I would be interested in people’s comments here and corrections if I have got things wrong re Mazda UK supplied Mk1 cars, we know the Eunos cars did not have immobilisers factory fitted unless someone can advise this is in error. From posts on Miata.net it appears the MK1 Miata was not factory supplied with an immobiliser apart from one special edition “possibly”.
The Mk2 from early1998 we know had a Lucas Immobiliser paired to the ECU or PCM, it requires a transducer type ignition key and if the ECU or immobiliser are damaged or all keys are lost, the normal path to recovery is to get a paired ecu, keys and immobiliser purchased from a scrapped car. I assume these items were fitted on the production line in Japan, can someone confirm this.
The Mk1 from some time in 1995 but possibly later until the end of production had a similar system to the MK2 but with a Temic Immobiliser component set. Again the transponder key is paired to the immobiliser and if the ECU or immobiliser are damaged or all keys are lost, the normal path to recovery is to get a paired ecu, keys and immobiliser set including the sensor ring purchased from a scrapped car. I assume these items were fitted on the production line in Japan, again can someone confirm this.
It appears that Mazda UK sometime around 1994 fitted a metal bodied immobiliser when the cars arrived at their distribution centre in the UK. The system worked by the owner touching the supplied battery operated fob to a sensor on the dash. I believe around a year or so ago someone posted a picture of the metal bodied unit that Robbie identified. I cannot find that post. I have never seen one of these Mazda UK supplied cars. Can anyone advise where the metal cased immobiliser was located in the car.
I accept that there would be cars sitting in the UK unsold for a while that may have confused the dates that these items were introduced, together with the very large number of alarm / remote central locking units that were fitted to Mk1 cars that will confuse things further. Including Mazda dealer supplied alarm systems.
I thought the Mk1 first came out in 1989 not 1975 but I may be wrong. My 1992 Eunos came with a Microscan 200 series Alarm fob and press button alarm pad. Hope that helps.
all uk cars from 1996 had to have a thatcham cat2 immobiliser fitted as standard hence why some later imports dont have immos and earlier cars only have them fitted if the dealer or someone else fitted an aftermarket system hope this helps
After hearing opinions that make no real sense, I phoned Thatcham the organisation in the UK funded by the car insurance industry. They set standards for anti-theft devices and test new cars and standalone devices to confirm the cars and devices are up to their standards.
It is only the UK Government or the EC that can require car manufacturers to fit these devices.
Immobilisers were required to be fitted to all new cars sold in the UK after October 1998, a number of manufacturers including Mazda did that prior to 1998.
Thatcham advised there is no requirement to fit anti-theft devices to grey imports therefore there are no Eunos cars with Mazda factory fitted anti-theft devices, only devices that may have been fitted optionally by the owners in the UK and in a lot of cases were fitted to give central locking and anti-theft devices in one package.
The simple fob that required to touch a sensor on the dashboard prior to starting the car and fitted by Mazda UK to the MK1 or NA in their UK import compound was approved by Thatcham in May 2004 and Thatcham were advised by Mazda UK the fitment of the earlier devices stopped in September 1995. Of course there would be Mazda UK supplied cars unsold cars in the distribution system that would already be fitted with these older devices registered after September 1995.
Thatcham provided certification to Mazda UK in September 1995 for the more complicated immobiliser system that paired ECU / Temic Devices / Transponder Key and was probably fitted during production in Japan unless anyone knows better until the end of UK bound car production at the end of the MK1 NA production run in approx. late 1997.
This is my first post, last night I bought my first MX-5, a MK2.5 Sport. In searching for quotes confused.com looked up the car details based on the reg. number and automatically ticked the box “Thatchem alarm fitted”. It’s a totally standard UK car and comes with a key fob marked “Visteon 41703”.
Based on the information here does it mean I have a factory fitted alarm and it is Thatcham approved?