Aftermarket immobilisers, such as Ghost from AUTOWATCH or CAN PHANTOM, offer advanced, superior protection against vehicle theft. With their unique ability to be fully customisable by allowing the vehicle’s owner to create a unique pin code, these types of security retrofits are a thief’s nightmare.
These immobilisers are very small and are designed to be undetectable. They are connected to the vehicle’s CAN (Controller Area Network) and will only allow for engine start once the correct pin code has been entered.
What does this mean for you, the technician working on the car?
When the customer has dropped off the keys at your reception, they would have likely activated “valet mode” or “service mode”. These modes allow the vehicle to be started, manoeuvred or test driven, but only for a set time or number of starts. While the car is in your workshop, it may have been moved several times and could end up in a non-start situation. The vehicle cannot be restarted unless the correct PIN code has been entered.
Talk to the customer
It is strongly advised to speak with your customer before they leave your reception and ask them if they have an aftermarket immobiliser fitted. Explain that you may need to start the engine several times, and ask if they are willing to provide their PIN code to avoid delays in repairing their car or mistakes in diagnosis. Always advise your customer to change their PIN when the vehicle is returned.
Programming failures
Because these immobilisers are connected to the CAN (Controller Area Network), programming failures can occur if the valet or service mode switches off.
Fault code read
Carrying out a full vehicle scan can sometimes suggest that an immobiliser has been fitted. Some BMW cars will store a fault 1B5101(supply terminal 15, short circuit to battery+) in the engine ECU. This means the engine ECU has detected 12V on this line when the ignition has been switched off. Results of investigations have led to finding an aftermarket immobiliser being fitted, and this is backfeeding that specific terminal; battery drains are possible because of this.