Sometimes, your car’s security system can prevent the engine from starting. For instance, if the immobilizer fails to recognize your key, your engine won’t start. And while you may think it is a serious problem, it could be as simple as a flat battery in the key fob, which weakens the signal from the fob to the system.
In this instance, all you have to do is replace the battery. And if this does not work then you may need to dig deeper to resolve the issue. Keep reading to learn how to fix the issue.
What is the immobilizer system?
The immobilizer or anti-theft system verifies that the key used to turn the engine on is the correct one. If the key is not the correct one, this system blocks different actions to prevent the car from starting.
When this system is activated, a warning light will turn on the dashboard or instrument panel.
How does the immobilizer work?
Each original key has a chip inside which sends a signal when it gets close to the ignition switch. Inside the switch there is an antenna which receives this signal and sends it to the car’s computer. If the signal is the same as the one the car has saved, then the driver will be allowed to start the car.
An engine immobilizer system (or car immobilizer) is a great piece of electronic security technology which is basically a vehicle theft deterrent. Its purpose is to prevent a vehicle from being hot-wired and stolen by a thief who doesn’t have a key to start the engine. Research studies have proven there are 40% fewer car thefts since immobilizers were introduced into cars.
If you’ve purchased a car that was made within the last 20 years, then you’ve probably already used this technology without even realizing it. The car keys that car dealerships distribute now are basically key fobs or smart keys. That is why the base of the key contains buttons to lock and unlock car doors, open the trunk, or sometimes even remotely start the vehicle.
Many key fobs on newer vehicles don’t even have a physical key attached to the base. You just have to be inside the vehicle with the key fob in order to start the car by way of an Engine Start button. The inside of the key fob contains a transponder chip. When you put the key into the ignition or have the key fob inside the vehicle (for keyless fobs), the transponder chip inside the key fob sends a security code to the car’s immobilizer system.
If this security code matches the code in the immobilizer system, the car will be allowed to start. If the key is not legitimate or there is no key fob or transponder present, the car will not start. This security code is random each time you start the vehicle and your key is the only source that can generate the correct token for the vehicle.
The good news is that this this electronic immobilization system works very well in preventing car theft and getting your key stuck in the ignition is a thing of the past. The bad news is that if you lose your key fob or the transponder chip is damaged or goes bad, you’ll need to get a new key from the auto dealership which can be very costly.
Symptoms of an Engine Immobilizer System Malfunction
Like anything else that is electronic, an immobilizer system can malfunction and case some problems for you. Here are the 5 most common signs that you can expect to experience if there’s a problem somewhere in your car’s immobilizer system.
Issues with car alarm
The security alarm of your vehicle is also connected to the immobiliser. Since the immobilizer is the main security feature of your vehicle, that means your factory car alarm system won’t work if the immobilizer is faulty.
Therefore, if your car has a bad immobiliser, then your factory car alarm system will not work. This could be one of the reasons that cause your car alarm to go off continuously. Now you know the symptoms and what causes a bad engine immobiliser. The immobiliser is an electronic security device that prevents the engine from being started without the correct digital key.
In other words, the vehicle can be started with just your key. Hence, when you plan to buy a used car make sure you check its wiring, key ignition and safety features.
Unlocking Problems
When you use your key to attempt to unlock the doors of your vehicle remotely, the doors don’t unlock. Unfortunately, many modern-day vehicles don’t have keyholes on the outside of the doors, so you cannot open them manually with your key.
if you cannot unlock a car door with the help of a key fob, then you might not be able to lock it either. Hence, you might need to leave the door open or leave the car’s window down in case the door locks automatically. Your car can be hacked and become vulnerable to being stolen until the immobiliser is fixed.
Check this too: Mitsubishi Triton Touch Screen Not Working: Causes & Fixes
This means if you lock the doors from the inside and then close the doors, you won’t be able to get back into your car because your key won’t be able to unlock the doors. At this point, you’d have to call a locksmith to unlock the door.
Similar to the last symptom, you probably won’t be able to lock your doors with your smart key if you cannot unlock them either.
Without a working smart key or key fob, the only way you can lock your doors is if you lock them from the inside as the doors are open and then you close the doors. The problem with this is that you risk the chance of leaving your car keys in the vehicle with no way to get them out.
Bad wiring corrodes
If there is an issue with the car immobiliser but the key fob is working fine, then you might need to check the wiring of an engine immobiliser.
You may find damaged, corroded and worn out wires which indicate an issue with an immobiliser control unit. However, the problem can be fixed if you replace the wiring and get it checked by professionals.
Engine Does Not Start
A common symptom of a problem with your engine immobilizer is that your vehicle does not start at all. If it weren’t for the problems with the locking mechanisms, there could be a wide variety of reasons why your engine does not start.
But if you experience those problems and have an engine that doesn’t make an attempt to start, then you clearly have a problem with either your immobilizer or the smart key itself.
Key in Ignition Does Not Turn
If your car key doesn’t turn after inserting into the ignition, there might be an issue with a transponder chip placed inside the key fob. The key won’t turn because the key fob may be unable to send the security code to the car engine immobiliser. Before you call a professional auto technician, make sure you are using the right key fob of the car.
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.
Note: 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.
Engine does not start
The bad engine immobiliser won’t let the vehicle start until it does not receive a proper security token. In some cases, you might be able to lock or unlock the vehicle but the engine will not start with a faulty engine immobiliser.
However, it is important to note here that there could be several reasons that your car engine is not starting. Hence, it is better to consult a technician. If you cannot figure out the issue when the engine doesn’t start, you should check the wiring of the engine immobiliser.
Why is the immobilizer activated on a Triton?
The main reason is because the car’s computer does not recognize or does not detect the signal sent by the chip which is inside the key. The most common reasons as to why this happens are:
- Low battery of the key or the remote control: the chip will not send the signal.
- The chip of the key is damaged or has been decoded: it may happen if the key is damaged or if it gets wet.
- Faulty electrical wiring: it may happen both in the antenna as well as in the immobilizer unit or the engine’s computer.
Other infrequent causes include:
- Damaged antenna: due to electrical reasons, the antenna may stop working.
- Lack of synchronization of the immobilizer unit.
- Electronic failure: any of the contacts or internal electronic components of the module or the computer may get damaged.
What happens when the immobilizer is activated on a Triton?
If the car does not recognize the signal of the key, two things may happen:
- The engine may turn on for a few seconds and then it will stop.
- The engine will not turn on.
The car’s computer will disable the fuel pump, the ignition coil and/or the injectors, depending on the electronic immobilizer system. Moreover, if the car has a diesel engine, this system will also block the “stop” relay, which will prevent the fuel from being injected into the engine. Sometimes, this system will also block the steering column which will lock the steering wheel.
How can I fix an immobilizer problem on a Triton?
Here are some potential fixes;
Replace the battery
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. 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.
Replace corroded wires and other components
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.
To fix an activated immobilizer issue, start by checking the condition of your battery. To do this you will need to equip yourself with a voltmeter. Then connect the positive terminal with that of the battery and the negative terminal on the negative terminal of the battery. When you start your car, the voltmeter should announce on average 13 to 15 volts.
Then in case the problem does not come from there, check the relays available from the car’s fuse box. So take the opportunity to check the state of the centralization fuse. For these you can consult the car’s maintenance booklet. This will allow you to know the exact location of the relay and the fuse dedicated to the immobilizer in the fuse box located near the battery. When one of the two is grilled in this case you can buy another of the same caliber and the replace with your own. The procedure is fairly easy.
Note: If you cannot accomplish this task, it is advisable to leave this process in the hands of a specialist.
First, the technician will scan the car with the adequate diagnosis equipment to check if the problem is actually related to the immobilizer system. If that is the case, the technician will have to identify the cause among the causes already mentioned and then see if this problem can be solved via programming or if it is necessary to replace any of the components.
How to bypass the immobilizer system
There are other ways to get around the immobilizer issue. These include;
Disable Transponder Key System Without Key
A transponder key is among the most important vehicle parts, as it ensures your car’s safety. If you accidentally lost it; you might have to pay a large amount of money to mechanical engineering services for a similar one.
Fortunately, you can save your budget after learning how to disable transponder key system without a key.
Note: Before performing a system reset, you need to ensure that the battery capacity in the fob is full. So, it can work properly to send a signal to the chipped.
Here are the simple steps for you to replace the battery for it.
- Use a flat piece of metal to open the fob.
- Look in the battery compartment to see if the battery is in the correct position. Also, use the multimeter to check its health.
- Replace a new one if you detect bad battery condition.
You can try is to disconnect the immobilizer from the power source. This method will probably work, yet it comes with risks related to the car’s safety. Therefore, you should carefully consider whether to choose this way.
Turn off the immobiliser
Start by finding the start code on the “code card”. Then proceed to turn on the ignition, use your centralized button to enter the digits, several quick presses (example: 2 for digit 2) then a stop of one and a half seconds to confirm the digit and resume, replicate the procedure until you have entered the full code. This should allow your Mitsubishi L200 to start without having to remove the immobiliser.
Use an Immobilizer bypass module
An immobilizer bypass module allows the user to remotely start the car. As it is essential for the cars to start. The cars after 1998 cannot remotely start if the immobilizer module is not in place. Therefore, for any remote starter to work, it must have it to think that the key is in the ignition. So that’s where the bypass module comes in.
Whether they’re called an ignition immobilizer interface, transponder bypass kit, or a pass lock interface, they are all bypass modules and they do the same job. If your car shows this symbol when you turn it on the car, then your car has an immobilizer.
Placing the key inside the keyhole
You can bypass the immobilizer by placing the key in the keyhole hence deactivating the car’s immobilizer to remote start. The added security with Mobokey allows the security to be activated as soon as the phone moves away from the car, so you don’t have to worry about car security.
Proceed to disengage the immobilizer by using an immobilizer bypass module. Depending on the car most of the modules run $35 or more.
Extracting the key fob from the key
So, extracting the fob from the key allows you to bypass the immobilizer. Placing it near the keyhole receiver of the car in such a manner that the immobilizer light doesn’t show up at the start of the car with the device. Some cars have similar light as above which shows the presence of the immobilizer system in the car.
Note:
Bypassing the immobilizer on your Mitsubishi Triton is not recommended at all for different reasons. Firstly, your truck would be much more vulnerable to theft attempts. Without an immobiliser, simply doing “the wires” may be enough to turn your car on.
Additionally, your insurance, in case of theft most likely won’t refund you if they find out that the immobiliser on your Mitsubishi Triton has been removed, bypassed or deactivated.
How to Reset the immobilizer
Follow this immobilizer reset procedure to deactivate it.
Drivers’ door key reset
Exit the car with all doors closed and the windows rolled up. Also, close and any rear doors such as the trunk, rear hatch and front hood. Lock the car using the driver’s side lock and walk away from the car at least ten feet. Wait for fifteen minutes and unlock the door, this should reset the security system.
Activate the key fob
Many manufactures will not allow the car to start when the panic button has been pushed. Hold down the panic button for five seconds to reset the immobilizer. Next, push the lock button two times and wait ten feet away from the car for ten minutes.
Then hit the unlock button on the fob twice this should deactivate the security system which should be accompanied by exterior lights flashing or an audible horn beep. Each of these steps should be followed by the cancellation of the security light. If this light is blinking while you are trying to crank and start the engine the system is not reset.
Turn the ignition on
Many immobilizer systems need to see the power utilized from each power input delivered from the ignition switch. Insert the ignition key and turn it to the on position and then attempt to start the engine (crank over), the engine won’t start. With the key still in the run position wait 10 minutes and the security light should blink and then go out.
Turn the key off and wait 5 seconds. Repeat these steps for a total for 3, 10-minute cycles. The car is now ready to relearn the Pass lock code the next time the key is used, any trouble codes will clear after 100 cycles of the key.
Remove the alarm fuse
The alarm fuse is located in the fuse panel of most cars. Using the owner’s manual remove the fuse which will power down the security system. At this point the car will not start, reinsert the fuse to reactive the system. This is known as a soft reboot of the immobilizer.
Disconnect battery
Sometimes the anti-theft system can out of sync due to a voltage spike or an operational error. Start by removing the battery’s negative cable and leave it disconnected for five minutes then reconnect the battery. This will allow the security system to perform a hard reboot and reset the alarm protocol to help the immobilizer start working in the proper sequence.