EDIT: TITLE SHOULD BE "HOW do i prevent somebody FROM stealing my 16m" sorry for my BAD ENGLISH. ok, here's the thing: Im about to buy this 16m with only 1 key. I am very paranoid that the previous owner could have the other key and one day might just drive away with it for a joy ride. He's a teenager! Question is, how do I prevent it electronically? I know on the 360 I can replace a set of fobs so that even if you know the previous pin code, you won't be able to start the car even if you had the key. Is the alarm similar to the 360 with just the fob buildin to the key?
Its quite an expensive process to swap over the keys, door locks, ignition barrel and immobilizer unit as its also paired to the Ignition ECU's too so the better bet may be to just get a tracker fitted and also perhaps fit a physical hidden battery isolation switch somewhere in the car (cheap and effective against the type of theft you envisage). -T
is it possible to swap out the ignition column and let ferrari provide me with a new key? this way I don't have to deal with the ECU and alarms? cheaper?
I think theft protection would be a better bet, as mentioned already. Remote battery shut off seems like a good bet.
All you need is a hidden toggle switch to disable the starter motor, not a battery kill switch which would constantly require the engine control computer to relearn every time battery power is killed. In addition, you can simply keep the toggle on for normal use and toggle it off when parking the car where you are worried about it. You can hide the switch somewhere, or wire it to the review mirror defogger switch if that is something you rarely use...
Possible but there are obvious concerns here. If he has the immobilizer disarm fob its relatively easy to still start the car and still drive away (steering locks are trivially easy to overcome and the sadly physical key is no security either as it just turns a switch which joins a positive wire together thereby starting the engine). Its the immobilizer which really saves the car and most thieves of cars are stupid impatient teenagers and have no idea about electronics. In reality (and I hope I don't worry to many 360/430 owners with this statement) but the Bosch security is woefully insecure by modern standards and take seconds to override with access to the OBD II port. I would *seriously* recommend relocating the OBD-II port to somewhere non standard so as to mitigate these kinds of laptop style IMMO override thefts.... Trackers at least tell you your car has been stolen and where it is (especially the modern ultra small portable rechargeable ones which cost peanuts and can be placed inside the car and include their own power source). If you fit more than one tracker its unlikely the thief will look for a second one. Ofcourse a sophisticated thief will not be stopped by a tracker since they'll just use a GSM jammer... Having a removable battery (but still keeping an ultra small battery connected to keep ecu's working) is one good choice, also having a removable steering wheel is useful too but at the end of the day if someone wants your car they can take it and thats what having good insurance is then all about... There is only so much you can do.
the immo override thing is new to me I've never heard of any car stolen that way, although im sure there is. you are right Trev, they can still hotwire the car even if i got a new key. looks like the starter switch is the way to go, but isn't the dealer able to change the alarm code?
So if you can bypass the immobilizer so easily with an OBD2 approach and it's inherently insecure, why isn't there a simple solution so I don't need to press the FOB before I start my car? I'd love to get rid of the stupid immobilizer! I'd use a fuel pump cutoff personally, and I'd mount it in the car if drive away theft is a worry. I suspect they're going to flat bed it if they really want it in which case a GPS system with remote cutoff will work well.
Wouldnt the dealer be able to deactivate any other keys not in your procession? Sorry about the format. Using my iPhone Image Unavailable, Please Login
The safe solution to get it in my garage. Current own doesn't know where I live. I promise to only exercise it in good weather!
Is this a bit paranoid? If every car I ever bought that was missing a key was a theft risk... I would never sleep. The solution is good insurance and don't sweat it.