Autowatch Ghost CANbus Immobiliser.

[Dash-Cam Man]

ian332isport said:

Hi Jay,

I agree 100% about not publishing wiring details for something like a Clifford or Viper system, I'm not sure the wiring diagram for a CAN bus immobiliser like the Ghost is of much use to a thief though. It's more about hiding it in the car where they're unlikely to find it. Simply cutting the wires to the Ghost is going to render it useless, unless I'm missing something.

Also thanks for clarification of the service mode. I agree that driving at above 30 mph for a continuous period of 15 mins is unlikely on a test drive. This makes it much more useful.

Your tip about using the iPhone App is excellent, and something I hadn't considered. I keep an iPod Touch in the car for music duties anyway, so installing the app for any service, repair or warranty work is a brilliant idea.

Thanks for the info. Just need to find an installer in Surrey/Sussex are now.

Cheers,
Ian.

Hi Ian,

No problem at all, glad some info was useful.

Won’t say too much about the wiring, but there is a reason why there is more than just 4 wires on the Ghost unit, because it really can be wired very differently dependant on vehicle, and additional devices can be fitted and require to be fitted for certain vehicles, meaning finding the Ghost & removing it won’t necessarily allow the vehicle to start.

On the 3 series however, F series chassis, the install is flawless and works perfect with the car. I can say this as I have the same vehicle myself, and obviously have fitted the immobiliser on my own.

I can’t think of anybody directly in Surrey, but I would happily recommend Dal @ Automotive Solutions in Birmingham, or Mark at Safe & Sound Leeds. Both these chaps are people who we bounce ideas of regularly, and are the largest installers of these down your neck of the woods, think Mark holds the record with 650 installs of the Ghost himself.

Thanks, Jay

[Ston]

ian332isport said:

Hi Jay,

I agree 100% about not publishing wiring details for something like a Clifford or Viper system, I'm not sure the wiring diagram for a CAN bus immobiliser like the Ghost is of much use to a thief though. It's more about hiding it in the car where they're unlikely to find it. Simply cutting the wires to the Ghost is going to render it useless, unless I'm missing something.

Also thanks for clarification of the service mode. I agree that driving at above 30 mph for a continuous period of 15 mins is unlikely on a test drive. This makes it much more useful.

Your tip about using the iPhone App is excellent, and something I hadn't considered. I keep an iPod Touch in the car for music duties anyway, so installing the app for any service, repair or warranty work is a brilliant idea.

Thanks for the info. Just need to find an installer in Surrey/Sussex are now.

Cheers,
Ian.

Cartronics in West Byfleet did mine the other day.

[Tea Pot One]

Ston said:

Cartronics in West Byfleet did mine the other day.

Clifford or Autowatch Ghost ? I am torn between something that immobilises and a Tracker

[Ston]

Autowatch Ghost. You won't need a tracker if they can't get it going!

[zedx19]

Ston said:

Autowatch Ghost. You won't need a tracker if they can't get it going!

But if they do get it going or you get car jacked, or the car gets lifted, Ghost isn't going to be much help...

[Dash-Cam Man]

zedx19 said:

But if they do get it going or you get car jacked, or the car gets lifted, Ghost isn't going to be much help...

If my vehicle was lifted from my driveway overnight by an organised criminal group, who managed to sneak into my street, operate a recovery truck style crane to lift my vehicle onto a flatbed, or operating a winch to drag my car onto a flatbed, without anybody hearing a thing - I would have to give them a round of applause for doing all that, without the factory alarm going off (where most vehicles have a tilt sensor fitted as part of an OEM alarm). If they have went to this effort to get a vehicle, it's likely they will also be using RF tools to find the hidden tracker and have it removed, before I woke up and managed to activate it.

In regards to your car jacking point, a large percentage of vehicles that a Ghost is installed in, can have a feature called 'Anti-Hijack' enabled, meaning if you get dragged out the car at a set of lights, the car will request a PIN input from the user within the first 30 seconds or so of driving after it's tripped into 'Anti Hijack' - if it's not input, the vehicle will give you a few attempts to try input it, before cutting out (when next stopped) within a few hundred yards of where the incident took place, and refuse to start till the correct PIN is input.

It works on the door sensor and brake pedal sensor, if you open the door without keeping your foot on the brake pedal, the Ghost trips into 'Anti-Hijack' mode, and requests a PIN. If you are the owner of the vehicle, popping your PIN in when it's tripped isn't an issue, if you have been dragged out the car however, your foot would have come off the brake pedal at some point, and the Ghost will be in 'Anti Hijack' mode for the stupid thief who has jumped into it.

Edited by Dash-Cam Man on Monday 19th November 15:48

Edited by Dash-Cam Man on Friday 24th July 15:23

[Toltec]

Dash-Cam Man said:

If my vehicle was lifted from my driveway overnight by an organised criminal group, who managed to sneak into my street, operate a recovery truck style crane to lift my vehicle onto a flatbed, or operating a winch to drag my car onto a flatbed, without anybody hearing a thing - I would have to give them a round of applause for doing all that, without the factory alarm going off (where most vehicles have a tilt sensor fitted as part of an OEM alarm). If they have went to this effort to get a vehicle, it's likely they will also be using RF tools to find the hidden tracker and have it removed, before I woke up and managed to activate it.

In regards to your car jacking point, a large percentage of vehicles that a Ghost is installed in, can have a feature called 'Anti-Hijack' enabled, meaning if you get dragged out the car at a set of lights, the car will request a PIN input from the user within the first 30 seconds or so of driving after it's tripped into 'Anti Hijack' - if it's not input, the vehicle will give you a few attempts to try input it, before cutting out within a few hundred yards of where the incident took place, and refuse to start till the correct PIN is input.

It works on the door sensor and brake pedal sensor, if you open the door without keeping your foot on the brake pedal, the Ghost trips into 'Anti-Hijack' mode, and requests a PIN. If you are the owner of the vehicle, popping your PIN in when it's tripped isn't an issue, if you have been dragged out the car however, your foot would have come off the brake pedal at some point, and the Ghost will be in 'Anti Hijack' mode for the stupid thief who has jumped into it.

Edited by Dash-Cam Man on Monday 19th November 15:48

Is that a new variant of the feature? I know an anti-hijack option existed a couple of years ago, however it was not legal for use in the UK.

[ian332isport]

Ghost now fitted.

I used SoundSecure in Horley, who did a very nice job.

Ian.

[Tea Pot One]

ian332isport said:

Ghost now fitted.

I used SoundSecure in Horley, who did a very nice job.

Ian.

Did you go for the normal one or the version with ADR tags too ?

[ian332isport]

Tea Pot One said:

Did you go for the normal one or the version with ADR tags too ?

I just had the normal one fitted. To be honest, until you asked (and I went looking), I didn't know there was another version.

That said, I would still have chosen the regular non ADR version

Ian.

[Toltec]

ian332isport said:

I just had the normal one fitted. To be honest, until you asked (and I went looking), I didn't know there was another version.

That said, I would still have chosen the regular non ADR version

Ian.

The ADR version fundamentally changes the operation from 'something you know' to 'something you have' so it removes the 2 factor authentication aspect of the system which I found a key selling point. Though at least the ADR version helps protect from key cloning.

[Terminator X]

A friend has it, bloody awesome product imho.

TX.

[Terminator X]

Gareth79 said:

Rat_Fink_67 said:

but is impossible to circumnavigate.

Does removing the device from the vehicle circumnavigate it?

How would you know it was there though? Attempts to start car, car won't start, thief fks off.

TX.

[Dash-Cam Man]

Toltec said:

Is that a new variant of the feature? I know an anti-hijack option existed a couple of years ago, however it was not legal for use in the UK.

It's not a new feature no - it's been around for as long as we have been fitting them. Most installers won't possibly even mention, or activate this feature (where applicable), in fear of support calls or even callouts, when the vehicle cuts out, and the customer can't remember why.

Many alarms, such as the Pandora systems (remote immobilisation from key fob) & Clifford Blackjax (same as Ghost, no PIN, cuts out safely down the road) employ the same methods of immobilisation when activated. I'm not sure on the legalities currently, but the big players have been selling these for years, and nobody has pulled them up on any compliance with law yet.

[ian332isport]

Regarding the service/valet mode. I've read that it will automatically disable after driving above 30mph for 3 mins or 15 min. Even the owners manual mentions both, but doesn't really specify which. Is the time configurable for 3 or 15 mins, or is it vehicle dependent ?

[Dash-Cam Man]

ian332isport said:

Regarding the service/valet mode. I've read that it will automatically disable after driving above 30mph for 3 mins or 15 min. Even the owners manual mentions both, but doesn't really specify which. Is the time configurable for 3 or 15 mins, or is it vehicle dependent ?

Originally back in the day, it was 3 minutes. Now nearly all software that we flash on the Ghost, since mid 2017, will be 15 minutes. If you have a Ghost installed pre mid 2017, it may well be 3 minutes. You can ask your installer to reflash the Ghost with a new file, which will be the 15 minute cut off for service/valet mode. I'm sure they would only charge you a very minimum cost for this.

Thanks, Jay

[ian332isport]

Dash-Cam Man said:

Originally back in the day, it was 3 minutes. Now nearly all software that we flash on the Ghost, since mid 2017, will be 15 minutes. If you have a Ghost installed pre mid 2017, it may well be 3 minutes. You can ask your installer to reflash the Ghost with a new file, which will be the 15 minute cut off for service/valet mode. I'm sure they would only charge you a very minimum cost for this.

Thanks, Jay

Thanks Jay. Mine was only installed in November, so I assume it will be up to date.

Can you clarify when the Ghost drops out of service/valet mode?

I was under the impression that you needed to drive above 30mph for 15 mins continuously for it to exit service mode. If during this 15 minute period, you drop below 30, the timer restarts, and you get another 15 mins once the speed exceeds 30 again.

I've only tried service mode once on mine, and it exited service mode (while driving) after only a couple of minutes above 30 mph. Prior to this, I had been above 30, but had dropped below 30 several times. It's possible it had been 15 mins from the point I initially hit 30 though.

I read something today that suggested you needed to come to a complete stop, rather than just dropping below 30 mph. This could explain what happened to me.

I need to try again, but it would be good to have the official line.

Cheers,
Ian.

[jez-m]

Hi all. Just picked up a new car (Golf GTI) and the Ghost has been mentioned by a mate as a good idea. I’d not heard of it before so started a googling. Reading this thread has been useful, seems like a no brainier. Anything I need to be aware of before jumping in - this thread’s a year old now and I know stuff changes all the time. Also any recommendations for an installer in the Midlands? And what sort of price should I be paying - 400 seems to be the going rate. Thanks.

[anonymous-user]

"Hello mate, give us the code for the car or your kids are getting stabbed”.

Would rather not hear that at 3am with a knife armed thief between me and my children.

Would rather they took the keys from downstairs and fked off without bothering me!

[jez-m]

Yeah, that thought has crossed my mind but I street park and rarely outside my own house, so odds of them knowing which house I’m in are slim (unless I’ve been followed - odds of which are even slimmer). Grim way we have to think though isn’t it?