Engine Immobilizers DO They Actually Work?

[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.