Topic: Installing an immobilizer on an '08 car bound for the US

[Rexx]

Does anyone have info on after-market immobilizers that Transport Canada will recognize as equivalent to the OEM's? Also, does anyone have info on how this installation possibly affects the vehicle's original warranty? TIA. As you know, most '08 GM's and Honda's are now inadmissible for import due to the lack of an immobilizer.

[tpl]

 

A quick Google  finds

http://www.ibc.ca/en/Insurance_Crime/Prevention_Investigation/Immobilizers/Immobilizers_List.asp

After-market systems

If your car does not have an electronic immobilizer, you can get one from an after-market supplier. IBC currently recognizes four after-market systems as meeting the National Standard of Canada ULC-S338/98:

    * PFK Autowatch 329 Ti Immobilizer
    * PFK Autowatch 573 PPi Immobilizer
    * MasterGard M6000 Immobilizer
    * Powerlock-Canada Immobilizer

To work properly, these systems must be installed according to the Installation Protocol ULC/ORD 275.1.  This line suggests that the installation has to be done by a trained tech to get the documentation RIV requires and I did not attempt to look for any warranty stuff.
I'd bet that car that already has an factory fitted but non-approved immobilizer would have a severe warranty problem if an aftermarket one was patched into the car.   After all, all the factory one has to do is to send a signal to the engine and or transmission computer to say "don't start" or "don't select any gear" and an aftermarket one probably cannot do that as that protocol would most likely be secret.

[random006]

Don't you mean "bound for Canada"?

[tpl]

I assumed that was the case.

[AVToller]

Don't you mean "bound for Canada"?

You beat me to it. As written, the thread header makes little sense to me. 

[Rexx]

No. "Bound for the US" is what I meant. GM and Honda intentionally omit the immobilizer on cars that are originally bound for the US, making them inadmissible for import in Canada. Someone posted info on immobilizers recognized by IBC. Thanks, but that doesn't automatically carry over to TC.

[jcon]

No. "Bound for the US" is what I meant. GM and Honda intentionally omit the immobilizer on cars that are originally bound for the US, making them inadmissible for import in Canada. Someone posted info on immobilizers recognized by IBC. Thanks, but that doesn't automatically carry over to TC.

I said, "Pardon"?

IBC - Mentions that it meets national requirements.

[Rexx]

The litmus test will be the report of someone installing an immobilizer to make the car admissible for import. I have yet to hear that someone did that successfully.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I thought it couldn't be done? Or the manufacturer wouldn't bless it?

[2latecrew]

 

A quick Google  finds

http://www.ibc.ca/en/Insurance_Crime/Prevention_Investigation/Immobilizers/Immobilizers_List.asp

After-market systems

If your car does not have an electronic immobilizer, you can get one from an after-market supplier. IBC currently recognizes four after-market systems as meeting the National Standard of Canada ULC-S338/98:

    * PFK Autowatch 329 Ti Immobilizer
    * PFK Autowatch 573 PPi Immobilizer
    * MasterGard M6000 Immobilizer
    * Powerlock-Canada Immobilizer

To work properly, these systems must be installed according to the Installation Protocol ULC/ORD 275.1.  This line suggests that the installation has to be done by a trained tech to get the documentation RIV requires and I did not attempt to look for any warranty stuff.
I'd bet that car that already has an factory fitted but non-approved immobilizer would have a severe warranty problem if an aftermarket one was patched into the car.   After all, all the factory one has to do is to send a signal to the engine and or transmission computer to say "don't start" or "don't select any gear" and an aftermarket one probably cannot do that as that protocol would most likely be secret.

Since most vehicles imported have had their warranty voided the second they become registered in Canada by the manufacturer as a measure to try to stop cross border sales I think the loss of warranthy coverage would not be a significant negative factor.

[Cord]

IIRC, GM vehicles have immobilizers but they apparently do not meet some aspect of Transport Canada's requirements.

[tpl]

IIRC, GM vehicles have immobilizers but they apparently do not meet some aspect of Transport Canada's requirements.

I think that those would be the most difficult to replace as you'd have two immobilzers fighting each other perhaps... I imaging the car locking and unlocking every minute all night and blowing the horn while it does it 


Rexx:
If the car built here going to the USA does not have an immobilizer then at least there is a chnace that one of the aftermarket ones will work... as you say, if it is acceptable to TC.

[pickles]

and manufactuers are saying warranty will be void if the aftermarket immobilizers splice into the factory wiring harness.

[ErikRP]

I would strongly suspect that if an after-market immobilizer is IBC-approved then TC would accept that.  This link to IBC seems to confirm my belief:
 http://www.ibc.ca/en/Insurance_Crime/Prevention_Investigation/Immobilizers/Creation_Compliance.asp

Having said that, how your new vehicle is going to like sharing space (and likely some of the electronics) with a new after-market system... I don't know.  I would imagine at best you could assume that any manufacturer would use that as their excuse for not warrantying a particular vehicle which was imported to Canada.  And from what I have heard, there are more than a few people who have immobilizers installed with or without existing lesser (i.e. non-approved immobilizers) in their vehicle.  Many have had serious problems with shorting and other electronic issues.  Horror stories abound here in Manitoba (home of the "forced immobilizer for older vehicles law"!) of people whose cars no longer start, or stop suddenly, or shorts out.

Like 99% of the advice on here, your mileage may vary, but I wouldn't want the potential hassle.  Sure, everything might look good and you might get it across the border, but if anything happens down the road you're screwed if the manufacturer even thinks the problem can be connected to the after-market immobilizer.