immobilizer question -1999 accord LX

I read the car manual and it seems to imply that if the starter cranks
when attempting to start the car, then the problem is not the
immobilizer--since if the code in the key does not match the computer,
the starter wouldn't even operate. Is this a correct interpretation?

My car sometimes does not start but it cranks very strongly. Do I
instead have a problem with the fuel pump and not the immobilizer
system?

Thanks,
Dennis

 

If it cranks, then it's not the immobilizer.



How to turn off 'Maintenance Required" light:

1. Hold trip/reset button on dash
2. Turn key to "ON" or start engine
3. Hold button til light goes out

 

Huh?

The immobilizer doesn't keep the starter from operating; it stops the
ignition from operating. It'll crank away but not start if it's an
immobilizer problem.

Why don't you go crawl back into your hole and keep your ignorance to
yourself.

 

wrong. the car will crank fine with an unencoded key. if it's an
immobilizer problem it will crank but the green key light on the dash
will flash.
Chip

 

================

Dennis,

Aftermarket alarm systems disable the starter, because it's a simpler
system to tap into. Honda alarms kill the ignition circuit, since it's
even harder to defeat that. If only the starter was defeated, you could
still roll-start a Honda once you had hot wired it.

Have you tried taking the keys off the keyrings, to improve signal
strength ? ?

'Curly'

===============

 

Incorrect. It stops the fuel supply.

 

Right. Without fuel, there is no ignition.

But the engine cranks.

 

===========

Something I'm not following here. If the immobilizer kills only the fuel
supply (and I'm not arguing that it doesn't), wouldn't the vehicle start
for a second and then stall, because there's still some fuel pressure
(as well as fumes) next time you go to start it? Or is there a mechanism
that allows the fuel pressure to bleed down slowly, presumably for fire
safety? Thanks.

'Curly'

=============

 

I know the original post was for a 99 Accord immobilizer, which may or may
not kill the starter.

However, the 99 Prelude immobilizer kills both the starter via the "starter
cut relay" AND disables the "fuel enable" signal to the ECM (engine control
module) if an unencoded key is used. This was verified in both the Prelude
Electrical Troubleshooting manual and tested when I had a plain key cut
(just for locking/unlocking the doors without the remote).

It's unlikely, but the immobilizer COULD be intermittent on one signal and
not the other.

J.