constancio
New member
Hey, I hope you get this message. Where is that chip located?
Engine immobilizer system
- Thread starter Fireboy
- Start date
Charliehorse
New member
Took my vehicle to dealer for recall and when they were done they tried bringing it out but wouldn't start. Then it would start and shut off immediately. I said it's never done that and they needed to take another look... Almost an hour later they tell me its definitely an aftermarket kill switch disabling the fuel pump. They can't do anything because it's aftermarket and I'll have to find the hidden switch and turn it off. As they repeatedly kept cranking the starter to demonstrate it until I asked for key back.
I said I read about the limiteds having immobilizers and asked if they were sure that didn't get set off while being worked on. No no it's definitely aftermarket. Even when I said it's only PO was an older women in a small town and found it hard to believe they had a fuel cut off installed.
They went back to the person who worked on it and 10 minutes later gave me a code number that doesn't have any Google results and this time it was an immobilizer code no idea how the "definitely hidden fuel cutoff switch I must have hit, when I wasnt anywhere near the vehicle as apparently I'm Houdini in disguise, reason was so quickly dispensed with.
I have a remote start and a panic button and after a quick Google search it said the immobilizer will engage if it's pressed and I heard multiple alarms go off while waiting. Long story short I'm not going back there again and how they didn't seem to know how to reset an immobilizer is beyond me. They didn't try unhooking the battery, or tell me alarm might have gone off, plus making up a reason and expecting me to just leave in an unsafe vehicle that was fine before they got it.
I was expected to just drive 15 miles home during rush hour in a car that wouldn't start or stay running.
I pulled the battery out of my remote start fob and pulled a few power fuses for a couple minutes and it fired right up and was fine all the way home and multiple restarts.
2 minutes of Google got the answer and solution so how multiple dealership techs and mechanics couldn't figure it out for nearly an hour is beyond me especially when it was someone in the department that most likely engaged it by hamfisting my key and fob together.
Rant over. At least the recall got done
These fancy antitheft systems might be more annoying than they are useful.
I said I read about the limiteds having immobilizers and asked if they were sure that didn't get set off while being worked on. No no it's definitely aftermarket. Even when I said it's only PO was an older women in a small town and found it hard to believe they had a fuel cut off installed.
They went back to the person who worked on it and 10 minutes later gave me a code number that doesn't have any Google results and this time it was an immobilizer code no idea how the "definitely hidden fuel cutoff switch I must have hit, when I wasnt anywhere near the vehicle as apparently I'm Houdini in disguise, reason was so quickly dispensed with.
I have a remote start and a panic button and after a quick Google search it said the immobilizer will engage if it's pressed and I heard multiple alarms go off while waiting. Long story short I'm not going back there again and how they didn't seem to know how to reset an immobilizer is beyond me. They didn't try unhooking the battery, or tell me alarm might have gone off, plus making up a reason and expecting me to just leave in an unsafe vehicle that was fine before they got it.
I was expected to just drive 15 miles home during rush hour in a car that wouldn't start or stay running.
I pulled the battery out of my remote start fob and pulled a few power fuses for a couple minutes and it fired right up and was fine all the way home and multiple restarts.
2 minutes of Google got the answer and solution so how multiple dealership techs and mechanics couldn't figure it out for nearly an hour is beyond me especially when it was someone in the department that most likely engaged it by hamfisting my key and fob together.
Rant over. At least the recall got done
These fancy antitheft systems might be more annoying than they are useful.
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“... pulled the main power outlet sensor and voila the car turned on!”
Thanks... Tony
What year & engine is your ride? What is the “...main power outlet sensor?” Where is it in the truck? What does it look like?
Thanks... Tony
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Kinda late and not sure but my Valet key will start my 4runner, the key is Gray with a stamped dot in the metal portion of the key. IT WILL NOT allow the security "ECU" to go into program mode, but it will start my 2006 4runner. I was under the impression that a "Valet" key would only open the doors, NOT START the engine. Any body else experiance this issue??
AuSeeker
Elite Member
Not sure where you got that info for the gray "Valet" key, the gray valet key WILL unlock the doors, the gray valet key WILL start the vehicle....but the gray valet key WILL NOT unlock the glove box so the "valet" can't steal anything of value you have locked in the glove box, the purpose of the valet key is to allow the valet to take your vehicle park it and then return the vehicle to you when you're ready to leave, but doesn't allow him/her to go into the glove box to get at your valuables.
This info about the gray valet key not unlocking the glove box and using it for a valet is in your owner's manual but it's referred too as the gray "Sub" key.
To program another key you need to use a "Master" key which is the black key, a gray valet key will not work for programming a new key.
Both the Master key and the Sub "Valet" key have chips in the head to allow them to start the vehicle.
