Xantia stolen - how did they bypass immobiliser?

[Rhothgar]

Well! How strange is this?

As some of you will know, we have forgotten the immobiliser code to Sylvia's ZX and I appealed for information over a month ago now.

Somehow I came across this thread today and not sure what spider means by "Shuffle and Tweak"? Do you know what he meant DickieG (your method didn't work for me sadly)?

And then I was watch videos on YouTube about finding open and short circuits. I look down and see the below video. A trick that's been around for years and is well known. Never needed to try it but I decided to watch the video (it has an irritating soundtrack) and look who is it hosted by!!! Admins will be able to check the YT username against this user. There may be no correlation but I wonder if this nothing toxic website themselves were seeking the information to then post it on their website? How coincidental!

[ksanturion10]

It seems the design allows it

[wheeler]

That video above is complete nonsense, even on older cars with vacuum operated locking the actuators are sealed units.
The inside of car doors have drain holes for water so you wouldn’t even be able to build up any pressure inside anyway.

[ksanturion10]

Don't want to argue as I haven't tried such stuff , but here the pressure is ejected into the key lock. And it could be sealed by an outside cylinder. But still the design should be such that the pressure can turn the actuator, which seems to be an unexpected design flaw or...

[myglaren]

It was allegedly commonly employed on Scorpio's, using half a tennis ball.

[wheeler]

I cant think on any vehicle locking system i ever worked on how this could possibly work.

[white exec]

That was my thought, too. Suggests a quick squirt with an airline would also unlock the car !

[GiveMeABreak]

I'm sure I've seen this done (back in the 80s mind) on a Ford - think it might of been an Orion or something like that with the early central locking system - too long ago now to remember specifics except that it was a Ford and that was enough for me!

[moizeau]

Years ago I think I read or was told that you knock the alarm out by shorting the indicator. Different scenario but just goes to show how things have moved on. Can still be done today but a lot more tech needed. Bit like unlocking old type front doors with a credit card!

[white exec]

IIRC the was a ? Ford where you could simply swap over two of the dash plug-in rocker switches, and then press one to start the car.
RAC and Which? used to have a league table of cars easiest/most difficult to open up and drive away.

[GiveMeABreak]

So given all the above it's not hard to see the old tennis ball trick working

[wheeler]

IIRC the was a ? Ford where you could simply swap over two of the dash plug-in rocker switches, and then press one to start the car.
RAC and Which? used to have a league table of cars easiest/most difficult to open up and drive away.

Are you thinking of old Early 90’s vauxhalls? On these if you pull out the hazard warning switch & re fit it back in upside down it puts the ignition on, you can then bump start the car, after snapping the steering lock of course.

[white exec]

That was it - I had forgotten the details.
Do remember a friend's PA Cresta that had the (presumably official) option of not needing the IGN key to start. Around the key slot was a chromed 'wingnut', which could be turned to start with or without the key.

[myglaren]

That was it - I had forgotten the details.
Do remember a friend's PA Cresta that had the (presumably official) option of not needing the IGN key to start. Around the key slot was a chromed 'wingnut', which could be turned to start with or without the key.

"Americanized"

My mate had a Camaro with that, could be started without the keys.

[Armidillo]

That was it - I had forgotten the details.
Do remember a friend's PA Cresta that had the (presumably official) option of not needing the IGN key to start. Around the key slot was a chromed 'wingnut', which could be turned to start with or without the key.

"Americanized"

My mate had a Camaro with that, could be started without the keys.

Also GM Holdens in Australia. Key could be removed at Acc position, then the 'wingnut' could be used to start the car. If you turned key to the Lock position before removing the key then it was actually locked (only the ignition, I'm sure there was no steering lock).

This would have been in the 60s though...