The Manitoba Driver, from Manitoba Public Insurance
February 2008

About 570 words
Ensuring harmony between remote starters and immobilizers

With plenty of bite left in the Manitoba winter it’s important to make sure your remote car starter and auto theft electronic immobilizer are in shape to go the distance together.

Improperly installed remote starters can compromise your immobilizer, whether it’s factory-installed or an aftermarket device obtained through the Manitoba Public Insurance program.

“The key is to ensure proper installation of the remote starter, and to check periodically to make sure the immobilizer is working correctly,” says Reg Phillips, Technical Director for the Vehicle Security Installation Bureau (VSIB), which trains and certifies all the installers participating in the Manitoba Public Insurance immobilizer program.

“It’s a good idea to test any immobilizer, whether it is a factory-fitted or an aftermarket model. This should be done whether a remote starter has been installed after an immobilizer is fitted or if the immobilizer has been installed after a remote starter.”

If your vehicle already has an immobilizer, it’s wise to get the remote starter installed at a VSIB-approved immobilizer installation facility. These technicians have received special training and certification to national standards. They know how to make remote starters and immobilizers work together properly.

Regardless of who does the work, you should ask the facility to make sure your remote starter and immobilizer are both working correctly before you pay the bill. That way you can drive away with confidence.

Check your immobilizer regularly—it’s easy

A simple procedure will tell you whether your immobilizer is in good working order. Run through the following tests after any electrical work is completed on your vehicle, especially if it involves your vehicle’s starter, ignition or fuel system.

If your immobilizer is factory installed your transponder is embedded in your ignition key. All you have to do is:

• Fold a piece of tin foil into a four inch square at least three layers thick.
• Poke a hole in the centre with your ignition key and wrap the tin foil over your key.
• Start your vehicle. If it doesn’t start or starts and then immediately stalls, your immobilizer is operating normally.
• Do not repeat this test right away as you could activate your vehicle’s anti-tamper feature. Should you need to re-test, do it only after the vehicle has been driven normally at least once.

If your vehicle is equipped with an aftermarket immobilizer, your transponder is located in your key fob:

• Wait at least 35 seconds after your vehicle is turned off and your security system’s LED light is flashing slowly.
• Take the transponder fob off your key chain prior to attempting to start your vehicle, and then try starting your vehicle.
• Your vehicle should not start and the red LED light for the immobilizer system should continue to flash slowly.

It’s a good idea to do this additional test if your vehicle has a remote starter:

• Take the transponder off your key ring – or wrap tin foil over your key if the immobilizer is factory-installed.
• Allow the vehicle to re-arm, which takes 35 seconds (the LED light will flash slowly).
• Start the vehicle with the remote starter and turn on your ignition while stepping on the brake. Your vehicle should immediately stall and not restart. The LED light should still be flashing slowly.

Following these simple guidelines should help you get years of trouble-free service out of your immobilizer and your remote starter.

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© 2008 Manitoba Public Insurance

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