I was responding to the question, "How hard is it to make/install an immobilizer". One could make an immobilizer by making the engine controller think that there's no throttle/air, therefore causing the engine to slow down to idle power and essentially immobilizing the car. It seems you believe I was suggesting a way to get around existing immobilizers. The key coding in my 1998 ford is locally generated. As long as you have two keys that the controller accepts, then programming an additional key is straightforward. When you have one key, then it has to be a "primary" key, and then you can program another key. If you've lost all your keys you have to go to the dealer to have it reset. They have undoubtedly strengthened this over the years. You are correct that attempting to bypass this type of system is difficult. So much so that insurance companies apparently are turning down some claims of stolen cars because they believe the system is foolproof. It is, however, not impossible. Some cars even have relatively simple override procedures for the system, or so I've read... -Adam On 10/17/07, Carl Denk wrote: > How are you going to jumper the signals to 6 fuel injectors or time the > ignition. The key is coded, and the computer is looking for that code, > where when you get an extra key, the dealer needs to know you are the > owner, and if I know Ford's IT systems, the coding for the new key comes > from a server, and isn't local generated. > > M. Adam Davis wrote: > > It wouldn't be too hard to intercept and modify the throttle signal. > > When the immobilizer is activated, it simply starts reporting lower > > and lower values for the throttle position. The engine will slowly > > get starved of gas, slowly lose power, and no damage will occur to the > > vehicle or the occupants. It could be hard to remove or modify > > depending on placement, but without modifying the ECU itself it can > > always be jumpered. > > > > -Adam > > > > On 10/17/07, Peter P. wrote: > > > >> Robert Rolf ualberta.ca> writes: > >> > >>> Apparently vans are a very popular theft target so they can haul > >>> their break in booty away, and then ditch it. > >>> > >> Perhaps this is a STRONG hint towards the need to install immobilizer type > >> alarms buried deep in the engine and transmission ? I have no idea how I'd go > >> about fitting such a thing to a car that is not prepared for it but I'm sure it > >> is no impossible at all. It could even involve a pic or ten. > >> > >> Peter P. > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > >> View/change your membership options at > >> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > >> > >> > > > > > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Moving in southeast Michigan? Buy my house: http://ubasics.com/house/ Interested in electronics? Check out the projects at http://ubasics.com Building your own house? Check out http://ubasics.com/home/ -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist