Engine Immobilizers DO They Actually Work?

[More]

I've been told by a car savvy friend that if a thief really wants your car with or without a Immobilizer they will take it.

[san rensho]

True, flatbed truck works really well, but the theif will never be able to hotwire the car and drive it away.

[Jittsl]

It would be possible, but extremely difficult, to start it and would require bringing along a premodified ECU that was able to operate independant of the immobilizer commands. Certainly wouldn't be your average car thief.

[thstone]

If someone really wants a car, they won't mess around with the electronics at all. Professional car thiefs use the same kind of tow truck that the repo guys use. They just roll in, put the arms under the front tires, lift up a foot and drive away. Gone in 60 seconds.

[Ghostrider 310]

Originally Posted by More

I've been told by a car savvy friend that if a thief really wants your car with or without a Immobilizer they will take it.

Just as effective to have a hidden known only to you ignition kill switch. I put the car away today cause of "Sandra"!! On the plus side, on last nights drive I had a chance to truly savor the acceleration as well as dismiss an encounter with a speeding accord approaching from the rear.

[pk2]

Originally Posted by More

I've been told by a car savvy friend that if a thief really wants your car with or without a Immobilizer they will take it.

Yup, They sure can.

The immobilizer has a whopping 40 bit encryption, and compared to this web site and most others, which are most likely 128 bit, that's pathetic. This site is exponentially far more difficult to crack than your car. Just by brute force, a notebook (randomly churning out random codes), might unlock a Porsche in 10 minuets. This site would take eons.

It actually takes much less time, seconds with a quick bump and a smile. The method is a laptop, software, and a little pocket DYI transceiver to talk and shake hands with the keys in your pocket.

Sounds hokey and conspiratorial I know. You can look it up (Google) John's Hopkins University-automotive-encryption for a much better explanation. (yup thats the same John's Hopkins that does all the cutting edge heart, kidney, lung...brain(?) transplants)

Here's the question you should ask yourself; why bother. The immobilizer in the Box is the same as a GTXX, From a sophisticated thieves point of view, why bother with a box when you can have a GT?

Frankly, I'd love to ditch the immobilizer. I've replaced 3 or so to the tune of $3-4k. I leave my top down everywhere (big cities) and to date I've lost a $100 Tom-Tom. If I were really nervous I'd do what someone else here suggested, ad a good alarm and hide a kill switch (really well).

Ya I'm on a soap box. I just hate the things. Just no point.
Regards, PK

[Jittsl]

Next time you have a issue with a failed immobilizer have ECU Specialists in FL make you an ECU that doesn't need an immobilizer. No association just a happy customer.