diagnostics, locating the damaged component and setting the correct parameters in a replacement module may not be an easy task. To check whether your ECU is supported by Julie™ PRO, all it takes is to write your ECU number in Solution Finder web search tool found on CarLabImmo website.
The Intricacies of Electronic Repairs
To simplify the process of diagnostics and repair, CarLabImmo has been running a technical forum for a number of years. The forum is an integral part of tech support for the users of Immo Bypass.
Software Issues vs. Hardware Malfunctions in Immobilizers
As already explained in the article, the most common type of immobilizer system issue is related to the hardware. Although it is very rare for the original software to fail, there are some instances where it is the software that is the root cause of the immobilizer issues. In such cases, qualified professionals with specialised equipment are able to pinpoint the cause of the problem.
CarLabImmo company also offers such services – it is possible to send the ECU to the company headquarters for a paid service of ECU diagnostics and installation of appropriate emulator. If the diagnostics reveal an issue with the ECU software, it is usually corrected. But if there’s a hardware issue, then only alternative seems to be finding a functioning replacement.
Ensuring Security After Repairs
Security after repair is essential. When it comes to safety from the technical perspective, then the choice of emulator that will be used is of highest importance. The market is flooded with emulators that can’t offer any guarantee of functioning, and certainly can’t guarantee long-
lasting performance and the option of issuing a consumer complaint. The Emulators from CarLabImmo are covered by a full warranty and – what’s more important – warranty claims are very rare. What’s more, starting from version 122 of Julie™ PRO Emulator, CarLabImmo has introduced component improvements that further increase the product’s performance and reliability.
Preventative Measures and Maintenance
The component improvements mentioned serve as preventative measures and minimise the the need for maintenance. What measures are they? The first one is the use of gold plated solder pads which increase the resistance to tarnishing, patina, oxidation or corrosion. It’s worth noting that in low voltages the solder pad’s resistance has a big impact on the quality of connection.
Another preventative measure found in version 122 of Julie™ PRO is the use of automotive MCUs – microcircuits that consist of a number of electric components designed for the purpose of performing various task within vehicles. We can even go as far as to call them computers, because they have their own processing, power and memory units. What makes automotive MCUs different from regular microcircuits is the fact that they have higher quality standards because they are designed for the automotive industry and are able to withstand extreme temperatures. The third measure is the possibility to program version 122 of Julie™ PRO Emulator using a dedicated adapter, designed specifically to work with a programmer. It speeds up the work, because the jumpers on the emulator no longer need to be soldered for the purpose of program selection. All of these preventative measures result in Julie™ PRO being able to work seamlessly for many years and the maintenance is practically unnecessary.
Upgrading Your Immobilizer for Enhanced Security
Some may wonder if upgrading the immobilizer in older car models will enhance their security. It is not necessary, because a functioning immobilizer system is a complete safety system. It doesn’t require any updates or upgrades.
Conclusion: Can Your Immobilizer Be Repaired?
To sum up: Immobilizer is one of various parts of the vehicle and just like any other component, it can be repaired or replaced.
FAQs: Can Your Immobilizer Be Repaired?
If the immobilizer wasn’t physically damaged, then it can be repaired. However, it requires having the information about the type of device and the ECU installed in the vehicle.
Can all types of immobilizers be repaired?
In theory, all immobilizer types can be repaired because they work based on similar principles. The problem might be the availability of the spare components if the replacement is necessary. When it comes to installing the emulator, however, it is possible to go to carlabimmo.com, go to Solution Finder found on CarLabImmo website (Products>Emulators>Find Solution) and enter
the ECU number to find out if it’s supported by Emulators from CarLabImmo. It is also possible to contact CarLabImmo Team directly through a live chat on their website during operating hours or through the Forum.
How long does it take to repair an immobilizer?
A standard immobilizer repair including Emulator installation takes an hour or longer, depending on the complexity of the problem. When it comes to component of physically damaged elements or components, it may take several hours and may involve some errors. That is why many car electronics professionals would rather find a functioning replacement and reprogram it.
Is it cost-effective to repair an older vehicle’s immobilizer?
Whether repairing the immobilizer is economic in case of an older vehicle depends on its value to the owner – it may be of sentimental, collector or strictly useful value. Luckily, thanks to the affordable pricing and reliability of Emulators developed by CarLabImmo, the majority of customers don’t need to bother with such questions. A constantly increasing number of workshops and individuals that use CarLabImmo products and services indicates that repairing even the older vehicles is still cost-effective.
