Smartshield disabled

[Gazza76]

Hi All,

I have a problem with my AU 1 forte 1999 model 155,000 klm well looked after.

I went to the shops then come home, got up the next morning and went to start it and nothing, Dash lights, radio, and every thing works but when i turn the key nothing at all happens.

I get a little click from under the dash and that is it.

I replaced the battery and no difference.

Had a mechanic out and he plugged in his tool and said it says smartshield immobilizer is disabled (it is not smartlock he said it is smartshield) tested the fuel injection and nothing, shorted the starter and it works fine.

He said with the older ones there was a little box and you could just replace it but with my AU and smartshield he thinks it is all tied in with the computer and thinks i should just replace the computer with a secondhand one and that should sort it out but no Guarantee it will work.

Also when i turn the ignition on it says base then i turn it of and back on and it is normal, when all is off and the key is out a little red hand flashes on the dash.

I am on a low budget and unsure if i should go and buy the computer.

Does anyone know much about this and if there is a smartshield box or it is the computer or any other suggestions.

Any help is Appreciated
Thank you
Gary Jones

[mark180227]

this is probably stupid, but in my ef i used to have the same problem...

it didnt happen every time, but when it did i would just give just to the left of steering wheel just near the computer a tap and it would click over...

i dont if that would help tho...

[cabx]

gary
iv'e got an au2 and once in a while it doe's the same thing,everything lights up
but go to start and it's dead can't remember if i get a click,but i found if
i got from park to 1st and back to park again it starts up without a prob.it's
not a fix but at least it starts ...try it hope it helps

[FGII-XR6]

if you have an AU1 you have smartlock not smartshield but eitherway if it is immobilised they can unlock it with their scan tool. with smartlock only you try this leave the ignition on for anything upto 61 minutes (thats what the manual says) the locks will cycle and the system will reset, this will not work with smartshield. if you have smartshield your remote will look like this. also with smartshield it could be the ECU or the BEM as they are both needed to enable the car if you replace either they need to be matched with the computer that plugs into the diagnostic port or it will remain disabled.

good luck

[Gazza76]

Thanks for the replies

It is a AU 1 99 model and i dont have a remote that looks like that, mine is plain black with two buttons, lock unlock and boot.

I am trying what you have suggested with leaving the ignition on for anything up to 61 minutes.

i have also tried moving from park to 1st and back with no luck,

Will let yous know how i go

Thank you again for your help All Appreciated
Gary

[Umineko]

Had a similar problem a few months ago on my LTD turned out to be nothing more than a loose wire in the instrument cluster plugs, pushed it back in properly, cycled the locks and all was sweet again

[Gazza76]

ok i am lost

Tried leaving the ignition on for 61 minutes and still the same problem

I was told smartshield came in from the 7th June 99 for the falcons and mine is October but i don't have a remote like that.

Unsure what to do next

if it is smartsheild,
what should a second hand ECU, BEM and computer set me back, i am in brisbane

if it is smartlock can i replace the computer or do i need to replace something else with it.

Thanks for all the help guys
Gary

[AUXRVIII]

Smartshield was introduced from 6/99, AU1 has two button remote regardless of whether it has smartlock or smartshield. 4 button remotes were introduced with AU2.
If cluster display is showing 'BASE' then for some reason the power is being lost. Give all fuses and relays a check, makes sure all connections at battery, R/H kick panel and under steering column are good.
If smartshield has immobilized the vehicle the little hand should flash fast when ignition is on.

[FRDGAL]

Originally Posted by Gazza76

I was told smartshield came in from the 7th June 99 for the falcons and mine is October but i don't have a remote like that

That's right. I have a Nov '99 Fairmont with smartshield not smartlock confirmed by Ford themselves. Known as the "update model" and according to Ford it's aka the Fairmont 'S'. And I don't have the AUII remote either but it's definately smartshield.

Mine did the same thing. Mine immobilised itself. I had a mate come over with his scan tool from work. Could not find an error code. I was told a whole variety of things including that the ECU needed to be changed.

I rang Ford to book the car in. They couldn't get me in for 6 weeks. In the meantime I saved, thinking it was going to cost a fortune. Eventually got it to Ford and it took them no time to fix at a cost of $97.00 IIRC. They reset everything and told me that this tends to happen for unknown reasons once in a while.

Krissy

[Gazza76]

OK thanks for your help guys,

Looks like i am going to have to get it towed to ford and hope it don't cost an arm and a leg.

Cheers
Gary

[FGII-XR6]

Originally Posted by FRDGAL_AU6

That's right. I have a Nov '99 Fairmont with smartshield not smartlock confirmed by Ford themselves. Known as the "update model" and according to Ford it's aka the Fairmont 'S'. And I don't have the AUII remote either but it's definately smartshield.

Mine did the same thing. Mine immobilised itself. I had a mate come over with his scan tool from work. Could not find an error code. I was told a whole variety of things including that the ECU needed to be changed.

I rang Ford to book the car in. They couldn't get me in for 6 weeks. In the meantime I saved, thinking it was going to cost a fortune. Eventually got it to Ford and it took them no time to fix at a cost of $97.00 IIRC. They reset everything and told me that this tends to happen for unknown reasons once in a while.

Krissy

if you have the 2 button remote it is not and can not be smartshield the smartshiels system uses a different frequency and different coding they are not compattible and the remotes cannot be exchanged between the 2 systems you may think you have smartshiels because your key is shaped like a transponder key but all blanks supplied by ford are now this shape (but not all of them are transponder keys) note that a S@ cluster with the smartshield light will work in a S1 car and this can give the impression if smartshield being fitted they may have started fitting these clusters in the S! but for the reasons stated above it must be smartlock with the 2 button remote

[sly]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

if you have the 2 button remote it is not and can not be smartshield the smartshiels system uses a different frequency and different coding they are not compattible and the remotes cannot be exchanged between the 2 systems you may think you have smartshiels because your key is shaped like a transponder key but all blanks supplied by ford are now this shape (but not all of them are transponder keys) note that a S@ cluster with the smartshield light will work in a S1 car and this can give the impression if smartshield being fitted they may have started fitting these clusters in the S! but for the reasons stated above it must be smartlock with the 2 button remote

I beg your pardon mate. I have an Aug 99 AU1 with smartshield. This variation is called the "Smartshield Update" series 1 or series 1.5. They made front power windows standard in the Forte at the same time and other minor base equipment upgrades. If you don't believe me go ask Nick Enright at Highway Ford, I bought it new from him in Aug 99.

They absolutely made 2-button fobs with Smartshield, the 4-button ones started with the AU2. I have 2-button fobs, the "Smartshield" decals on the original side glass, and a dead yellow Smartshield BEM to prove it (along with a S1 cluster).

Consider yourself corrected.

[sly]

Originally Posted by Gazza76

ok i am lost

if it is smartsheild,
what should a second hand ECU, BEM and computer set me back, i am in brisbane

Your car has 2 computers, the ECU and the BEM. There are specialist auto leckos and mechanics who can scan & diagnose this type of problem, and resynch the ECU and BEM if it's not too serious, so you may not need to replace either.

If the BEM is totally brain dead (as mine was, with the same symptoms) only it needs to be replaced, likely won't need ECU as well. I paid around $300 for troubleshooting, replacement BEM (2nd hand) and having the ECU synched to the BEM.

The bloke who did mine (who designs and makes "Coda" scan tools) also told me to check the interior light comes on when you open the door. He reckons if the dome light fuse is blown it will trigger the immobiliser.

[FGII-XR6]

Originally Posted by sly

I beg your pardon mate. I have an Aug 99 AU1 with smartshield. This variation is called the "Smartshield Update" series 1 or series 1.5. They made front power windows standard in the Forte at the same time and other minor base equipment upgrades. If you don't believe me go ask Nick Enright at Highway Ford, I bought it new from him in Aug 99.

They absolutely made 2-button fobs with Smartshield, the 4-button ones started with the AU2. I have 2-button fobs, the "Smartshield" decals on the original side glass, and a dead yellow Smartshield BEM to prove it (along with a S1 cluster).

Consider yourself corrected.

according to Kloster ford there is no such thing as a 2 button smartshield remote

[sly]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

according to Kloster ford there is no such thing as a 2 button smartshield remote

Well I have one and so do 2 or 3 others who posted above. I travel through Rutherford regularly, perhaps we should exchange phone no's by PM and I'll show you the car some time.

[AUXRVIII]

Technically speaking the keypads have nothing to do with the immobilization side of things. They are simply central locking remotes.
Smartshield and Smartlock is the immobilization sytems, keypad operation does not enable or disable the immobilization system.

[vispix]

OK, I know the remotes look different.
I just bought an AU ser II July build.
My remote is the 4 button, but I was told the chip was in the key, and without the key, the car can not be started.
Does anyone with the chipped Key have a photo of the key?

[vispix]

This is the picture.
Is it smartshield with the chip in the key that communicates to the ignition?

[TwistedEL]

Yes the ignition key has an RFID chip in the top of it, the ignition barrel gets a unique code from the key and the smartshield matches that up against it's list of programmed keys. The ECU and BEM also have to be programmed to each other so it's not as easy as just replacing the defective part.

[ayeyew]

Is there any quick way to see if you have smartlock or smartshield?

I think my car is a 9/99 build.. Be interesting to have a looksie

[TwistedEL]

If sly's comments are anything to go by, it would have smartshield written on the side glass

[sly]

The Smartshield logo is on the fixed glass panel, below & to the right of the rego label...




... and the keys look like this. The slot in Smartlock keys AFAIK is centred, in Smartshield ones it is offset like this because of the RFID chip.

[ayeyew]

I have the exact same type of keys, but no smartshield sticker

[sly]

Has the car been broken into?

[ayeyew]

Not since i've had it! (Since Jan this yr)

[TE50 027]

Mine's Oct 99 and has Smartshield on the window and also states in the manual that it has Smartshield. Is it true you cannot program a 4 button remote to an AU1 even if it has Smartshield?

[sly]

NFI. But it sounds like it'd be true, given that the 4-button remote has separate lock & unlock buttons, a panic button and the ability to unlock just the driver's door or all 4.

Each of these features would have signatures that probably wouldn't be recognised by the receiver in an AU1.

[AUXRVIII]

Body module in AU1 doesn't have the facility for single door unlocking. Also it uses a different frequency for the remotes so AU2 remotes can't be programmed to AU1.

[rodsau1]

i have been reading your comments and info on the won,t start problem with interest ....why i have a jan 99 au forte falcon sedan with a start problem . to start with it would not start .. wind .. crank. it had a blown fuse to start with and needed to be jump started, all good .the next day same thing , the battery was flat, jumper leads made no difference , just would not wind .i pulled apart the stering column to look at the ignition switch ,, it was faulty ,move the wires that fit into the rear of the ignition switch and it would crank.problem solved,only that the ignition switch is around 300 dollars to buy ,, not keen .i got hold of a ignition assembly from a 95 falcon ,which is identical and connected it thinking it would all be good but still no crank.i swapped key barrels thinking the car was not recognising a foreng key,still no crank .then after reading this post decided to turn the ignition on for 61 minutes ,remove the key and start the car .... it went .. happy as . i decided to post this to pass on my drama,s

[makoute]

I have a 03/2000 au Ute which I recently purchased as a project while I'm without a licence, I started it on the cartrailer and the smartshield light was flashing but still started now it won't start, I've been told that I may need to buy a new key from Ford and get it cut and programmed and if this key Has started the engine I figure it would have to be programmed to the ecu and bem, any tips on what I should do? Process of elimination to make sure I'm not wasting cash and going in circles.