Hi,

I am looking to put a security system on my sister's car as a present,
and when I call up for estimates the auto places ask whether or not I
have some sort of chip installed - which I guess somehow effects what
they have to install. They say that some cars have it - and some
don't. One place said that all of them have it. Another place says
they haven't see one yet that does.

How does one check this sort of thing? Especially when the car isn't
really mine?

 

On 1 Dec 2003 09:29:37 -0800, Marina staggered into the Black Sun and
said:
> I am looking to put a security system on my sister's car as a present,

Get a couple of stickers made up that say, "This car protected by Smith
& Wesson". Lots cheaper, probably just as effective, probably void
anywhere outside the USA.

> and when I call up for estimates the auto places ask whether or not I
> have some sort of chip installed - which I guess somehow effects what
> they have to install. They say that some cars have it - and some
> don't. One place said that all of them have it. Another place says
> they haven't see one yet that does.

What *exactly* did they say? If they actually said, "Does your car have
some sort of chip installed?", they don't want your business. If they
said, "Does your car have an OEM Ignition Cutoff switch model 12345-FOO
installed?", that gives you a place to start looking--you go Google for
"Elantra 12345-FOO" and see what you come up with, or Google for
"Elantra ignition cutoff" if they didn't give a model#.

> How does one check this sort of thing?

See above. Also, you might want to say something about where this car
was purchased; there are no clues in your original message or its
headers, and Canadian/European/Korean models can differ from USA models
in various twisty ways.

> Especially when the car isn't really mine?

Ask the owner. Really, you should do that anyway, and not try to keep
your present a secret--it's always possible the owner would rather have
an iPod or a B&N gift certificate than a car gadget. HTH,

--
Matt G|There is no Darkness in eternity/But only Light too dim for us to see
Windows NT is a vegetable. Dan Quayle is also responsible for letting
ugly people have to use it... But the cool thing is, I've given a million
third-world souls and then hit them with a hammer. --MegaHAL

 

"Marina" <brandeischic@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:815624fe.0312010929.4fa477e8@posting.google.c om...
> Hi,
>
> I am looking to put a security system on my sister's car as a present,
> and when I call up for estimates the auto places ask whether or not I
> have some sort of chip installed - which I guess somehow effects what
> they have to install. They say that some cars have it - and some
> don't. One place said that all of them have it. Another place says
> they haven't see one yet that does.
>
> How does one check this sort of thing? Especially when the car isn't
> really mine?

As fas as I know, all new Elantras are equiped with chip inside ignition key
that communicate with engine management. Also, new owners got keys with a
small metal plate with some numbers attached to keyring.
If you cant get proper information, try this: make a copy of the key and try
to start the car.
Anyway, you can allways install an independent alarm system, regardless of
the chip (that's what I did).

 

Since Sonata's, XG's, and Santa Fe's don't have a chip inside the key,
I seriously doubt that the cheaper Elantra does.

On Mon, 1 Dec 2003 20:16:23 +0100, "Gnekker" <gnekker@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>
>"Marina" <brandeischic@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:815624fe.0312010929.4fa477e8@posting.google. com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am looking to put a security system on my sister's car as a present,
>> and when I call up for estimates the auto places ask whether or not I
>> have some sort of chip installed - which I guess somehow effects what
>> they have to install. They say that some cars have it - and some
>> don't. One place said that all of them have it. Another place says
>> they haven't see one yet that does.
>>
>> How does one check this sort of thing? Especially when the car isn't
>> really mine?
>
>As fas as I know, all new Elantras are equiped with chip inside ignition key
>that communicate with engine management. Also, new owners got keys with a
>small metal plate with some numbers attached to keyring.
>If you cant get proper information, try this: make a copy of the key and try
>to start the car.
>Anyway, you can allways install an independent alarm system, regardless of
>the chip (that's what I did).
>

 

"Jason" <none.of.your.business@see.left.of.at.com> wrote in message
news:gbbnsvs2ne9tvoqh67qevei1epa6q30mki@4ax.com...
> Since Sonata's, XG's, and Santa Fe's don't have a chip inside the key,
> I seriously doubt that the cheaper Elantra does.
>
Mine certainly has one. On our market all Elantras, starting with most basic
trim, has them. and allmost all competitors too...

 

In article <gbbnsvs2ne9tvoqh67qevei1epa6q30mki@4ax.com>, Jason <none.of.your.business@see.left.of.at.com> wrote:
>Since Sonata's, XG's, and Santa Fe's don't have a chip inside the key,
>I seriously doubt that the cheaper Elantra does.

Immobilizer is mandatory in Europe.

>On Mon, 1 Dec 2003 20:16:23 +0100, "Gnekker" <gnekker@yahoo.com>
>wrote:
>
>>
>>"Marina" <brandeischic@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:815624fe.0312010929.4fa477e8@posting.google .com...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I am looking to put a security system on my sister's car as a present,
>>> and when I call up for estimates the auto places ask whether or not I
>>> have some sort of chip installed - which I guess somehow effects what
>>> they have to install. They say that some cars have it - and some
>>> don't. One place said that all of them have it. Another place says
>>> they haven't see one yet that does.
>>>
>>> How does one check this sort of thing? Especially when the car isn't
>>> really mine?
>>
>>As fas as I know, all new Elantras are equiped with chip inside ignition key
>>that communicate with engine management. Also, new owners got keys with a
>>small metal plate with some numbers attached to keyring.
>>If you cant get proper information, try this: make a copy of the key and try
>>to start the car.
>>Anyway, you can allways install an independent alarm system, regardless of
>>the chip (that's what I did).
>>
>

 

Thanks for all the replies.

Since it's not my car, and I can't exactly steal a key to make a copy to see
about that chip, I will just have to go for it, and worst case pay extra for
the install if it turns out the chip is there.

Thanks to all who responded.

"Marina" <brandeischic@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:815624fe.0312010929.4fa477e8@posting.google.c om...
> Hi,
>
> I am looking to put a security system on my sister's car as a present,
> and when I call up for estimates the auto places ask whether or not I
> have some sort of chip installed - which I guess somehow effects what
> they have to install. They say that some cars have it - and some
> don't. One place said that all of them have it. Another place says
> they haven't see one yet that does.
>
> How does one check this sort of thing? Especially when the car isn't
> really mine?

 

My Elantra VE doesn't appear to have this "chip" on the ignition key. I
believe some may refer to that as some immobilizer mechanism which you can
get after market.

"Marina" <brandeischic@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:815624fe.0312010929.4fa477e8@posting.google.c om...
> Hi,
>
> I am looking to put a security system on my sister's car as a present,
> and when I call up for estimates the auto places ask whether or not I
> have some sort of chip installed - which I guess somehow effects what
> they have to install. They say that some cars have it - and some
> don't. One place said that all of them have it. Another place says
> they haven't see one yet that does.
>
> How does one check this sort of thing? Especially when the car isn't
> really mine?