What is the engine immobilizer? I have a shinka with adv keyless entry and the std alarm with immobilizer, i don't have the starter disable, shock sensor, etc. Ignoring the alarm going off, can they pop the steering column and start the car or something?

Why would i want to get starter disable when i have a engine immobilizer? Basically I just don't want it moving without my key/remote. If I do decide to buy the alarm upgrade can I get it without a shock sensor and with a trunk sensor?

And this is a issue for me since my wife's neon got stolen twice. I don't care about her car at this point. We live in a nice place, but crooks commute to work.

 

I will say, if you give me enough time even I can steal a car.

So yes, time is important.

What engine immobilizer does is that, the key that comes with it (your car key) has a RFID chip on it, that bascially has a code, and when you put it into your ignition hole, theres a sensor on top of it, that will read the code and send it to the car's computer. and see if it matches what it already has in the system.

If it match, the computer will say OK and u can start your car just like normal.

If the code does not match or no code at all. computer will say *no no no* and the starter will not crank and cut fuel delivery.

To protect your car, first thing to do is keep an eye on your keys, keep it with you at all time and all cost, dont give me those *its annoying when its in my pocket* kind of thing. I've seen people who got their keys stolen because they dont feel comfortable with a key in their pocket. Its ALWAYS EASIER to steal a key than trying to break all the computer systems.

Second, park it somewhere where people can *see*, theifs love to steal cars that has been parked somewhere in the back corner or somewhere thats dark and people hardly passby. its easier for theifs to see your car if its in open public, but it decrease the chance that they will even try pick it up.

Try to get as much lock as u can, it will not *slow them down* for too long, but sometimes even a second is like a life or death thing.

Someone asked the same question a while ago, and I said the same thing. YOU, the owner, is the best protection.

 

So the key I pull out of my remote card key has a chip in it? It doesn't look like it, its just a key with a black corner square out of my remote card. It certainly doesn't have a chip on the key part.

Thanks for the reply, I always keep my key card in my wallet and open/lock my car with the button on my handle.

 

the chip is inside the key, its not really *on* it. its more like its *in* it.

Nope, u cant see it from the outside. RFID chips are tiny and pretty durable

 

I would love to mount a flamethrower on the underbody so it would toast anyone that tries to break into the car.

serves them right for trying to steal your pride and joy!

 

they just pull up a flatbed truck and haul your car away.

or steal your key...

also there's the possibility to social engineer it from a dealership by providing them with your VIN and getting a key made.

 

yeah .... flat bed towing .

I saw it happened once. its was a *pretty new* 05 Accord on a flat bed tow truck, the alarm was on like hell. and this flat bed truck was running like crazy, went past like 4-5 red lights, I tried to call 911 but it was too late. I lost him.

O well.

 

ever watch those repo shows? where it takes 20 seconds to hook up a ride and they are gone! Of course they won't go through 4 or 5 red lights, but still. ^^^

 

any car can be stolen by what others have already pointed out here, a tow truck. It's remarkably easy. I had it done when I had my FD. It was parked on the street by my work at that time, when a co-worker comes up to me and starts saying, "Dude, someone is towing your car!"
I ran downstairs and out to my car and a tow truck guy had it almost up all the way. I started yelling saying this was a legal parking space blah blah blah and he just ignored me. I then flipped out my cell phone and dialed 911. He promptly started lowering the car as I was talking to the dispatcher. He then pulled out what looked like a fake invoice and said, "Oh, this isn't the car I want!" In an all suprised voice. He removed the stuff off the car and pulled out. Once he got on the main street the cop pulled up and pulled him over. I saw him get taken away in the back of the cop car.

But really, those are pretty extreme. The average theif is browsing for the easiest bait. If theifs know about the computer system in the RX8 and how hard (time consuming) it would be to hot wire it (if even at all possible, you would have to bypass the security chip in the ECU, good luck with that) theifs may just avoid it.

It's kind of like the Honda S2000. Those cars have a security chip similar to the RX-8's, so theifs generally don't bother stealing them. Instead, they cut a hole in the softtop and steal the seats, steering wheel, and instrument cluster- valuable things in the Honda community that can sell for a pretty penny. Hopefully theifs don't start rippen out our seats!

I'm not sure, also, about the starter imobilizer. I have an '05 RX-8, and one time I came out to my car and the keyless entry didn't work. So I open the door with the key (for the first time ever) and the alarm doesn't sound, even though it's still armed. I put the key in the ignition and the the alarm starts to sound once I turn it to ACC, but it still lets me start the car. The engine is running perfectly as normal but the alarm is blaring. It contuined to sound for 5 minuets or so until it shut off by itself. All a theif would have to do is open the door, pop the hood, pul the turn signal and horn fuses, close the hood, go back in the car and start it up (provided they have the key with the chip in it) and they're on their way. Of course, if they have the key, they probably have the keyless entry remote anyways.

 

I read reports about how *professionals* steal cars. and I post them up here a while ago.

in short is that, they will have 4-5 ppl with each of their own responsibility , one locksmith, one hacker, one car expert, and so on.

it happens alot in hong kong , consider the HUGE market they havE (china, hint hint), if they're after your car, they will take it 99% of the time. some even *offered* that with certain amount of *money*, you can get your car back. It sounds crazy right ? sure u can call the cops, but what they will do is burn your car. no more evidence.

*sigh*

 

yeah, glad I don't live in Hong Kong

 

Hell having a car in hong kong cost more than having an apartment. Gas, License fee(registation), tax, etc

Some parking space alone cost 1-2 million HKD (thats like 115K to 250K, for parking space!)

a Lambo Diablo's registration fee cost 1.2 Million HKD. yeah is exotic car but regular cars cost alot too.

Cuz Hong kong is small so they have to do that (in order to control the amount of traffic)

Hong Kong is nice to live in, public transportation is super. If I live there, I will not buy any car.

 

I know that my car isn't thieft proof, but it sounds like the chip in the key/keyless start is enough protection for the slimjim/popped lock thug.

 

Is this just for shinkas, or for all RX-8s?

 

all

 

Yes, anyone who's truly determined can steal your car—or any car. Fortunately few thieves are that determined. Making it take more time to steal your car is a great deterrent. I like the disklok…
https://www.disklok.com/products.html

 

A show I saw, had shown how a computer hacker somehow managed to override BMW's computer system. I think he had a diagnostic tool hooked up to a computer. He disabled the chip system and jacked the car.

 

Easier to flat-bed the car...jam all cell frequencies and then get it into your garage for stripping...