Is my car fitted with an immobiliser?
Discussion
Hello. I have a 1994 serpentine / T 5 configuration .doors open by push button behind the doors. Normal key opens the doors and activates central locking and alarm. I do not know if it is also immobilized at the same time. No mention in the hand book. Normally just hop in. Turn key and away. Having starting issues on previous post. How can I tell
L200OOM said:
Hello. I have a 1994 serpentine / T 5 configuration .doors open by push button behind the doors. Normal key opens the doors and activates central locking and alarm. I do not know if it is also immobilized at the same time. No mention in the hand book. Normally just hop in. Turn key and away. Having starting issues on previous post. How can I tell
have you got a Foxguard Alarm? is you fob black with 2 buttons?There is no key fob. Just a key. Starts just by turning key in ignition. The main reason for asking is that I have. starting problem that could be connected to an imobiliseer problem. But if I don't have an imobiliseer it must be the starter motor. Standard Vauxhall key, with no fob.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
If you unlock it, leave it for a couple of minutes will it start on the key?
FWIW, on mine (which has a Meta alarm), I've got about 30 secs after unlocking to start the car, otherwise the immobiliser automagically arms. I then have to press the button on the remote fob to un-arm before I can start the car. 
sit in the car and activate the alarm, if you can then start it you dont have an immobiliser. 
I have established that I do have an immobiliser - Thanks Space man - Obvious really. It must be activated by locking the car with the key, And it also now starts!!!. So back to - Is it the immobilser or the starter as its sporadic in starting. Would have thought if the starter was knackered it would be knackered all the time. Can sombody PM me a way to bypass the imobiliser please. I think it will just get worse, so need to get it removed or bypassed. Thanks
L200OOM said:
I have established that I do have an immobiliser - Thanks Space man - Obvious really. It must be activated by locking the car with the key, And it also now starts!!!. So back to - Is it the immobilser or the starter as its sporadic in starting. Would have thought if the starter was knackered it would be knackered all the time. Can sombody PM me a way to bypass the imobiliser please. I think it will just get worse, so need to get it removed or bypassed. Thanks
First off can't help with bypassing. But I too had an early Chim (just sold it) and the red LED at the top of the dash, above the yellow oil and lower red ignition LEDs is triggered by your opening the door using the key - turning left then right (or vice-versa) can either switch the immobilser off or on when you lock the car. If the red LED is lit or flashing you are immoblised and if off, good to go!The other aspect of wondering if the immobilser is on or off, is when you switch on the ignition and your fuel gauge reads "empty" - this means the immobilser is on and it won't start - the immobliser usually breaks three items; fuel gauge; primary ignition and solenoid feed.
HTHs
Trev
Thats the plan, just limbering up for the upside down spannering, hopefully a PO has installed the wing nuts for the dash, as I fear it is the imobiliser, based on the alarm which has just activated after 10mins, so will be desensitising that also whils in the cock pit. So a 12v feed to the small wire on the soliniod, if it works - Then the immobilser at fault.
L200OOM said:
So a 12v feed to the small wire on the soliniod, if it works - Then the immobilser at fault.
If it is an intermittent fault that won't 100% prove it but will help 
Good job it's a pre-engaged starter otherwise it's a 2 person job
Another small thing to try is to have someone crank it while you hit the body of the starter with a hammer - or better yet rubber mallet. They stick sometimes... You CAN dismantle them and clean the insides (and grease them with high temperture grease) IF it is the starter.
Why not just put a spade term on the starter motor connected to a push switch & good 12v supply to test.
Hard to tell what immob with your spec car (Manual locks with T5&serp doesn't seem common to me), typically with the manual doorlocks it should have a gemini/TVR alarm/immob/CDL unit which does not have any effect on the starter. Key switch & failed starter is all you have to worry about on those models. Big caveat is that at such an age you can never be sure how many demon alarm installer gremlins have been added to defeat the factory work.
Hard to tell what immob with your spec car (Manual locks with T5&serp doesn't seem common to me), typically with the manual doorlocks it should have a gemini/TVR alarm/immob/CDL unit which does not have any effect on the starter. Key switch & failed starter is all you have to worry about on those models. Big caveat is that at such an age you can never be sure how many demon alarm installer gremlins have been added to defeat the factory work.
I expect that the car is 100% original as I am the second owner, and the original owner kept very good records, and all work was done at Hexham Carridges. So hopefully its the original imobilser. Its in the garage now, just need to find the ramps so I can squeeze under to get a live feed to the starter. With the roof off the click is much more noticable and sounds like its just not got enough power to engauge the starter. So overalls on, tea brewing. May take a while as I am very good at just looking at things. Thanks to everyone for the help, Just pleased that it did not fail completely on the Le Mans trip. Pip Pip for now.
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