Clifford Black Jax Immobiliser

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

User avatar
Matbmx1
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:00 pm

Post Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:05 pm

Alright guys just wondering if anyone has any experience with these systems as mine has just gone completley on the blink?

Basically looks dead and has left car totally immobilised

Any help would be much appreciated

Matt
stuartgallafant
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 4531
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Costa del Croydon

Post Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:52 pm

i had one on my clio! it was a chuffing nightmare!!

do you have the master code? four digits long? or even the BlackJax code? usually a three-sequence setup?
Image
User avatar
Matbmx1
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:00 pm

Post Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:26 pm

I have the disarming code and usually its fine but played up the other day the alarm went off and since then it appears dead?

I cant arm it or disarm it or even put in valet mode?

The light on the switch isnt even coming on anymore seems dead.

Bloody annoying are these things covered by any kind of warranty?

Cheers Matt
ian332isport
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 5380
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: West Sussex

Post Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:53 pm

I think the remote is disabled once the BlackJax has been triggered, so this may explain the remote not arming, disarming or going into valet mode.

Have you tried turning the ignition on and entering the valet code on the dash switch ?

Ian.
If it aint broke - Modify it...
E30Adam
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 8483
Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Post Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:21 pm

Cliffords :roll:

I'd never buy another one! Riddled with troubles. Sorry my post isn't very constructive, just wanted to vent my experiences with every Clifford I've known of.
Image

2.8 Litre M20 powered - Essen Sie meinen Staub biatch
ian332isport
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 5380
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: West Sussex

Post Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:29 pm

E30Adam wrote:Cliffords :roll:

I'd never buy another one! Riddled with troubles. Sorry my post isn't very constructive, just wanted to vent my experiences with every Clifford I've known of.
Adam,

That's something I read quite often, but I blame the installation rather than the alarm system.

My original Concept 50 was on my old 325iSE and was transferred across to my Sport way back in December 97. It worked perfectly until a few months ago when I decided to replace it with a newer model (Concept 50 still working fine).

My new alarm has also worked perfectly, but was installed to a very high standard by someone who used to work for Directed Electronics (who own Clifford). He was involved with the design of the current G5 range and also used to train installers how they 'should' be installed. Unfortunately most installers simply chuck them in as quick as possible and do a generally gash job. This is where most problems start.

Ian.
If it aint broke - Modify it...
E30Adam
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 8483
Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Post Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:39 pm

That sounds about right Ian. I remember we had a lot of trouble with Becky's installation and was back at the shop no less than 7 times.
Image

2.8 Litre M20 powered - Essen Sie meinen Staub biatch
ian332isport
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 5380
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: West Sussex

Post Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:51 pm

E30Adam wrote:That sounds about right Ian. I remember we had a lot of trouble with Becky's installation and was back at the shop no less than 7 times.
That is pretty shite :roll:

One thing the guy who installed mine told me, is that the Microwave interior sensors take a while to setup the 'sensor bubble' to it's full size. If you simply turn it on, set the sensitivity, and leave it at that, you will get loads of false alarms as the bubble will expand outside the car.

You need to switch it on and leave it for a couple of minutes to settle before making the adjustments. This ensures the sensor zone has expanded to it's full size before you adjust it. I've not had a single false alarm since mine was installed.

My installer also commented that he knows of only 4 or 5 installers in the whole country that he would trust to install an alarm in his own car (and he was one of them).

Ian.
If it aint broke - Modify it...
pacerpete
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 18165
Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Iver heath. South bucks.

Post Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:59 pm

There is only one place for a clifford, and it ain't a car ! :eek: Sorry not very constructive , just echoing what every person i know in the motor trade says, we can't all be wrong ?
stuartgallafant
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 4531
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Costa del Croydon

Post Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:48 pm

most people in the motor trade hate cliffords coz they're too stupid to use them!!

out of 14 techies, im the only one who knows how to use them properly...

but, yes, most problems stem from poor installation
Image
A1BMW325iSport
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 4239
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Mid Wales

Post Tue Oct 17, 2006 2:40 am

i hear this often too, i've fixed a few systems up for people and a few cliffords most of which traced back to shit wiring that was installed by companies to supposedly cat1/2 standards lol
User avatar
Matbmx1
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:00 pm

Post Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:05 am

Hi Guys, I managed to get it sorted had a guy come out and remove the actual unit then cut one wire and the car runs again! cost me Ԛ£70 though and i was amazed at how easy it was to disable an immobiliser like this. if its that easy they seem like a waste of bloody money!

Cheers though
ian332isport
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 5380
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: West Sussex

Post Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:55 pm

Matbmx1 wrote:Hi Guys, I managed to get it sorted had a guy come out and remove the actual unit then cut one wire and the car runs again! cost me Ԛ£70 though and i was amazed at how easy it was to disable an immobiliser like this. if its that easy they seem like a waste of bloody money!

Cheers though
Glad you got it sorted.

Not sure what alarm you have the BlackJax fitted on, but I can't see how cutting one wire would bypass the immobiliser. Maybe it just disabled the sensor or trigger that was causing the BlackJax to activate.

My alarm has the BlackJax integrated into the main unit, so it may be a different setup though.

Ian.
If it aint broke - Modify it...
SCOTT325SE
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 12582
Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Carmarthen (West Wales)

Post Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:03 pm

Well thats just stopped me getting a clifford with BalckJax. The idea is great! Someone somehow manages to nick your ride. They get a mile down the road, car(fuel) dries up, car coasts to a halt slowly and safely. However, i had heard of nightmares and hearing this (again) is at the wrong time for me.

I'll be buying a Toad Ai606 (or similar) and a useful crook lock then. lol
User avatar
Skidmarkmike
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: London

Post Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:51 am

Hi
Please HELP.
Have left my 325i at my parents for a while (4months) and tried to get it started the other day.
Everything seems immobilised. It also has a clifford alarm immobiliser but not sure which model. (how can i find this out also dont have a disarming code?
The drivers door will not open with the remote or key. Have to get in through passenger side door. Electrics everything dead. Even with battery charged to another car, nothing.
Where do I start please help first time car owner and first time on e30zone.
Regards Mike.
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49360
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:55 pm

Skidmarkmike wrote:Hi
Please HELP.
Have left my 325i at my parents for a while (4months) and tried to get it started the other day.
Everything seems immobilised. It also has a clifford alarm immobiliser but not sure which model. (how can i find this out also dont have a disarming code?
The drivers door will not open with the remote or key. Have to get in through passenger side door. Electrics everything dead. Even with battery charged to another car, nothing.
Where do I start please help first time car owner and first time on e30zone.
Regards Mike.
Wouldn't take me long if the car was in front of me, but very difficult to sort from here, since I don't know how this alarm is connected in to the car.
After standing for four months, the problems might not be anything to do with the alarm.
Try the key in the driver's door, lifting the handle as you do so. This should unlock the door, regardless of the alarm, assuming all the mechanism is in working order.
Check, with a 12V 5W or 21W bulb, NOT a meter, that there is 12V+ on the + terminal of the ignition coil with the ignition switch on. If not, hot wire it from the battery + terminal (or phantom terminal on a 325) to the coil +. Include a 15A fuse, or check for large sparks before you connect it properly.
Does the starter motor work? If not, remove the cover from the diagnostic socket (top front of engine) and short together pins 11 and 14 of its socket. This should engage the starter motor, so make sure it's in neutral.
Central locking may be the "red/black wire" problem. Dig your locking ECU out from its hiding place below the drivers footwell speaker and check for 1/ water damage, and 2/ 12V (with the 12V bulb) between the red/black wire and the brown wire.