daz_vx220

hi guys im thinking of buying a damaged elise as a project , it has keys but no immobiliser fob so being sold as a non runner. how would i sort this or who would i call to sort it? is it an expensive job?

The Zohan

Most modern cars have the imobiliser built into the key itself, are you sure this is not the case, seperate fobs went out 10+ years ago.

daz_vx220

he just said they cant start it due to no fob, ive never owned an elise befor so unsure what the keys are like.

The Zohan

Is this the owner or salvager saying this. I am real suprised that it will be in the fob, The key is where most immobilisers are now the technology is passive and dead small so easily built into a key for example. IMHO more likely an excuse as not to start it, sell you it then claim that he did not know one way or the other - that is just my suspicious mind!

I have not seen a fob immobiliser for years and years, even my98 sh*tter of a Pug 406 has it built into the key as has every car i have owned since '97

Dedrater

Isn't it simply a case of going to a Lotus dealer, proving you own the car, give them all the details from the metal plaque and then they recode one for your car? Its been a fair few years, but I am sure this is all I did when I lost (both) sets for a Mondeo I had.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Might need to replace the ECU and key set off another one, depends on getting a matched pair, typically there is an RFID chip in the key read via a loop around the barrel, you might get away with going to a dealer with the ecu, I suppose it depends on whether its actually just a Rover ECU or a Lotus specific one.

Brun

My Elise has a Fob - MY57
Standard security provided by Cobra

Brun

Here's 5 of the buggers

Brun

How to programme the fob

Minitrue

Id be wary that this wasnt a ruse, the purpose of which was to prevent you from detecting further problems. Is there any damage around the engine area or maybe the radiators?

Leslie

Yes I agree. Certainly would not like to buy it without hearing the engine running and checking the rest of the mechanical bits.

Les

daz_vx220

this is the car:
Vehicle Image
http://autos.blue-sock.com/clients/2...age=427684.jpg

no damage what so ever to rear of car. £5500

joey_turbo

iTrader: (26)

Its certainly not un-heard of for a salvager to "lose" various keys or fobs to stop you from starting the engine. It is sold as seen, so if you haven't started it, and the engine is buggered, thats your problem.

You can't really go to a dealer until you have bought it, and if its a cat c, you wont get the logbook until after the VIC test, where they require the car to be fully mobile.

I think best bet is to ask around the elise forums. But as mentioned, I'd imagine that the immob is part of the transponder key.