HELP!! MS3 won't start...stupid immobilizer

[balkanbase]

ok so here's the deal...i took out the original gauge cluster to change the LEDs, played around with it a little too much and broke it. I probably could have replaced only the broken part but *luckily* i'm short-tempered and hence bye-bye gauge cluster (gun)
long story short, found a cluster on ebay (with 4k miles more than i have blaaah) but when i pop it in, the immobilizer key flashes and car won't start. Don't feel like going to the dealer cos they'll make me pay a million $$ for a brand new cluster and programming and whatnot...and i wouldnt be surprised if those a$$holes kill my warranty as well.
Feel free to make fun of my f***-up, i think its funny too, but ridiculing hasn't gotten my car up and running yet, so some advice would be appreciated (2thumbs)

 

[AeroSquid]

i don't even know where to begin... so much fail in this thread.

 

[balkanbase]

umm...thanks?

 

[CHIEFSMS3]

I think you are going to have to bite the bullet and get dealer help.
Then pay a million dollars to the f****n a******s.(burnout)

 

[xtrememps]

Yeah get the lube ready...

 

[Olestra]

I've seen a write up on the LED cluster how-to where one member did the same thing and had the flashing key light.
I can't remember what he did to fix it but he probably took everything back out and checked his connections.
Check your fuses and check your wires.

Search for that how-to, either here or M3F. I'm too lazy to do it for you.

 

[CHICO2003]

man.. you've got WAY too much time on your hands! wtf where you thinking?

I agree with everyone else. take it to the dealer and write em a check for a trillion dollars.

 

[chief_wiggum]

I've seen a write up on the LED cluster how-to where one member did the same thing and had the flashing key light.
I can't remember what he did to fix it but he probably took everything back out and checked his connections.
Check your fuses and check your wires.

Search for that how-to, either here or M3F. I'm too lazy to do it for you.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123724224&highlight=immobilizer

 

[Olestra]

Since you're using a used cluster, looks like you're screwed...
I sent you a PM with a link, the dealer may have to reprogram your PCM.

 

[oaklandopen]

yea sometimes the guage cluster is just another computer in itself...thus making it that much more difficult to "turn back the miles"

 

[balkanbase]

thanks a lot for the responses, guess i'm literally gonna get the lube ready on this one. Oh all the things I could've gotten for the $1k...Hard to believe that mazda went almost as high-tech as bmw with interlocked keys, cluster and PCM...

 

[balkanbase]

by the way...anyone know of a way to get rid of the immobilizer so i can start the damn car at least? Search didnt turn up anything...

 

[Super Unique]

Most cars now are doing this matching PCM , Cluster and key thing unfortunately for you. What happened to the old cluster? You might have been able to transplant the "brains" from the broken cluster to the new/used cluster. This would make everything match again.

Moral of the story: Don't mess with the cluster unless your absolutely sure you know whats going on.

 

[TheMAN]

in otherwords, you ricers need to leave the ******* gauge cluster alone... the gauge cluster runs all sorts of s*** in the 3, and the immobilizer system is one of them

better yet... leave everything electrical alone!

 

[oaklandopen]

in otherwords, you ricers need to leave the ******* gauge cluster alone... the gauge cluster runs all sorts of s*** in the 3, and the immobilizer system is one of them

better yet... leave everything electrical alone!

 

[balkanbase]

...you ricers need to leave the ******* gauge cluster alone...better yet... leave everything electrical alone!

sorry if i missed the definition of "ricer" but the factory screaming orange with the blue halo seems more ricer-ish to me than making something look nice and unique. Besides, is your car OEM bumper to bumper? Didn't think so. By your definition ur a ricer, too, my friend. Welcome to the club. (eekfu)
On another note, thanks to everyone else for their valuable input. The old "brain" of the cluster is no good cos i obviously didn't expect this kind of deal and was just gonna get a used cluster. However, i found out you can reprogram a used cluster just like you would a new one...the dealerships just like the $700 price tag of making you buy a new cluster. As for the couple hours of reprogramming they charge, it's a somewhat quicker task. Maybe it's even possible to DIY, its worth a try at this point.

 

[oaklandopen]

im sure you could do it yourself....all you need is a couple hundred dollars worth of tools/equipment on top of a new cluster, and the labor is free

 

[TheMAN]

sorry if i missed the definition of "ricer" but the factory screaming orange with the blue halo seems more ricer-ish to me than making something look nice and unique. Besides, is your car OEM bumper to bumper? Didn't think so. By your definition ur a ricer, too, my friend. Welcome to the club. (eekfu)
On another note, thanks to everyone else for their valuable input. The old "brain" of the cluster is no good cos i obviously didn't expect this kind of deal and was just gonna get a used cluster. However, i found out you can reprogram a used cluster just like you would a new one...the dealerships just like the $700 price tag of making you buy a new cluster. As for the couple hours of reprogramming they charge, it's a somewhat quicker task. Maybe it's even possible to DIY, its worth a try at this point.

you know nothing about my car and unlike stupid gauge cluster bulbs, everything on my 3 is functional

seems like you need the dictionary thrown at you since you don't know what ricer means... and on top of that, you ASSumed you know what my car has.... and we all know what happens when you ASSume

 

[Super Unique]

Let's not turn this into a pissing contest ok?

Note: If your not very confident of your small electronic parts abilities, and considering installing LEDs into the cluster, PLEASE think twice before doing so on your own. small mistakes can turn serious in a hurry, and leave you immobilized.

Yes, you can install the LEDs and make them work, but not everyone has the manual dexterity with small electronics parts to pull it off without incident.

 

[fructus]

Why not take it to a local locksmith and reprogram the keys for $50?