Immobilised Engine - Subaru Impreza WRX

[daw123]

Hey guys / girls,

This happended to me last night at about 10:30pm:

1. I used the key fob in my drive way to the open car and disable the immobiliser.
   Started the car and drove to the nearest services to buy munchies.
   I got to the services and could not lock the car using the key fob. wtf.
   Tried several times to use the fob - walked around the car whilst clicking the fob and also tried the fob from inside the car.
   I was able to lock/unlock the car using the key, but I couldn't start the engine. btw on a Subaru Impreza you have about 20 seconds from opening the door to starting the engine before the car is immobilised even if you opened the car using the fob.
   Hence, since I didn't use the fob to open the car, I couldn't start the engine.
   Luckily there was a taxi in the services at the time, so I got a taxi to and from home to pick up the spare set of keys.
   With the spare set of keys/fob I started the engine.

Its obvious that the battery on the first fob died.

Is there a way of un-immobilising the car just using the keys, but not the fob. I don't want this to happen to me again in the future, when I'm further from home.

Edit: Added the spec for my car: 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX with PPP

Original thread is fine, locked due to thread necromancy in 2010.

Zenmervolt - AnandTech Moderator

 

[herm0016]

thats the stupidest security system i have heard of.

 

[DOTC]

Originally posted by: herm0016
thats the stupidest security system i have heard of.

How so? It'll take more than 20 seconds I would think to hotwire the car or try something else.

 

[Bignate603]

I would just throw an extra set of batteries in the glove box. I agree though, that would annoy me to no end. Having to start the car in under a minute after unlocking it or it won't start? That's just stupid.

 

[daw123]

I think you're right Bignate603 it would be easier to have spare batteries in the glovebox and a small phillips head screwdriver for taking the fob apart to replace the batteries.

I understand the reason why Subaru have this featuire, but it can be very annoying at times. Expecially when you are putting something in the boot - you either have to start the engine first or lock / unlock the car afterward.

 

[Hyperlite]

Do US spec scoobys have this feature? i have never heard of it...

 

[bruceb]

GM cars work the same way. And the remote takes a CR2032 battery which can be had just about everywhere.
On most GM remotes, you can open it with a small coin.

 

[Zenmervolt]

On most cars, if you lock/unlock the doors with the key, the security system is disabled, assuming that you are using a key with the correct RFID chip for the car.

This is either a very strange quirk of the Subaru anti-theft system or the version on your car is malfunctioning.

ZV

 

[NutBucket]

Unless you have an STi, the '05 did not have an immobilizer in the sense of having a RFID chip in the key. There is a starter kill function of the factory alarm. Now, as far as how to defeat it, I'm guessing its some combination of turning the car on and off. But I'm 100% sure there's a way to defeat it without the remote.

And what's PPP? To me that sounds like a dealer add-on alarm. In which case there's probably a button hidden under the dash that you hold while turning the car on to override it.

EDIT: Ok, so I realize that PPP is Prodrive Performance Pack. Ok, well I assure you that has nothing to do with your problem.

 

[lurk3r]

Originally posted by: DOTC

Originally posted by: herm0016
thats the stupidest security system i have heard of.

How so? It'll take more than 20 seconds I would think to hotwire the car or try something else.

Open the doors, strap your kids in, load the groceries, OOPS, cant start the car cause the POS computer locked me out. Sound effective?

My 02 never had this kind of problem either, could open the doors with the key and start. I'd suspect an issue with the actual ignition switch not sensing your key properly.

 

[Vetterin]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite
Do US spec scoobys have this feature? i have never heard of it...

Well, my 06 Legacy sure doesn't. If it did there's no way in hell I would have even bought it! That sure isn't a safety feature to me.

 

[LTC8K6]

IIRC, the battery is not required for the ignition key to be recognized. That system does not require battery power, IIRC.

The car should start without a battery in the FOB, I think.

 

[cheezmunky]

I have an 05 sti and I've unlocked the car with the fob, loaded groceries, and started the engine up minutes later many times. Sounds like there's something wrong with your security system or something...either that or the sti has a different security feature because of the rfid chip in the key

 

[daw123]

I've just checked the owner's manual and this is supposed to happen, although I was wrong in the OP; it is 30 seconds not 'about 20 seconds'.

There are also quite a few security features that are factory disabled, but can be activated by the dealer.

This is possibly why others don't have the same quirky security features as my car.

Edit: btw this is a UK spec car.

 

[bruceb]

On my 1999 Grand Prix, you must disarm the Antitheft with the keyfob or the car will start, but shut down if you try to drive off.
And on that year, no chip in the ignition key. I think GM started with key chips around 2003 or so (maybe earlier for Corvettes)

 

[Kelvrick]

The only thing similar I can think of is that if you unlock the car with the fob but don't open a door, it automatically relocks after so many seconds. Forgot how much, but like 20 or 30.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
The only thing similar I can think of is that if you unlock the car with the fob but don't open a door, it automatically relocks after so many seconds. Forgot how much, but like 20 or 30.

My car does this as well. It's a Thatcham requirement in case you forget to immobilise the car using the fob. I'm not sure if you have Thatcham standards in the US.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: daw123

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
The only thing similar I can think of is that if you unlock the car with the fob but don't open a door, it automatically relocks after so many seconds. Forgot how much, but like 20 or 30.

My car does this as well. It's a Thatcham requirement in case you forget to immobilise the car using the fob. I'm not sure if you have Thatcham standards in the US.

Since Thatcham is a UK-based private company that is not directly affiliated with any governmental body, I wouldn't call it a "requirement" in the sense of something mandated. It may be a "requirement" for Thatcham certification, but that's not a governmental certification.

It's a criterion used by Thatcham in their independent evaluation of a car's security, but it's not anything like a governmental requirement.

And no, we do not have Thatcham standards in the US, though the IIHS is a similar non-governmental body that releases safety information about cars.

ZV

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: daw123

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
The only thing similar I can think of is that if you unlock the car with the fob but don't open a door, it automatically relocks after so many seconds. Forgot how much, but like 20 or 30.

My car does this as well. It's a Thatcham requirement in case you forget to immobilise the car using the fob. I'm not sure if you have Thatcham standards in the US.

Since Thatcham is a UK-based private company that is not directly affiliated with any governmental body, I wouldn't call it a "requirement" in the sense of something mandated. It may be a "requirement" for Thatcham certification, but that's not a governmental certification.

It's a criterion used by Thatcham in their independent evaluation of a car's security, but it's not anything like a governmental requirement.

And no, we do not have Thatcham standards in the US, though the IIHS is a similar non-governmental body that releases safety information about cars.

ZV

Sorry, I'll clarify my previous post. Its usually an insurance requirement (in my experience) that the security system, be it an aftermarket or factory fitted alarm & immobiliser, is Thatcham approved.

I generally found that with my car they want a tracker installed as well, otherwise the insurance premium becomes ridiculous. Luckily, I bought the car with a Tracker Monitor already installed, so I only have to fork out for the annual membership fee.

 

[LTC8K6]

Our 1996 Lumina has the key chip, so GM started it way before 2003.

 

[bruceb]

That may be, but I know for sure my 1999 Grand Prix does not use the key chip.
Maybe it was an option on some cars at that time.

 

[Drive Country]

Australian delivered 2004 WRX Imprezza with normal keys (no remote & no battery in key) was not used for 3 months - hence dead battery.
Has security pad (known 4 digit code) on console next to gear shift, charged battery with cables disconnected from terminals and carried out following procedure which took about 20 seconds:
Unlock doors with key,
enter code on pad,
turn key to start and alarm goes off.

Can only stop alarm by disconnecting battery or entering code again.

Car still will not start even with new battery

PLEASE HELP:\

You need to ask this question in its own thread instead of bumping a 2 year old thread where people are likely to completely miss your question.

Zenmervolt - AnandTech Moderator

 

[Gibson486]

that sucks. My mazda 3 has an immobilizer, but it used the rfid chip. So if the chip is not present, it will not start. You can still start the car with out the door lock fob too (rfid chip is in the key head). That said, my mazda 3 has engine problems. I woudl take your inconvience over mine any day.:awe:

 

[exdeath]

IIRC, the battery is not required for the ignition key to be recognized. That system does not require battery power, IIRC.

The car should start without a battery in the FOB, I think.

This.

The battery is only for the transmitter for the keyless entry, doors, trunk, panic button, etc.

The security system uses a passive RFID that is energized wirelessly by radio waves from the transponder in the car. You do not need a FOB battery to manually open the doors or start the ignition using the actual key, and the security system should step aside automatically just by the mere fact that the real original key is in the vicinity.

 

[zoiks]

Australian delivered 2004 WRX Imprezza with normal keys (no remote & no battery in key) was not used for 3 months - hence dead battery.
Has security pad (known 4 digit code) on console next to gear shift, charged battery with cables disconnected from terminals and carried out following procedure which took about 20 seconds:
Unlock doors with key,
enter code on pad,
turn key to start and alarm goes off.

Can only stop alarm by disconnecting battery or entering code again.

Car still will not start even with new battery

PLEASE HELP:\

In my Mazda6 when the alarm would go off, you'd have to put the key in the door lock and turn counter clockwise to disable it. It's a long shot but doesn't hurt to try.