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Auto Theft Prevention/key transponder systems on aging cars

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Expert: - 8/29/2010


Question
Here's one you probably don't get often:

I'm an electrical and software engineer, and I know that there's no such thing as an electronic sub-system (as a component of a larger system) that just plain won't fail.

I have an '02 Pontiac Montana approaching 230k miles. It runs fine and the transmission is good, but occasionally it is failing to start now and then. The engine just won't turn over--kind of like the time (before I understood about transponder keys) I had a duplicate key cut at Lowe's and it didn't work.  After a few twists of the key, it eventually starts.

It will probably turn out that my problem in the current case is a bad starter or starter relay, or something like that. However, it has put a thought into my head:

It is possible (as an engineer I know this to be true) for the transponder subsystem on a car to just stop working, even though the rest of the car would work fine. If that were to happen, depending on exactly how the transponder codes are checked and how the security part of it is implemented, it might be possible to bypass the whole transponder sub-system. That would extend the life of such a car (in which that sub-system had failed) without incurring a (potentially repeating) service charge to fix it.

So, my question is, what if an owner wanted to convert a high mileage car so that it no longer uses the transponder system for starting? Maybe after so many miles, he doesn't feel like paying $80 duplicate or replacement keys anymore, or maybe (like me) he's concerned about that particular subsystem going out and he wouldn't want to pay a hefty service charge to have it fixed, or whatever. The reason wouldn't matter--as an owner, he's got a basic right to make the car his, whatever that means (as long as he let's the insurance company know--if he even carries theft insurance on the car). So, what are his options?

The various ways that auto-starters get around it don't address the concern. They don't bypass or remove the transponder system, they just install a transponder chip that gives the transponder system the code it needs. If the transponder system itself fails, then those won't work anymore than the key-start would. What if you just don't want your car to use a transponder system for security, anymore?

(By the way, I'm assuming that, whatever the answer is, it wouldn't be useful to would-be car thieves, as it would require some pretty extensive operations that you couldn't do curb-side or in a parking lot.)

Any information you can provide is appreciated.

Thanks,
-Dan

Answer
Hello Dan,

You thoughts are true, but it is R%26D for each system, (sometimes the difference may be in models) that makes this cost prohibitive.

I bypassed the Ford Securilock with one wire, however it took me hours and hours to come up with the theory. Then the theory had to be applied.

The same held true on the Range Rover in which it took 2 wires. Reverse engineering has a price tag far more than the $80 of a new transponder key.

Here is the problem: The consumer was duped into believing that the factory could actually protect the car from theft. This is what I refer to as the "Big Scam" and then the insurance companies jumped on the band wagon with their inept forensic locksmiths inferring the car was unstealable.

It takes an average of 3 years from the drawing board to the assembly line. Everything the consumer is getting for theft protection when purchasing a new car, is already obsolete.

The engineers from the manufacturers still think cars are stolen by hotwiring under the dash. This is a method that was no longer amicable since 1969!

Yes, all these transponder and alarm systems can be defeated, but at what cost? $30K for each system?

The transponder systems in many vehicles can fail the other way too, in which the properly coded chipped key is not needed.

As an example: Your 2002 if equipped with the optional factory alarm would fail, you are screwed. You can't buy parts anymore. If you attempt to bypass, you are going to lose options because the alarm is tied into so many things. You could have a beautiful car and not be able to start the engine due to the transponder or a defective factory alarm, and you have $4,000 worth of junk you can't use.

It is my belief here that the manufacturer did not want to let the vehicles last as long as they do now, because they are in the business of selling cars and replacement parts.

If you had a problem with an after market alarm, you could just rip it out. Another serious problem is the generalization in some cases of the alarms. If a thief could bypass an alarm on a Ford F-150, he could bypass all Ford trucks and SUVs.


If you told your insurance company you bypassed the transponder system, they would first argue it could not be done. The second approach would be: "You made the car easier to steal and we won't cover." You could fight this, but it would take years and lots of money.

I have had people approach me on bypassing transponder and alarm systems. The problem is that they don't want to pay the money for the research and I am not about to do this for free.

Unlike many people think, it is not an easy chore. Sure the bypasses are easy as long as you figure out exactly how each individual system works and finding the back door.

Ford was using 5 different transponder systems even though they went by the same name. Bypassing the trucks was easy with going around one relay. The cars were on a different platform and instead of using a relay, they used a relay module that had three relays sealed together. The process of bypassing circuit 361 (controlled everything under the hood) on these was essentially the same, but much different in other ways.

It all goes back to the cost and can the cost of R%26D be recovered for each system and the answer is no.

As for your starting situation, you would need it tested, but you probably have a bad starter.

Its very common to blame every no start situation on the transponder and yet only about 5% end up being a transponder related problem.

Locksmiths may give better prices on keys. After all, GM, Ford, Chrysler and Mitsubishi never made the locks and keys for these vehicles. The hardware store gets the keys and locks as the locksmith and the dealer does which is Strattec of Milwaukee, WI, a division of Briggs and Stratton.  

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Rob Painter, ASE, CFL, CFEI

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My background in auto theft is extensive. I have been directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft recovered vehicles. I also do insurance investigation as to how a vehicle was last operated. My clients are insurance companies and attorneys. Was featured in the A & E auto theft documentary "Stealing Wheels" July 26, 2000. Has consulted with Daimler Chrysler steering column engineers to make their steering columns harder to defeat. Holds patent # 6,039,140 for 8 different variations to protect air bags from theft.

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ROB PAINTER, ASE, CFL, CFEI Forensic Vehicle Component Analyst Diplomate, Board Certified Forensic Examiner ASE Certified Auto, Collision, Med/Hvy/Duty Truck Technician Certified Forensic Locksmith Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator Certified Forensic Auto Theft Examiner Certified Auto Theft and Fraud Expert http://www.autotheftexpert.com Email-rpainter@wi.rr.com P.O. Box 190 Big Bend, WI 53103 Phone (414) 698-9696 Fax (262) 662-1352 As per federal court rules of evidence (702) (Daubert) my testimony has qualified me as: Auto Theft and Fraud Expert Forensic Vehicle Analyst Fire Origin and Cause Expert In the trial transcript of Holiday vs Progressive Insurance Company (March 12, 2002?Eugene, Oregon) with Holiday being my client-named ?the expert for experts.? BUSINESS EXPERIENCE Founder of the ?Forensic Institute of Auto Theft Analysis? (January 2002). This is the training school that will set the standards in determining the last operation of a reported stolen vehicle-burned or unburned. Much of my testing and procedures have been accepted as the guide for the forensic community. 1986 opened Auto Recovery Specialists Inc., providing exclusive repair of theft recovered and vandalized vehicles. The initial concept of the business was to return vehicles to their original shape before the theft, vandalism or fire. In 1987 bought the rights to the theft deterrent known as the ?Chicago Collar?. Duties include complete component replacement: dash, stereo system, interior, locks and coding, rebuilding steering columns, repairing and installing vehicle security system components (factory and after market), engine components, body repair, glass replacement, repair and service of air conditioning components, brake and suspension repair, and replacement, wiring harnesses etc. to return vehicle to pre-theft condition Complete reconstruction. During the past 17 years directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft-recovered and fire damaged Personally examined and rebuilt thousands of steering columns on both import and domestic vehicles Internationally acknowledged as expert in auto theft including court, consulting with insurance companies, attorneys and law enforcement. Consultant on steering columns, locks, stereo systems and vehicle security for Special Investigation Units for many large insurance carriers during the past eight years. Consulting services include but not limited to: How a vehicle was last operated (with or without keys in burned or unburned vehicles), Origin and Cause of vehicle fires, and vehicle defects. Provides services as a consultant and researcher to attorneys and insurance companies, and private industry throughout the US in cases related to vehicles. Has worked with crime prevention officers throughout the US establishing training programs designed to protect the public from becoming victims of auto theft. PATENT: 3/21/00 issued patent# 6,039,140 for 8 different variations of airbag anti-theft devices. PUBLICATIONS Currently authors articles and test reports on an ongoing basis for SIUs and the forensic/vehicle fire industry. Published author: (1,297 slide training course) Auto Theft/ Fraud Training Course) ?The Modern Forensic Approach to Auto Theft Investigation.? (January, 2001) Author: ?Variables to Be Considered In Vehicle Fire Investigation after Suppression.? (Insurance publication-November 2001) Author: ?Ford Magnesium Steering Columns and the Results to Ignition Components after a Fire?. Article for peer review from the fire and forensic community. (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM VATS.? (Article) (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM PASSLOCK TM? (Article) (November 2001) Author:? Auto Theft Investigation: Hollywood vs. Reality? (Article) (February 2001) For the John Cooke Fraud Report. Published author: (Manual) ?Forensic Vehicle Fire/ Arson and Auto Theft Investigation? (October 2000) Published author: (Article) ?Petty Claims? for the John Cooke Fraud Report (October, 1998) Published author (Manual) ?AUTO THEFT: LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN!? (1998) (Previously distributed by Barnes & Nobel) Co-authored the investigation manual, ?Surreptitious Entry & Auto Theft & Burn & the Investigator.? (1999) Authored test questions on the subject of steering columns and vehicle security for CFL designation to be given by the International Association of Investigative Locksmiths. January, 2000 Published author: (Manual) ?Saginaw Steering Columns-What Has Not Been Told? Training manual for fire investigators. (March 2000) Published (Article) ?Beyond The Lock? (May 2000) Published Author: (Article) Fraud Defense Network-August, 2000 Edition-?Melting Steering Column Tests.? http://www.fraudreport.com/index.cfm?month=08&year=2000 Published author: (Test Report) ?Burned Toyota Steering Column Testing to Determine How Last Operated?. Tool marks and procedures. (December 1999) Currently at the FBI Crime Lab in Washington DC and the US Army Crime Lab in Atlanta, GA for peer review. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Defeated the ?unstealable? Ford Securilock transponder system for a court case 10/10/00. They said it could not be done! Primary designer of a state of the art ?bait? car for a police department to catch car thieves. Worked with The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration and discovered a potential fire hazard on a vehicle and determined origin and cause of under hood fires on this type of vehicle. Featured as ?Auto Theft Expert? in the A & E auto theft documentary ?Stealing Wheels? that aired July 26, 2000. Contacted by Sears and Edelman Marketing to be a national spokesman for an anti theft device for vehicles. (November 1999) Invited to provide evaluation and consulting to steering column engineers at Daimler Chrysler Corporation in Auburn Hills, MI (10/19/99-10/22/99). The purpose of this project was to demonstrate how steering column locking mechanisms could be defeated without the use of a key and how to reinforce the columns against theft. Court Qualified as an Auto Theft Expert and my videos of defeating columns were also accepted by a Cleveland, Ohio Court in October 1999 as a valid piece of evidence. Contacted by Disney Touchstone Pictures for technical assistance in making the movie ?Gone in 60 Seconds? (March 1999) CONSULTANT FOR FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS ? Former contributor for The Insurance News Network (Auto theft and prevention) includes heading a forum for the public on how to protect their vehicles for 3+ years. ? Former editor and consultant for the public on matters involving auto theft and prevention 2000-2001 on the web at http://www.autotheft_forum.com. ? The Insurance Career Center (Auto theft and fraud). ? National Association of Investigative Specialists (Auto theft and fraud) ? Expert Find (Auto theft and fraud} TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE ? ASE (National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence) Certified in Auto: brakes, steering and suspension, engine repair, manual drive train and axles, air conditioning. Med/Heavy duty truck: gasoline engine repair, electrical/electronic components. Collision: elec.....

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