Automotive
How do I know if my 2001-2003 Toyota RAV4 has immobilizer?

The immobilizer, which is an automotive security system integrated in many vehicles since 1996, is installed in some 2001, 2002 and 2003 Toyota RAV4 SUVs, but not in all of them and if it is present or not, that fact is not identifiable from the model number, or by its trim specifications, nor by looking at the VIN number and not even by looking at the ECM part number.
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Working with Immobilizer software for virginizing files

To fulfill these requests, we will publish the basic immobilizer reset procedure by using external tools, not the included functions on each program, as many of them are undocumented or use custom hardware, not readily available for every user.
This procedure will also apply for the Toyota Virgin Dump collection, which is a group of files called dumps, as they were “dumped” out of the chip containing it, by using an EEPROM programmer to read such contents and not generated in any other way and also for the Toyota Corolla file and Toyota RAV4 File.
SOME BACKGROUND
The automotive immobilizer system use Read the rest of this entry
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Interesting! – Loose parts in engine bay caused the vehicle to stall

Read here how a simple and dumb thing was causing a car to completely stall at intermittent times, with no apparent cause. This might be happening to your car…
For some time, we were wondering about the cause of an intermittent power loss on the car of one of our customers, that seemed to have no cure, as all the engine parts and electronics we checked tested ok.
As we made the tests, the problem was tracked down to possible problems with the ignition system, specifically suspecting of too low ignition timing advance. We went to that conclusion, as the reading with a scanner was Read the rest of this entry
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Simple Immobilizer SMD EEPROM Removal and replacement

When you replace your 2001, 2002 or 2003 Toyota RAV4 ECM (car computer or engine computer) with an used unit, either bought at eBay or at a salvage yard, junker, etc., if your vehicle is equipped with an immobilizer system, which is an anti-theft security system, you must either reprogram the ecm to work with your existing keys, or buy new keys, which must be cut and programmed for matching the ECM unit you just purchased.
In this article, we will cover the part where the ECM is reprogrammed, as that is the easier way, and will use as an example the 89661-42820 RAV4 ECM. That part number is to mention just one, as this procedure will cover all 2001 – 2003 models, either 4×2 or 4×4 wheel drive.

For reprogramming, if you Read the rest of this entry
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Reading and Writing Immobilizer EEPROMs in Circuit

Sometimes when working with immobilizer EEPROMs, the ideal way of programming the EEPROM is by doing it while it is in the circuit, as removing it, programming and resoldering it back to the circuit, adds a bit more of effort to complete the job.
Doing it “in-circuit” can be accomplished by using the SOIC-8 clip, connecting it over the EEPROM chip while it is in circuit, but sometimes, some inconveniences are present. Some of those inconveniences are; the need of cleaning the EEPROM leads from any protecting coating the ECM might have, or the fact that the EEPROM in question might have a too low profile, making it impossible to keep the clip in place, or the situation that we will cover here; the ECM circuit is too sensitive to the voltage that the EEPROM programmer injects to it, for working (reading/writing) with the EEPROM. In this case, the problem is that the micro controller of the ECM is attempting to start (run) with the reading supplied voltage. Of course, thus will vary from ECM to ECM and from programmer to programmer.
The solution for this situation is Read the rest of this entry