Will a Ghost Immobiliser Stall Your Car While You Drive?

When does the Ghost actually act?

At the start of a journey. Autowatch puts it simply: the vehicle will not drive without the correct disarm sequence. You enter your code on buttons the car already has, the indicator confirms it, and you drive off as normal. When you switch the ignition off at the end of the trip, the Ghost rearms and waits for your code next time.

What about service mode?

Service mode lets a garage drive the car without your code. It ends either when you enter your code after an ignition cycle, or by itself after a set time of continuous driving. Autowatch is clear that when it ends by itself, the car does not shut down. Our service mode guide has the steps.

So why might a car with a Ghost not start?

When customers call us because their car will not start, the most common reason by far is a forgotten or mistyped code. A few things are worth checking:

• Code entered too quickly. Slow down and wait for the confirmation flashes before you try to drive.
• Code forgotten. Every Ghost-II comes with its own emergency code. It disarms the car and lets you set a new sequence, so keep it somewhere safe outside the car.
• Someone else drove it last. If the car was in service mode at a garage and you have not entered your code since, check whether service mode is still on.
• Something else is wrong. A flat battery or a fault elsewhere will stop any car starting, with or without a Ghost.

Does fitting quality matter?

Yes. The Ghost works through the car’s own network, so it needs to be matched to the right model and installed properly. We check every car’s make, model and year before fitting, and we fit Ghost 3 on newer cars that use the CAN-FD network. If you have a problem with a Ghost we fitted, call 0800 246 1482. For other issues, see common Ghost immobiliser problems.

Source: Autowatch Ghost-II product information (autowatch.co.uk), checked 19 October 2026.