First time poster! woooooooo ('99 KH Verada Xi)
As the title suggests, what will happen if an un-coded key is used in the ignition?

BACKGROUND STORY
A few weeks ago I jumped out of my KH in a friends driveway to pick them up. It was a stinking hot day and as I was only planning on being a minute or three I decided to leave the engine running so the car would be nice and cool when I got back in, which I have done countless times before. Only this time, as soon as I shut the door behind me... It locked. Car running. All doors locked. Spare key at home, 20 minutes away. After 30 minutes of an idling KH and me pacing around my friends driveway the NRMA man arrived and wedged his little pump-up bag in, managing to poke the rear window switch with his pole-thingo, allowing me access again.

For the record, the car idled the entire half an hour in the hot sun with A/C on and never lifted above halfway on the temp gauge once (Believe me, I was watching it like a hawk)

Before and since then, when I hit the unlock button on the fob, the doors all frantically lock and unlock (only sometimes) and I've found posts about cleaning/repairing some little parts and doo-daas inside the drivers door lock but haven't gotten around to doing it yet

I had a key cut, ($30) but not coded and I leave this in the car, taking it with me when I want to leave the car running so I won't get locked out again, and it also allows me to lock the running car as well..

TO THE POINT
It dawned on me the other day that what if someone broke into my car, found the un-coded, cut key and tried to start the car with it?
The guy at my local locksmiths said that some cars just reject an un-coded key and won't turnover or if they do, they won't start, yet following this you can come along with the factory key and drive off like nothing ever happened (bar the smashed window)

But he said some cars go into this total lock-out mode that involves and tow-truck and some assistance from your friendly Mitsubishi Dealership ($$$$$) :neutral:

So finally, what will actually happen if this un-coded key is used?
Will the car not crank at all?
Will the car crank but not start?
Will the car flip out and never run again? :confused:

So finally, what will actually happen if this un-coded key is used?
Will the car not crank at all?
Will the car crank but not start?
Will the car flip out and never run again? :confused:

Be the first to try this and let us know how you get on!
I'm predicting an anti-climax - the car will crank but not start, but won't be harmed in any way.

It will crank but not start

My old TS had an immobiliser problem and wouldn't crank at all.
I discovered that if the key was left in the ignition on ACC for exactly 30 minutes, it would fire up.

I wonder if the third gen system will do that with an uncoded key?

I have an uncoded key wired under each of my cars. The spare (Coded) key is hidden inside the car. On my old NL Pajero, I tried to start the engine with the uncoded key, but it fired briefly then stopped (it ran on gas as well as petrol). Later, at a scheduled MMA service, the dealer said that he put his scanner on the car and found an immobiliser code fault. He asked me if I had ever had any trouble. I hadn't, but later recalled trying to start the car with the non-coded key. Therefore I assume that it will throw a fault code and store it until someone clears it. I haven't tried to start either of my cars again with the non-coded keys

Thanks guys, I'll try and fire it up today with the uncoded key and see what happens..
A friend of mine had a TJ Si and he got an el-cheapo spare cut that "didn't work"
I'm assuming it wasn't coded and his car started afterwards with the factory key

Anyway, I'll let you guys know how I get on..

Well you guys were right!

When I turn the ignition on with the uncoded key everything operates normally, the check engine light went out after a few seconds like it normally does, but came straight back on and stayed on
The car cranks over but wouldn't actually start

Shoved a genuine key in and it started perfectly, with no check engine lights!

Can you try leaving the uncoded key on ACC for 30 minutes to see if the immobiliser has a time-out on the no start, like the TS Magna?

The no-start with CEL will be recorded in ECU memory, but will cause no problems and disappear next time you disconnect the battery.

I'd be interested in finding out what happens myself actually.. Might come in handy one day

I'll try and remember to attempt it tomorrow and let you know!

I'd be interested in finding out what happens myself actually.. Might come in handy one day

I'll try and remember to attempt it tomorrow and let you know!

the car cranks and fires up for a split secoind but dies right away. you need to have it coded so it tells the immobiliser to not kick in and cut the engine out.