Keyless Go - how secure?

[Ex-SL Man]

I've just been reading on another forum of a theft of a car with Keyless Go, by the thieves detecting and amplifying the key signal from outside the house. How secure is the Jaguar system on my '07 XK? Perhaps it's time to go back in time and invest in a Disklok...

[Old Peter]

There was a local issue reported in the Weekly local free paper of a Mercedes being stolen by two this who used his laptop to hack into the lock system of a keyless entry car, while the key was in the house of the owner.

And, although slightly off topic, I have heard that when you lock your car using the key fob, there is a widget that can cancel the locking signal. Several cars have been known to be looted --  sat naves, radio, and anything loose.  Drivers have been advised to check that the car is locked, and never to use a key fob from a distance.

Peter.

[JOE-DOT-COM]

Hi

Not heard of any issues with Jaguar, Locking systems are usually good

there are usually of the rolling code type, so cannot be scanned and reproduced

as peter has said, seen the issue with the mercedes, this week, there was also a big issue with ford focus RS's, where the car is broken into and by plugging a tool into the OBD port the cars security could be over ridden, started and driven off on brand new cars

known common issues are people using jammers, which jams the signal from your remote and when you walk away and think its locked, its not and as soon as your out of sight, your car gets raided.

only other common one is people are wedging coins in your passenger side handles, so there partial pulled/open, this also stops the car from been locked, but only works on certain cars

personally I don't like these keyless entry and starting systems, there's too many things go wrong, You can't beat a good old key, with a transponder in it, got to be the hardest thing to get past.

you could put some security device on yourself, like on my S-type R, there's a fuse box in the boot, one could open it and put a switch on one side hidden which could cut the feed to the fuel pumps, so the car would not be able to be driven away, could be useful if you park somewhere dodgy or even go on holiday

cheers

Joe

[Ex-SL Man]

I'm looking for a Rottweiler with AIDS...

If the trick worked with the Mercedes, it might well work with the Jaguar. My '08 E-class has a rolling code set-up, as did my '03 and '04 E-classes before it, so I assume that one recently taken had no lesser security features, but it went. If the scanner can capture the code, the Keyless Go and Keyless Start will surely both recognise it? 

 

Re your previous post, it's a bit tricky checking the car is locked unless you put the key fob down some distance away. Is there any way of locking the car without using the key fob? 

 

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean everybody isn't out to get me...

 

[Old Peter]

During WW2, those who had cars and were allowed to use them had to disable the distributor when the car was parked for a long time, such as overnight.

Peter.

[Old Peter]

I think Keyless entry and Keyless go covered the same topic, really.

Peter.

[Oldun]

If you buy a top of the range BMW and live in Harborne,Birmingham , Locks and anti-theft software is as nothing,another car lost its 20" plus wheels last week ,no alarm as the thieves had disabled it ,wheel locks were useless too. Getting worried about my old Volvo,the S type is tucked up in its garage.

[Old Peter]

A couple of years ago the police raided a house in Aldridge and found a lot of blank BMW key fobs and the electronic equipment to get them working.

Peter.

[Oldun]

The theory around here is that the tea leaves have a contact within BMW ,this recent one has key less locking and an alarm covering every eventuality, They are that quick they could be F1 trained. So those in the know reckon the VIN is obtained first by looking through the windscreen ,then off they go to their contact who supply's them with the electronic code to enable them to disable all the fancy alarms and wheel lock keys. No one has ever seen or heard anyone so they must be damned quick.

[Jagnumpty]

If you're looking for another level of security you can fit a keyed switch in the main positive cable from the battery. Turn the key, remove it and there's no power to anything. To prevent losing the radio memory and other electrical items normally 'live' when you're away from the car you can simply wire a fuse holder in parallel with the switch and insert a small value fuse - say a couple of amps - that will blow if any attempt is made to use the starter motor or any relatively large current drain, eg. headlights.