System Description

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2011 Honda Insight and 2010 Honda Insight. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The vehicle is equipped with a Type VI immobilizer system that will disable the vehicle unless a programmed ignition key is used.

This system consists of a transponder built into the ignition key, an immobilizer-keyless control unit (with a built-in receiver), the MICU (with a built-in imoes unit), an immobilizer indicator, and the PCM.

When the immobilizer key (programmed by the HDS) is inserted into the ignition switch and turned to ON (II), the immobilizer-keyless control unit sends a signal to the transponder. The transponder then sends a coded signal back to the immobilizer-keyless control unit which then sends a coded signal to the PCM and the MICU (imoes unit).

The PCM and MICU (imoes unit) identify this coded signal, then voltage is supplied to the fuel pump.

Fig 1: Identifying Immobilizer System Components

Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

If the wrong key has been used or the code was not received or recognized by the units, the immobilizer indicator will flash once, then it will blink until the ignition switch is turned to LOCK (0). When the ignition switch is turned to LOCK (0), the indicator will blink ten times to signal that unit has reset correctly, then the indicator will go off. Normal operation: If the immobilizer code is identified, the immobilizer indicator quickly flashes once when the ignition switch is turned to ON (II).