Immobilizer Error

[lather]

Yesterday when I first started my 08 I got the IMMOBILIZER ERROR message on the display. I turned the engine off to see if it would go away when I restarted but now the knob acted like there was no FOB. I switched to the other FOB and it started up with no problem. Stopped and restarted 6 or 7 times over the course of the day's 60 mile ride with no problems.

When I got home I pulled the battery and check connections, everything clean and apparently tight.  I checked the suspect FOB battery with my multi-meter and the result was 2.7 volts. I would think this battery should still work at 2.7 but am I wrong?

[gPink]

What's voltage of a new one? Did you check the battery of the working fob?

[Conrad]

These batteries should be 3 volts. You measured 2.7 with no load on the battery, it's dead as far as the fob is concerned.

[lather]

These batteries should be 3 volts. You measured 2.7 with no load on the battery, it's dead as far as the fob is concerned.

If 2.7 is too low it should have given the LOW BATT message, no?

[Conrad]

If 2.7 is too low it should have given the LOW BATT message, no?

Yep, it should have.

I have some of these batteries right here on my desk and I just measured em. 3.12v

[lather]

Yep, it should have.

I have some of these batteries right here on my desk and I just measured em. 3.12v

Thanks, I'm heading out to buy some fresh ones.

[B.D.F.]

Sometimes. Maybe.

The problem with that warning is that it depends on the transponder (the fob) detecting and transmitting a 'low battery voltage' condition to the main ECU where it would be displayed to you. The device is coded to respond to a certain voltage drop over a certain number of cycles to determine when the battery is out of acceptable range but like most simple or too simple tests, it really isn't very accurate. So you may get a low fob battery warning before the fob battery voltage is so low that the fob actually fails to transmit.... or not. In my opinion, it is a lousy test followed by an unreasonable 'feature' (the displayed low battery warning) that fools a lot of people into thinking something is wrong when really it is the test itself that is flawed.

Your fob battery voltage is too low by actual measurement and the fob has failed to transmit; normally you would just replace the battery and think nothing of it but because you were expecting that warning it fools you into looking for some problem when there really is not a problem. Not blaming you here Bob, I think it is just that the mfg. tries to give us additional and sometimes sophisticated functions that don't really work out. Look at the number of 'low battery' problems that C-14's have had on the tire pressure sensors- it would seem that we would be better off if that function just was not included on the vehicle and when the battery(s) in the sensor failed it just didn't display anymore.

Brian

If 2.7 is too low it should have given the LOW BATT message, no?

[aspire61]

heh guys:

just something i was thinking about- to prevent being stranded in the boonies somewhere, is it worth carrying a spare fob battery around in the glovebox. Another idea was just changing it out every other yr, or perhaps every tire change?

mat

[maxtog]

heh guys:

just something i was thinking about- to prevent being stranded in the boonies somewhere, is it worth carrying a spare fob battery around in the glovebox. Another idea was just changing it out every other yr, or perhaps every tire change?

It is not possible to be stranded by the active fob batteries dying.  The active fob is also a passive fob and does not require batteries to use it to start the bike when used in contact with the ignition area.

[aspire61]

heh maxtog- are you saying you dont need the fob to start the bike? can you explain this to me?

mat

[Pokey]

heh maxtog- are you saying you dont need the fob to start the bike? can you explain this to me?

mat

It is in your owners manual too. 

[lather]

I think you nailed it Brian. BTW, my original tire pressure sensors have now been in service for over 5 years and are now working fine even in cold weather. They  have gotten better with age.

Sometimes. Maybe.

The problem with that warning is that it depends on the transponder (the fob) detecting and transmitting a 'low battery voltage' condition to the main ECU where it would be displayed to you. The device is coded to respond to a certain voltage drop over a certain number of cycles to determine when the battery is out of acceptable range but like most simple or too simple tests, it really isn't very accurate. So you may get a low fob battery warning before the fob battery voltage is so low that the fob actually fails to transmit.... or not. In my opinion, it is a lousy test followed by an unreasonable 'feature' (the displayed low battery warning) that fools a lot of people into thinking something is wrong when really it is the test itself that is flawed.

Your fob battery voltage is too low by actual measurement and the fob has failed to transmit; normally you would just replace the battery and think nothing of it but because you were expecting that warning it fools you into looking for some problem when there really is not a problem. Not blaming you here Bob, I think it is just that the mfg. tries to give us additional and sometimes sophisticated functions that don't really work out. Look at the number of 'low battery' problems that C-14's have had on the tire pressure sensors- it would seem that we would be better off if that function just was not included on the vehicle and when the battery(s) in the sensor failed it just didn't display anymore.

Brian

[Conrad]

heh maxtog- are you saying you dont need the fob to start the bike? can you explain this to me?

mat

The bike can NOT be started without a fob, period.

The bike has two ways to 'see' the fob. One way works with the batteries, when you press the stove knob key down the bike sends a signal out which the fob answers and tells the bike that it's ok to turn the ignition on, this works within a radius of ~5'.

If the fob batteries are dead the fob can't answer, but don't fret, the engineers have this covered. If the fob batteries are dead you can pull the lil flat key out from the back of the fob and hold the fob against the top of the key area on the bike's ignition, there's a flat 'boss' area for this. Now with the fob being so close the bike can 'see' it and this allows the ignition to be turned on. 

Capish?

[lather]

That would be "capiche" or "capisci".

[Conrad]

That would be "capiche" or "capisci".

I stand corrected.

In my defense.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Capish

[VirginiaJim]

Paging Mr's MG and Ugo.....call waiting on the lobby phone.

[Conrad]

Paging Mr's MG and Ugo.....call waiting on the lobby phone.

We're overdue for a video me thinks.   

[lather]

I stand corrected.

In my defense.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Capish

Just my little pet peeve. If you're gonna use a foreign language phrase it bugs me to see it spelled phonetically. Admittedly, Capish is not as bad as Walla for the French "Voilà"

[VirginiaJim]

    How's your bike holding up?  Any more parts fall off lately? 

[Conrad]

Just my little pet peeve. If you're gonna use a foreign language phrase it bugs me to see it spelled phonetically. Admittedly, Capish is not as bad as Walla for the French "Voilà"

I always thought that was some kinda funky violin?   

Ps, maybe you need a new pet, how's about a nice rescue dog?