immobiliser; have i got one ?

[sandy55]

Hi.
As an 'older geezer' i have just bought meself a mid-life crisis 10-plate Twingo GT and am, thus far, highly impressed.
But i have a problem;
My natural aversion to manuals, instructive or otherwise, combined with Renaults' use of Mandarin-only speakers to translate them into English has left me somewhat confused about the immobiliser.
I THINK i've got one... but i'm not sure. I had thoughts of electronic gadgetry way beyond my comprehension rendering the engine persona non grata to all but they who has the key... but the manual dedicates two lines to the subject, namely stop, switch off, turn wheel to engage steering lock. While this is technology i understand, it hardly fills me with confidence as it came in with, and departed, with the Ark.

Can anyone tell me what i'm missing ? other than a good nights' sleep/a shed-load of common sense/an actual engine immobiliser ? posting.php?mode=post&f=93#

 

[oscar]

it has an immobiliser, yes. it's apart of the UCH if i remember correctly. it's around your glove compartment area inside the dashboard. if your battery drops down below a certain voltage you'll know all about the immobiliser as it won't let you start the car below 12.2 volts to prevent engine damage it's actually a pretty good system. i also don't believe cars are allowed to be sold without an immobiliser anymore in the uk

 

[singlespeed]

Mid life crisis

Immobiliser, yes. That's why you would need a new key to be coded to the body ECU (UCH)

Alarm, Possibly. Open the bonnet... On the slam panel, is there a vacant hole 25mm diameter, to the left of the bonnet latch. Vacant, no alarm. Plunger switch fitted, has alarm.

 

[sandy55]

Thanks for that chaps.

So the immobiliser is an electronic function. (i remember the days when 'immobilising' an engine meant parking up wherever you wanted to go, popping the hood and removing the rotor arm...)

If i want to disconnect the battery to charge/replace, will this involve a new key and code ???

 

[singlespeed]

If i want to disconnect the battery to charge/replace, will this involve a new key and code ???

The key(s) are coded into the ECU non volatile memory. That being memory that doesn't need power to be kept. So, you can disconnect the battery without issues with getting started again.

Disconnecting the battery may need a code entering into the stereo. Mines been good, but worth checking your owners/service manual for a sticker with a code. If needed, codes can be got through Renault or there's a site that can get it for a few quid

 

[sandy55]

Thanks for the info, you have my gratitude.
Please be prepared for a whole host more dumb questions from me in the near future... :?

 

[gordiniseb]

As an 'older geezer' i have just bought meself a mid-life crisis 10-plate Twingo


Love the idea you now have buy a midlife crisis...mine came free about when i turned 21

 

[oscar]

the ECU and the UCH (body control unit / immobiliser) have loads of capacitors inbuilt to them to store electricity for days on end whilst the battery is disconnected so i wouldn't worry about that. the only thing you'll loose once the battery is disconnected is your radio code so be sure to have a note of that kept safe somewhere!

 

[sandy55]

Yep, got radio-code.

Thanks again.

 

[sandy55]

Love the idea you now have buy a midlife crisis...mine came free about when i turned 21

I may well have had one at 21, but i was a student at the time and would've been too damn drunk to remember...