Freelander Immobiliser

Hi all, sorry to mither you with this problem again, but.... The immobiliser on my freelander doesn't seem to be working, it was working fine some weeks ago as i picked it up from the garage i bought it from, but alas, now it's fooked, the alarm is fine, the central locking has no problems, but the immobiliser doesn't want to turn itself on, it's a very odd problem, there is nothing that has changed that i can think of that may have caused this, i was just wondering after reading all my Land Rover hand books, if there is some silly arse method to turning it on/off? i.e. all this superlocking the car business...

Any help in sorting this would be most appreciated or anyone who perhaps had the same problem and sought an answer...love to hear from ya

sorry to ask a dumb question, but how do you know the immobiliser isn't on ?

I dont think its a dumb question at all!, I want to know how you tell??

i find this works quite well...
..
oh! its a gaylander , maybe not then!

not immobilised by that, had movement for sure

Well if the immobiliser was on the car wouldn't start, it has been working, and preventing the car from starting during scenario's when the car has been left unlocked for a certain period of time.

Am i safe in assuming that you think that the immobiliser is activating, but just not working? if so, i have no idea how you would actually tell that it is on or not, there are no dashboard LED's or warning lights, it either works... or it doesn't

batasquad said:

Well if the immobiliser was on the car wouldn't start, it has been working, and preventing the car from starting during scenario's when the car has been left unlocked for a certain period of time.

Am i safe in assuming that you think that the immobiliser is activating, but just not working? if so, i have no idea how you would actually tell that it is on or not, there are no dashboard LED's or warning lights, it either works... or it doesn't

Click to expand...

from the owners handbook


NOTE: The engine will automatically be
immobilised 3 seconds after the starter switch
is turned off, and immediately when the starter
rey is removed from the switch.

and

ENGINE IMMOBILISATION
Engine immobilisation is an important aspect of
the security system and is designed to
safeguard the vehicle from theft, should the
driver forget to lock the doors. Engine
immobilisation prevents the engine from being
started unless a valid key is inserted into the
starter switch, and occurs automatically
whenever any of the following conditions
occurs:
•Three seconds after the starter switch has
been turned off.
•As soon as the key is removed from the
starter switch.
The engine is re-mobilised by a signal to the
starter switch transmitted from a transponder
contained within the key head. This occurs
automatically whenever a valid key is inserted
into the starter switch and turned to position ‘I’.

how do you know it's not being imobilised ? - there is no specific switch - it is activated by the immobiliser in the ignition switch reading a signal from the keyfob - as soon as you place the fob near the ignition or the key in it's re-mobilised.

you say 'if the immobiliser was on it wouldn't start' - not with someone elses key it wouldn't or if someone smashed the lock & tried to hot-wire it , it wouldn't. But as soon as you put YOUR genuine key/fob in/near the ignition it re-mobilises it.

Don't understand WHY you think it's not working

Is it possible that a previous owner or the garage have disabled the immobiliser using the eka code?

And as to how you know if its activted.... on my 98 reg freelanader there is a small red light on the dash which flashes when I lock or unlock the car using my keyfob also if I leave the car unlocked for a few minutes then try to start it with the key this light stays on constantly until I press the keyfob so I always assumed this light was linked to the immobiliser isn't this the case?

so does it start okay, or is it refusing to start ? If it is refusing to start, then that a whole different problem. If it's a later model, the immobilser relies on a transponder chip in the key to disarm and start the engine. Only way I can think of to test it without trying to hot wire it, is to go and get a replacement key cut at timpsons or other high street key cutter for a few quid, as it won't have a transponder chip in it. Then unlock the car with this and try to start it, all the while making sure your normal set are well away from the car. If it starts, immobiliser isn't arming. If it doesn't, happy banana.

There was a thread on here ages ago (april time) about keys and fobs. it seemed that the early freelanders had to be unlocked with the remote fob, then started with the key, with the fob nearby to disarm the immobiliser. However, found with mine (53) I could leave the remote in the kitchen, and unlock and drive away with just the key. Others couldn't and needed the fob.

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/newbie-key-fob-question-40312.html

rockyabody said:

Is it possible that a previous owner or the garage have disabled the immobiliser using the eka code?

And as to how you know if its activted.... on my 98 reg freelanader there is a small red light on the dash which flashes when I lock or unlock the car using my keyfob also if I leave the car unlocked for a few minutes then try to start it with the key this light stays on constantly until I press the keyfob so I always assumed this light was linked to the immobiliser isn't this the case?

Click to expand...

Mine is a 2000 model, and the key looks not to contain any 'transponder' but the case used to be that if i left the car unlocked for a short time, and then tried to start it, it would do nothing at all, when i turned the key it wouldn't even attempt to turn over, until the button on the alarm remote was pressed, this isn't the case now, i can leave it unlocked for ages go to it and start it, now i know this isn't a huge problem, but it is a problem never the less, which didn't exist at one point, and now after no event that i can think of that would altrer the state of the immobiliser system, it aint workin'

right, know I understand, but don't know the answer. Might be one for the venerable Clutchdust

try this one, head off to a nice locksmith, one that deals with restricted sets (they are usually safe smiths too, your local keey cutter probably wont be able to help you) and get a key cut from your existing key.
then try to start your freelander with that.
that will prove wether or not your key had a transponder. if your car doesnt start then your existing key does have one and it works.

if it does start, give me your name and address and the dates your next out of the country and i promis your not ever have another problem from that car ever again

the immobilizer is in the fob , if the fob is with the ignition key then engine will start .

stevieb42 said:

the immobilizer is in the fob , if the fob is with the ignition key then engine will start .

Click to expand...

so your telling me if i walk out to my car, which is unlocked outside of work, and has been for 3 hours now that my landrover official key will not start it if i leave my fob inside work?

on the older models .. yes . not sure about yours as i think you have a different system

Universally_Challenged said:

try this one, head off to a nice locksmith, one that deals with restricted sets (they are usually safe smiths too, your local keey cutter probably wont be able to help you) and get a key cut from your existing key.
then try to start your freelander with that.
that will prove wether or not your key had a transponder. if your car doesnt start then your existing key does have one and it works.

Click to expand...

isn't that what I said ?

stevieb42 said:

the immobilizer is in the fob , if the fob is with the ignition key then engine will start .

Click to expand...

not all. my 53 has the transponder in the key. you can leave the fob indoors, open it with the key, and she'll start. won't start with an ordinary key though.