A few questions regarding key fob, power and fuel usage

[gemini]

I am a little concerned about our VT. Do these cars come with factory immobiliser? I have two key fobs. One of them is in perfect working order, and the other one looks like its been smashed with a brick. The circuitry in it is broken and the case is all flimsy. I removed the key from it and to my surprise I could still start the car with it. Is this normal?

Also, the car drinks petrol like no tomorrow. It even drinks more than my brothers twin turbo 300zx with full exhaust and large front mount intercooler. It also feels very sluggish when taking off from the lights but feels pretty good at higher RPM's Could the fuel usage and sluggishness be because its got 100% stock exhaust? Our EL Falcon of the same year is a lot quicker, uses less fuel and has a catback.

Any ideas?

EDIT: oops. its a v6 auto

[accentstencil]

Yes the car has an immobiliser and if you are saying that it starts with just the key without the remote part on it, then that is not normal.
Excessive fuel usage is often due to old oxygen sensors that are no longer efficient.

[gemini]

Yeah I can just start the car by just using the normal metal key with nothing attached to it :S I will check the O2 sensors

[lout]

if you unlocked with good remote you have 30 seconds before immobilizer rearms
not sure what happens if you start in this time frame if it will keep running or not after 30 seconds

[uniacidz]

if you unlocked with good remote you have 30 seconds before immobilizer rearms
not sure what happens if you start in this time frame if it will keep running or not after 30 seconds

Exactly

Using a metal key part only, i can open my car but not start the car at all.

Original poster - Did you open/lock/start the car within 30 secs of locking the car up initially?

[gemini]

Exactly

Using a metal key part only, i can open my car but not start the car at all.

Original poster - Did you open/lock/start the car within 30 secs of locking the car up initially?

I am not sure how I did it, but I one day thought of trying to start the car with the metal key and it started fine. I will try it again next time and see what happens.

[ucwepn]

My key fob died 2 days ago at the shopping center when I was going to leave, headed over to the locksmith in the center who cloned my fob with his reading machine and assembled a new fob for me with my key part for $108, anyway I had to unlock the car with the key but since I had locked it with the remote before it died the alarm went off. I quickly started the car with the new fob as instructed and let it idle untouched for 2 mins and this finalized the coding of the new fob (trac off light was on for the 2 mins and disappeared on restarting). All is well in the world now lol, if you think your fob is dying it is going to die suddenly one day you will have no warning.