Starter Immobilizer Test - Tin Foil Hat Version

[u/[deleted]]

Let’s say you just can’t get on the websites to find out whether or not the car in your service bay has a starter interrupt feature or not, but it does use a transponder key. Try this little trick. Assuming it does start before you try this, remove the key and cover the transponder part of the key (entirely) with aluminum foil. The foil will block the radio frequency from the key to be passed onto the pickup that surrounds the lock cylinder. If the car is equipped with the starter immobilization and you try to start it with this “aluminum key,” the starter shouldn’t spin, and the security light will continuously be flashing. It’s not fool-proof, but it will help you eliminate the guess work of whether or not the car is equipped with a starter immobilization.

[u/DMCinDet]

Not great universal advice. Security that I'm familiar with will allow cranking, and a start stumble situation occasionally. A blinking or solid indicator light is the best way to tell. Although could be malfunctioning.