Under the MG i-Smart app, MG Offers a “beta” option called “Anti Theft Immobilization”. As I have to park outside my house and there are often cases of theft, I always enable this before turning in for the night.
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Current Running: 1800km
Prologue
Under the MG i-Smart app, MG Offers a “beta” option called “Anti Theft Immobilization”. As I have to park outside my house and there are often cases of theft, I always enable this before turning in for the night. This mode basically disables the car in a way that no doors can be unlocked, the car can’t be turned “on” and the engine can’t be started if it’s enabled, even with the physical key. It’s as if the system forgets the key exists while immobilization mode is on.
What’s happening
So, here I was, drafting a new post about the experience since the 1k service. I went to the car to take some pictures of the accessories etc, and I couldn’t unlock the car. I had enabled the Anti-Theft mode 2 days ago when I last went out. When trying to disable the Anti-theft mode on the phone, I kept getting an error saying “unable to contact the car”, so I thought it was possible that the MG service is down. I was in no hurry, so thought to try after some time. Sometime later too, I got the same issue, this time I dialed in MG’s pulsehub to request for RSA and get the car checked. RSA deduced that it could be due to a discharged battery. (Very surprising since the car is barely months old)
The RSA guy came quickly enough (on a two-wheeler) and had a battery + jumper cables for a jumpstart. When we unlocked the car with the manual key release, it came to life and the theft alarm started, horn ablaze and lights blinking like crazy. This clearly means that it’s not the battery that is dead, considering a dead battery would definitely have some issues with the horn sounding in its full glory!
We tried putting the car key in the emergency placement slot and started the engine, but that did not work, the Information cluster showed a message “Smart key not detected”. This prevents us from entering either the ACC mode or starting the engine. Not only that, the theft alarm kept ringing!.
As it was around 8:30 pm in the evening, the neighbors started complaining about the horn, and we relented thinking the tow truck would arrive even later and the horn will definitely be a problem for everyone around at that time. We removed the negative terminal from the battery to disable all electronics for the time being.
Since the family garage has other vehicles for emergencies already, I figured it’s fine to call for the tow truck in the morning itself, and requested the same from MG. The truck is now scheduled for 11 am tomorrow.
Now, coming to the issues:
1. As the horn, the lights and the MID display were working, I suspect the issue is coming due to some software issue on the Engine Immobilizer feature on i-Smart, but the RSA helpline and the RSA technician both did not have any information about it.
2. The transmission is in “P-mode” and EPB is engaged, changing both of which will need us to be able to at least put the car in ACC mode. The P mode has an emergency release we can use, but I can’t find any info on disengaging the EPB. With EPB running, how can we get the car on the Tow-truck without damaging it?
3. I have asked the RSA to send in an MG technician familiar with the car with the tow truck to handle this, but from my last service experience, I feel even the technicians aren’t 100% trained to handle all scenarios.(More on this later) Not sure if someone would even be open to paying a visit. Can someone suggest possible options here?
Will add more here after getting the car looked at by the service center.
Keyword: MG's Anti-theft immobilization glitch: My MG Astor refuses to start!