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Immobilisers have been mandatory in all new cars sold in the United Kingdom since 1997. Early models used a static code in the ignition key (or key fob) which was recognised by an RFID loop around the lock barrel and checked against the vehicle's ECU for a match. if the code is unrecognised, the ECU will not allow fuel to flow and ignition to take place. Later models use rolling codes or advanced cryptography to defeat copying of the code from the key or ECU. More modern immobiliser devices in Ford and Toyota vehicles (as well as other brands) detect and record unauthorized attempts to start or to recode additional keys. The microcircuit inside the key is activated by a small electromagnetic field which induces current to flow inside the key body, which in turn broadcasts a unique binary code which is read by the automobiles ECU. When the ECU determines that the coded key is both current and valid, the ECU activates the fuel-injection sequence. In some vehicles, attempts to use an unauthorized or "non-sequenced" key cause the vehicle to activate a timed no-start condition and in some extreme cases, even use satellite data-link to alert security firms that an unauthorized attempt was made to code a key. Coincidentally, all this information is also recorded in many modern automobile ECUs, including speed, temp, driver weight, geographic location, throttle position and yaw angle. This information is sometimes used in insurance investigations. Most often it is used by automobile dealers for warranty claims to determine exactly what was happening with the vehicle without having to believe anything the customer states.
this article is focused too much on the UK and Australia. - random user, May 19, 2007
Well it helps that both countries have some variety of requirement for the device as opposed to anywhere else for example. Although I have heard South Africa requires GPS tracking.
Many South African insurance companies declare GPS tracking as mandatory. And I think the statistics for "what cars are stolen for" are very different around the world. Agreed - too focused on Australia and UK. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 196.209.172.220 (talk) 06:36, August 30, 2007 (UTC)
