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donn
Member
| Joined: | Friday September 7th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 3 |
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Posted: Sunday September 23rd, 2007 08:10 pm |
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Hi folks,
I have a '99 Rover Mini with only one fob. As you know, if I lose that fob, I cannot start the car as the immobilizer unit is very secure. So, I spent a lot of time researching what it takes to get spare fobs and wrote this technical article:
http://donnlee.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=40
Same url in shorted form:
http://tinyurl.com/yunajb
I appreciate any comments or additions for the article. Of all the Rover Mini owners I have met, only one owner had more than one fob. This is a serious situation that we should prepare for now.
Donn
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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Monday September 24th, 2007 11:49 am |
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Donn,
I've had a problem with my fobs in the past (I only had one when I bought the car which went wrong) - in the end it cost me €130 to get two new fobs and have them 'matched' to the ECU.
I had this done at a garage in Germany, just before Rover went belly up, and haven't had any problems with them since (touch wood).
I'm sure I've seen these advertised by MiniSpares/Sport etc, though you would still have to get them set up.
Hope this helps.
Last edited on Monday September 24th, 2007 11:49 am by Graham Bichard |
hawaiianblue
Member
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Posted: Monday September 24th, 2007 05:55 pm |
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if I lose that fob, I cannot start the car
You can still start the car without the fob. There is an emergency procedure described in the owners handbook.
You will need the emergency code, which came on a card with your car. Basically it involves switching the ignition on and off in a specific sequence, you kind of start the car by morse code.
Secondly if you live in the US talk to your friendly Land-Rover dealer or specialist, the Discovery's, some late Range-Rover classics and Freelanders also used the 5AS, the procedure for coding a fob is just the same as on the Mini. (Rover and Land-Rover were the same company until 2000)
Rover T4 is simply a newer version of Testbook and is backward compatible, both are also used by Land-Rover. There are also other third part systems that will talk to the alarm control unit. The Snap-on kit does apparently, Sykes-Picavant ACR4 will also do it with the latest software and there is also a pc based program from Avon Diagnostics that will do it.
I've also seen the Lucas 5AS in some Nissan cars, same fobs.
There are also two types of 5AS ECU's, one has a single socket the later ones (about 1998 on) hav 2. The second socket contains the connections to make the indicators flash when arming/disarming and when the alarm sounds. It also has a connection for the 'friendly immobilisation' on the Rover 200/400, this is where there is an inductive pickup around the ignition switch that automatically disarms the imobiliser when the fob is near the switch. It saves pressing the button to disarm if you've opened the door. I have used the connector from a later mini to wire in the indicator flash on my car. I'm yet to add the inductive pick up.
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donn
Member
| Joined: | Friday September 7th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 3 |
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Posted: Monday September 24th, 2007 10:20 pm |
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hawaiianblue wrote: You can still start the car without the fob. There is an emergency procedure described in the owners handbook.
You will need the emergency code, which came on a card with your car. Basically it involves switching the ignition on and off in a specific sequence, you kind of start the car by morse code.
Hmm, I can't find any such emergency procedure in my Rover Mini owners manual. I know the 'morse code' procedure works on other 5AS equipped Rover cars using the exterior keyhole, but I thought it won't work with the Mini.
In fact, I have found the reference:
"This procedure will not work on Rover 100's or Mini as there is no override procedure, get a spare key fob!"
http://www.remotekey.co.uk/cars/MG/eka%2Dcode/
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donn
Member
| Joined: | Friday September 7th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 3 |
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Posted: Monday September 24th, 2007 10:23 pm |
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hawaiianblue wrote: Rover T4 is simply a newer version of Testbook and is backward compatible, both are also used by Land-Rover. There are also other third part systems that will talk to the alarm control unit. The Snap-on kit does apparently, Sykes-Picavant ACR4 will also do it with the latest software and there is also a pc based program from Avon Diagnostics that will do it.
I've also seen the Lucas 5AS in some Nissan cars, same fobs.
There are also two types of 5AS ECU's, one has a single socket the later ones (about 1998 on) hav 2. The second socket contains the connections to make the indicators flash when arming/disarming and when the alarm sounds. It also has a connection for the 'friendly immobilisation' on the Rover 200/400, this is where there is an inductive pickup around the ignition switch that automatically disarms the imobiliser when the fob is near the switch. It saves pressing the button to disarm if you've opened the door. I have used the connector from a later mini to wire in the indicator flash on my car. I'm yet to add the inductive pick up.
This is very helpful and insightful information. I did see the Avon product, but did not know about the others. Thanks!
Do you know which system uses those small programming pods?
Pod photo:
http://alarmremotes.co.uk/Picture%200442.JPG
Donn
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hawaiianblue
Member
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Posted: Tuesday September 25th, 2007 06:38 pm |
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donn wrote: hawaiianblue wrote: You can still start the car without the fob. There is an emergency procedure described in the owners handbook.
You will need the emergency code, which came on a card with your car. Basically it involves switching the ignition on and off in a specific sequence, you kind of start the car by morse code.
Hmm, I can't find any such emergency procedure in my Rover Mini owners manual. I know the 'morse code' procedure works on other 5AS equipped Rover cars using the exterior keyhole, but I thought it won't work with the Mini.
In fact, I have found the reference:
"This procedure will not work on Rover 100's or Mini as there is no override procedure, get a spare key fob!"
http://www.remotekey.co.uk/cars/MG/eka%2Dcode/
You might be right, i just checked mine, i must have been thinking of one of the others. The feature is there though, so it should be possible to use it if you fitted a central locking kit and linked it to the alarm, you can buy the interface to connect CDL to the alarm, which is another unused function it has included.
I have seen the pod decoded thing, but i cant remember the maker.
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hawaiianblue
Member
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Posted: Sunday October 7th, 2007 03:49 pm |
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Some more information for you.
The Land-Rover Freelander (pre 2001) used the 5AS alarm system, however the alarm ecu was included within a combined control unit which also operated other car systems.
Also i noticed in your website, you say imobilisers were a fad in the 90's, well they're still fitted to virtually all cars here in europe. It has more to do with an insurance discount rather than cars being moved from country to country. Insurance premiums have stedily risen since the early 80's, so any way of reducing the premium helps.
I suspect it's the same in the US, if you fit an insurance approved alarm/Imobiliser, the insurer will give you a discount on your premium, as it lessens the risk they take on.
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