New owner Vitara VIN question

[NeilP]

Hi all

I have Vitara, about 1999, with key/ starting and possible immobiliser issues

Vitara
JX
e9*93/81*0010
VSE ETV 01C 01208274

Code OBM
Miami Blue

Now i have entered the VIN in to various on line VIN decoders, and they all tell me the VIN is incorrect, and they won't give me a production year.
Logbook and chassis plate agree and although logbook says 1999, as date registered as new in Jersey, I need to find production date.

The girlfriends car, and she lost the only key. No real Suzuki agent in Jersey, tried the bedt dealer we have, and they supplied 2 new NON chipped keys, (£112) based on chassis number. They turn all the locks, and activate tje starter motor, but it won't fire and start.

It was parked last week, no issue with starting, she lost key, I went to 'agent' and got new key cut via supplying VIN details. They do not seem to know if the car has immobiliser or not.

How can I find out?


Thanks

Neil

PS Will try site sesrch later if I get no response, but doing this post from bloody tiny iPhone screenl and am at work. Wanted to get initial question up now while I csn

[Jordi]

Fairly sure a 1999 will have immobiliser fitted.

I'd try getting a car lock smith to look at it. In my mates experience they were excellent and able to reproduce keys and coded fobs for his car.

[NeilP]

unfortunately I live in jersey..so not a lot of choice...already paid £112 for 2 keys without chips. they decided it did not have a immobiliser.

but any idea on the VIN number issue? I keep getting thrown back by the online vin decoders that say the VIN is not valid

Never owned a modern vehicle with this shit on it before..always been a landrover or old Toyota LandCruiser man (1980 HJ60 ) . This modern crap with electronics like this...Plan to get shot of it as soon as I get it going....it is going to cost as much to get it going again because a key got lost..as the vehicle cost..paid £500 for it 6 months ago

[Jordi]

I run a 88 Samurai the most technical thing is the door lock.

[NeilP]

Nice. Unfortunately did not even consider this sort of issue when buying it. It was a cheap vehicle for girlfriend to drive, as she seems incapable of driving around a corner without scraping the indside of the vehicle in the inside if bend or curb.


It served really well in the snow though . I was amazed. It easily went places the LWB. 4 liter HJ60 cruiser would not go, small light and nimble. Piss poor for towing skip lorries and load carrying, but as a fun drive, just amazing..... Now let down by bullshit electrics...come backLucas electrics, all is forgiven

[ScottieJ]

Pretty sure all vits after 96 or 97 had built in immobisers as standard, we have a resident expert of all Suzuki electrical trickery known as Rhinoman so hopefully he'll be along soon to confirm and help.

[vitara_mad]

yes a 1999 vitara will deffo have the standard imoblizer with the chip in the key the best way is to just replace the complete system from a breaker ecu, imobilizer ecm, ignition with key

[NeilP]

bugger...shame the dealer here in Jersey did not know that ...or more importantly the bloke in the spares department.

[plugspanner]

i sympathise with you
i bought a 99 vit and all i have was the plastic bit of the key, no blade. it would fire up if i put the plastic bit of the key with the chip in it near the barrel lock!
i ended up buying a complete ecu, steering lock and key from a breaker as i was quoted silly money for a key, the local dealer said bring the car down, i sad how? as i have no key and it will not start?
they said recovery truck, when i pointed out i only paid £300 for the entire car i was not ever going to pay £200+ for a key!
i got all of the parts i needed for £60, and it was quite easy to fit and it now runs well.
i have explored all of the avenues about getting the ecu recoded and sadly suzuki ones are not possible to do.
good luck
shaun

[NeilP]

I think when I get the new key finally sorted, I'll see if I can stick the immobiliser key section inside the plastic steering column cover..and then just use the normal keys.

How close does the chipped key fob need to be to the 'receiver' ?


Permanently lock the immobiliser 'ON'