Okay...I am still searching for a worthy replacement for my 96 TS station wagon and I chanced upon a nice-looking 2003 Magna wagon in a car yard. It's done about 115K and looks and sounds very neat. It has no tow bar and that's a plus for me as it suggests the guts haven't been pulled out of the thing for towing.

BUT

(There's always a "but"!)

The car has no remote fobs and unlocks with the normal key and starts with a normal key. Now if I did that with my TJ the alarm would go off and drive you bonkers! So, to me it suggests someone's fiddled with the body computer to allow the key to work without the fob. Is that correct? And if I buy two new fobs for the thing will they work (I know how to program them to the car)?

The other worry is that if the body computer has been tampered with could it stuff up any of the safety features? The main reason for getting rid of the TS (apart from its advancing age and mileage) is for the airbags and ABS for the missus and pooch.

Help!!!!!! (I know some brilliant magician will answer my call!)

its not the fobs that immobilize the car its the actual key it has a chip that's excited when placed into the ignition lock. the fobs simply unlock and lock the doors so if you get replacement fobs once programmed to the car easy procedure they will work.

I have a 2001 TJ and 2004 TL wagon.
No fob for either. Both unlock and lock with the key, no alarm - that's how it should be.

I have a 2001 TJ and 2004 TL wagon.
No fob for either. Both unlock and lock with the key, no alarm - that's how it should be.

So how come my TJ goes nuts if I try to start the car after unlocking it manually? The horn blares and drives me and the neighbours crazy.

Crackajnr... Thanks for the info about the fobs. So if I spend another $60 I can buy a fob at the local dealer, program it and away I go... Good to know. Thanks!

This wagon seems legit (it was recently traded on a new car) and the airbags, ABS are a big plus. The TS has none of that. Me and the missus saw a big crash a couple of weeks ago and that's prompting the renewed investigation for a car that has all the safety bells and whistles.

So how come my TJ goes nuts if I try to start the car after unlocking it manually?

My TJ acts the same as MadMax's, starts with no complaints after unlocking with the key (fob unlock button was cactus for ages before I replaced the fob). Not sure why yours would be triggering the alarm, possibly something's wrong with the switch in your driver's door barrel. In normal operation, unlocking the driver's door with the key switches off the alarm, the car you're looking to buy is working correctly.

If it helps, my TH wagon works on the key alone as per the others above (i need to fix the key fobs) - light flashing 'security' on dash comes on as well.

Alarm is activated/deactivated two ways:

Key: Works on a switch attached to the back of the key lock. Signals the BEM. If this fails, the alarm will go off as soon as you open one door.
Remote: Works a solenoid inside the door. Switch in it signals the BEM. If that fails, alarm will go off as soon as you open the door.

. . . . I think this is correct, but flame away if I'm wrong . . .

you probably have an aftermarket alarm fitted. These usually require disarming using a remote. Make sure your remote is the green/red one.

By the way, OP, I bought a TL with similar km on it from a car yard. If you haven't bought it yet, ask to see service records (has the cam belt been done?) and check the front and rear rocker covers for leaks.
Just a quick heads up. lol

Stroppy, sounds like the switch located behind the barrel in the drivers door is either missing, fallen off or broken. You should be able to use the key to unlock the car and not set off the alarm (horns).