unusual immobilizer system problem

My 1994 Corolla 1.3 GLi has an unusual engine immobilizer that is now playing up. It has a little rectangular key with three brass strip contacts on each side that you insert into a little rectangular key hole and then jiggle up and down (not turn it).

When it was giving trouble up a few years ago I squirted some 'contact cleaner' into the hole and it then did the trick, but doing the same again is now not helping. Sometimes I can sit there jiggling the key up and down for ages, before the light goes out and I can start the engine.

I would like to *disconnect* this system, but I'm assuming (being a complete novice), that security systems are not designed to be 'easily' bypassed. If I mess up, I guess I could run into serious trouble?

The previous owner said that he didn't think it was factory installed when the car was new, but was done subsequently by a Toyota dealer. It has stickers on the windows saying this has a Toyota installed security system. But my local Toyota Main Agents here in North West London do not recognize this electronic key, neither do locksmiths that sell immobilizer keys.

If anyone recognizes this type of key, or can advise on the best course of action I would be grateful. Thanks

Reply to
johngood_____
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You're not supposed to jiggle it, or turn it. Simply push into the socket, and that's it. It sounds as if it's not making proper contact.

Also if it's like the system fitted to one of our cars that has the same key you're not suppsoed to need it every single time the car is used, only to suppress the alarm if you should do something that triggers the alarm/immobiliser, e.g. leaving key in the ignition and shutting the door will cause the alarm to activate on ours. Then the alarm key needs to be touched to its socket to silence the alarm and to activate the ignition.

Reply to
Steve Firth

Get to the back of the plug and see how many wires there are and what connectors they go into. If it's a simpleton one, you may only need to join the wires together.

Alternatively, try and find where they cut into the ignition/starter circuit to feed it through the immobiliser and rejoin the original wiring.

Reply to
Conor

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