How to disable the immobilizer using the StarLine crawler

Author: Evgeny Zhivoglyadov. Date of publication: March 15, 2016. Category: Automotive equipment.

Today, most cars are equipped with a standard immobilizer. This device allows you to prevent the theft of a vehicle, even if the attacker managed to disable the car alarm. In this case, the device operates on a different principle than the “signaling”. Immo remains invisible until the last moment and does not emit any signals to attract others or scare off the robber. The principle of operation of this device is that as soon as the thief inserts his key into the ignition, the engine will automatically turn off and nothing can be done with the car. There are also immobilizers that even allow you to move away, but as soon as the thief drives a few hundred meters, all the car’s systems will turn off and the robber will have no choice but to immediately leave the car and escape from the scene of the crime.

Of course, in theory everything sounds great, but in practice immo often starts to malfunction, causing car owners a lot of inconvenience. The most common problem is the engine turning off, even if the owner of the car is driving. This happens, as usual, at the most inconvenient moment and the driver has to use the emergency system of the engine plant or even call a tow truck.

The second common problem is the loss of the “native” key.

It’s no wonder that, along with modern “anti-theft” devices, special devices began to appear that allow you to bypass the immobilizer with your own hands. The most popular crawlers today are Starline devices, which can bypass various operating systems of standard devices.

Modules 2CAN, CAN+LIN, 2CAN+LIN

To obtain data for simulating a standard key, you must perform the “training” procedure for the module.
“Training” is carried out with the power supply connected and the car’s digital interface circuits CAN, LIN, RX/TX, etc. in accordance with the description on the website can.starline.ru on the “Connection points” tab for the selected vehicle. To “train” the car to operate the “Bypass the standard immobilizer” function:

Turn off the ignition. Press the service button 14 times.

In less than 5 seconds, turn on the ignition.

Perform additional “training” steps if indicated in the comments on the can.starline.ru website for your car.

The module will go into data processing mode, which can last no more than 5 minutes and is accompanied by short-term siren signals with an interval of 3 seconds.

Successful “learning” will be confirmed by 2 siren signals.

If the bypass algorithm has not been recognized, then 4 short siren beeps will follow.

If there are no siren signals, check the connection:

• complex nutrition;
• access to the siren of the main block of the complex;
• CAN-H and CAN-L circuits;
• service button.

To reset the “learning” you must perform a factory reset.

Keyless option

An expensive option is a keyless immobilizer bypass, which works without sending signals to the chips, but interferes with the electronic call from the antenna. It is quite difficult to decipher a complex encoded signal, however, if this is possible, then there will be no need to perform any software or physical intervention in the operation of the immobilizer.

Modern automakers are strict about the production of additional keys with chips. Sometimes the cost of the third copy can be calculated in five-digit sums in rubles. Often, additional reissues are even blocked programmatically. In such a situation, all that remains is to bypass the keyless immobilizer, which can already be installed on almost 1000 different car models.

A well-known manufacturer of this product is the Canadian company Fortin. The device operates on several standard frequency channels. The positive thing is that only the motor will be turned on. The described device does not perform any manipulations with unlocking the steering wheel or the automatic transmission handle. Everything will be in a locked state.

This quality is the main advantage over methods that involve a second key. At the same time, the driver will always present a complete set of keys to the insurance company, and the car will be under guard. The negative point is that such technology may not be installed on all cars.

When installing the launch, we save all the keys to the car!

List of cars that support keyless bypass of the StarLine immobilizer

Ready-made complexes with key storage

StarLine A93 Can-Lin

Security system with auto-start, interactive control code, optional CAN+LIN and GSM/GPS interface and 128-channel transceiver.

StarLine A93+F1

Security system with auto-start, interactive control code, optional CAN+LIN and GSM/GPS interface and 128-channel transceiver.

StarLine F1 is designed to organize automatic and remote engine starting, bypassing the standard immobilizer system without the use of chips and keys in the cabin.

Check the possibility of keyless bypass of the standard immobilizer on your car by phone

General characteristics of the crawler

Starline produces several types of devices that work well with anti-theft systems Starline A91, A93 and others. The most common:

1. VR-03 is a model that is capable of disabling engine blocking based on a signal from the alarm control unit at the time of remote start. For it to work, you need a duplicate of the chip key or part of it with a chip. The most hackable device.
2. F1 - technology operates without a key, by controlling the vehicle controller via the CAN interface. After autostart, the steering wheel remains locked until the owner forcibly removes the lock. Hacking the system is more difficult and will take time.
3. To work with 4th and 5th generation alarm systems, the Starline CAN LIN immobilizer crawler (3 in one) has been developed - a small board built into the “alarm” unit. Control is carried out without chips or keys. The system is the most secure from the point of view of theft.

How does it work

The standard immo on most cars includes:

1. A transponder (radio response), which is physically located in the head of the key. The chip key has RFID - radio frequency identification tag.
2. Electronic control unit (ECU) of the immobilizer - connects the car controller with an antenna and transponder, generates signals for the car controller, receives, decodes and compares the response from the chip with a given code.
3. The antenna, most often surrounding the ignition switch. Through it, the interaction between the transponder and the ECU is carried out.

The standard system is designed in such a way that when a chip key is inserted into the ignition switch, the radio tag is read through the antenna of the immo control unit and identified.

If the codes match, the ban on starting the engine is lifted.

The Starline immobilizer bypass module is needed to obtain permission from the immo ECU to start the engine in the absence of a chip key in the ignition switch or near it (with a keyless system).

In the simplest system - VR-03, a duplicate key is used for this. In more complex versions of the devices, control is carried out by crawler software, without the need to hide a duplicate chip in the car.

Module composition

Configuration and functions of lineman elements:

1. In VR-03 and analogues, the key with the transponder is placed in the crawler unit. For this purpose, the latter contains an electromagnetic coil of the code reader - a flat antenna, into which the chip key is fixed.
2. When autostarting, a signal about a start attempt is sent from the car controller to the relay built into the module (usually made in blue) via the black control wire.
3. The relay completes the electrical circuit. Through the remote loop antenna of the lineman, a radio signal from the chip is sent to the immobilizer antenna, which are located next to each other on the ignition switch.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the devices:

• make it possible to install remote and automatic start of the internal combustion engine on the car;
• ease of installation and operation;
• the operation of security systems is maintained;
• You can use the car if it is not possible to duplicate the key (with software control without a chip).

Disadvantages of devices that bypass the immobilizer:

• some installation difficulties that may arise during self-installation;
• reduced protection of the car against theft at the time of remote start of the internal combustion engine, because at this time the standard “immo” does not work.

Keyless start system

In the early 2000s, when autostart was just starting, this problem was solved head-on, the installer picked out the chip from the key and simply glued it to the ignition lock frame. Then modules for bypassing the standard immobilizer appeared - this is a small box in which the entire chip or key is placed, at the right moment it is activated and the car starts. However, this method has several disadvantages:

• If the owner has only one key
• The insurance company does not approve of having one of the keys in the car
• Making a duplicate chip for some models is very expensive
• I would like to have two working keys on hand
• It is impossible to make a duplicate key

How to do it yourself

You can assemble the crawler for the standard immo with your own hands. For this you will need:

1. Select a dielectric plastic case of a suitable size.
2. As the main relay, you can use a 5-pin relay capable of operating in a vehicle network.
3. The terminals of its coil must be connected to each other with a 1N4001 diode, so that + 12 volts goes to the cathode of the diode, and minus from the signal to start the internal combustion engine goes to the anode (i.e. in reverse polarity).
4. You need to cut 1 of the wires of the standard antenna.
5. To the normally closed contact of the relay you need to connect 1 wire from the standard immobilizer coil and 1 end from the crawler antenna.
6. The 2nd end of the lineman's antenna is connected to the normally open contact.

To the remaining free contact we connect 2 wires from the standard coil. The chip can be removed from the key and inserted into a homemade crawler antenna, wrapped tightly with electrical tape.

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Fortin standard immobilizer bypass modules

EVO-KEY keyless immobilizer bypass

A highly specialized bypass module that is capable of working with all 40-bit and 80-bit key encodings for Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar, Mazda, Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles. The self-learning module does not require a key when used in a vehicle.

EVO-ALL crawler for vehicles with CAN bus

Combined standard immobilizer bypass module and interface module. With its help, the highest level of ease of installation of remote start devices is achieved. The presence of 10 separate ports provides the most complete functionality for each car model.

Installing the module yourself

Installing the Starline immobilizer bypass does not require knowledge of programming or physical intervention in the security alarm. Only 1 wire is connected from the engine starting module.

Before starting work, disconnect the vehicle's power supply from the battery by removing the terminal.

Connection diagram

The electrical connection diagram for the Starline immobilizer crawler will be clear even to novice auto electricians. Only 4 wires need to be connected.

Connect the module's + 12V power supply from the machine's network via the red wire. Management is going on black. 2 gray ones are needed for the antenna.

How to make an immobilizer bypasser with your own hands and what it is needed for, connection instructions.

Installation instructions

Most often, the device is installed with your own hands in a car behind the dashboard. You can go the classic route, or you can choose another more unconventional place. It is better that the unit is secured with self-tapping screws to a non-metallic surface in order to reduce the likelihood of shielding and signal interference.

Before installing the device, you need to open it and install a chip key or part of it containing a transponder into the flat antenna. The connection must be reliable, eliminating problems when the machine moves.

The procedure for connecting the crawler:

1. The control signal from the starting system comes to the module input via the black wire, which is connected to the engine starting module.
2. Gray wires are used depending on the car model. If the loop antenna is normally fixed on the ignition switch, then the gray pair is connected to it. If this is not possible, several turns of gray wire are wound onto the ignition cylinder, where the immobilizer antenna is located, at a minimum distance from the standard receiving element as an antenna.
3. If the signal from the chip is weak, the developers recommend turning on the gray wires, breaking the standard “immo” circuit.
4. Power + 12V to the module is supplied from the machine's network. You should select a connection location where there is voltage when the ignition is turned on.

Keyless bypass StarLine

Using the StarLine iKey algorithmic bypass function allows you to significantly save money and keep all the standard car keys: the latter is a prerequisite for CASCO insurance (risk of theft/theft) in many insurance companies.

Keyless bypass of immobilizer StarLine F1

The StarLine F1 module is designed to automatically temporarily disable the standard immobilizer when starting the engine remotely. The device is the result of cooperation between StarLine and Fortin. Supports about 120 car models from 16 manufacturers.

Keyless bypass of StarLine iKey immobilizer

Keyless bypass StarLine iKey is available for most modern cars present on the Russian market; StarLine developers are constantly working to expand this list and add new functionality to the maximum number of cars.

If the firmware with iKey support for your car was released after the installation of the alarm system with auto start, you can contact the technical center, where the immobilizer bypass will be connected via a digital bus, and the key previously stored in the bypasser will be returned to you. If your car is not yet on the list of supported ones, but you want to implement autostart without losing the original key, use the StarLine F1 keyless bypass module for the standard immobilizer - it guarantees the safety of the car thanks to control via a digital code channel. Please check with our managers about the compatibility of your car with the StarLine F1 module.

Let's consider 3 variants of the Solaris car: 2011-2015 with a key, 2016 with a key and 2011-2016 with a button.

Description of RFID and VATS systems

The principle of operation of the anti-theft system is to block the ability to start the engine if certain conditions are not met. This may be necessary in case of loss of the key, incompatibility between the operation of the standard alarm system and the one installed additionally, for remote or automatic engine starting. Factory immobilizer bypass devices not only serve their intended purpose, but also have a CAN bus to increase functionality. But is it possible and how to deceive the immobilizer without buying a factory lineman? This problem can be solved in several ways. The main condition is to preserve the original functions of the car alarm. Installing additional components or upgrading the system should not affect its functionality and reliability.

To choose the optimal scheme for a homemade lineman, you need to know the types of immobilizers. They differ in their operating principle, on the basis of which methods of temporary or permanent shutdown are developed:

• RFID Most often they are installed on cars made in Europe and Asia. Inside the ignition key there is a transponder (transmitter), which, when activated, sends a signal to the system and activates it. The receiving part is located in the ignition switch design;
• VAT. Typical for American-made models. Inside the ignition key there is a resistor that has a certain resistance value. To turn on the engine, you must insert the key into the lock. If the resistance value differs from the normalized value, the engine will not start.

For each of the systems, it is necessary to develop a universal model of an immobilizer crawler, which is not difficult to make with your own hands. It is important to know the principles of design and selection of components.

How to disable Immo

Many questions concern how to disable Immo on Starline if this option is no longer necessary. Take the following steps:

Click and hold button 2 (on some models of security systems, button 3, for example on b9) until two signals appear. First the music, and then a short one.

Pay attention to the display. On it, after two signals appear at the bottom, the first icon on the left side is highlighted. By briefly pressing buttons 2 to move to the left (sometimes 3) and 4 (to the right), move the cursor to the desired image.

If the question is how to remove Immo on the Starline alarm system, press button 1 to confirm.

If everything was done correctly and you were able to disable the option, the machine should give two light signals. As for the keychain, it will play one melody and two short sounds. After exiting programming, the icons are not highlighted. This indicates that you managed to disable the Immo mode on Starline.

If all else fails, press the service button.

Malfunctions

By itself, the immobilizer bypass practically cannot break down - the only component that can fail is the relay, but its resource, taking into account the frequency of use of the autostart, is very long. Problems with autostart due to the fault of a crawler are simply checked:

1. When turning off the car, leave the key in the ignition without removing it so that it remains within the range of the reader.
2. Wait at least 30 seconds.
3. Set the car to security, then give the command to autostart, observing the reaction.
4. If during autostart the ignition turns on normally, the engine is cranked by the starter and catches, then the problem is precisely in connection with the lineman. Otherwise, you can exclude this from the list of possible faults.

To check the Starline crawler, you must first find it by tracking it along the wire from the overhead antenna. The antenna, of course, must be in the right place - it often slides to the side if the installer did not fasten it properly at the time.

There are two two-pin connectors on the body of the immobilizer crawler: a patch antenna is connected to one of them, and power and control are connected to the second. The red wire of this connector should be supplied with “plus” power either constantly or simultaneously with the ignition (depending on how the installer did it); on the black wire a “ground” from the alarm appears at the moment when the autostart algorithm starts (or pulsed, or for the entire time the autorun is running).

Video “How the Starline VR-03 immobilizer crawler works”

Xilvlik in his video clearly demonstrated the work of the crawler of the standard power unit blocker of the VR-03 model.

The Starline immobilizer is a device that helps immobilize a car during attempts to steal it. However, in addition to its benefits, it can sometimes bring significant inconvenience. This happens in cases where you need to install a car alarm with auto start. Another unpleasant option: the owner could simply be left without a Starline key.

In such cases, it is usually worth considering the possibility of bypassing the standard immobilizer. Such a part as a lineman for the Starline keyless immobilizer is usually put into operation in several ways. Similar systems are commercially available. This module allows you to bypass even the chipless barrier even at Starline.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of immo Starline crawlers:

• low price for devices of this quality, which make it possible to protect the engine blocking circuits from hacking;
• effective operation of the device and its productivity;
• after installation, the device is automatically synchronized with the machine’s systems and integrated into its type;
• the presence of the device makes it easier to use the remote engine start function;
• installing a blocker bypass will not in any way affect the operation of security systems and other electronic devices, of course, if the installation is done correctly;
• ease of installation and operation;
• immo crawlers work well with systems equipped with the option of remote starting of internal combustion engines;
• The blocker bypass module can function without constant use of the standard immo key.