Dog eats chip, starts car

2006-09-29 10:52

Pieter Malan

Pieter Malan

Most South Africans are experts when it comes to steering wheel locks, gear locks, immobilisers and other gadgets that may help you to protect your car against ill-meaning car thieves.

But it's unlikely that anyone else can boast of the unique immobiliser of a British car owner whose Opel Astra will only start if her huge pet dog is sitting next to her on the front seat.

Juliette Presley of Surrey recently replaced the battery of her Opel Astra's immobiliser control, but found to her chagrin that her car simply refused to start.

She appealed to motoring organisation the RAC for help and the technician sent to her aid told her that the tiny removable electronic transmitter supposed to be on her car key was missing.

Presley then remembered that she had seen her pet dog George - a giant Hungarian Vizsla - eating a piece of plastic. They promptly fetched the dog and made him sit on the front seat.

She turned the key and voilà, the engine ticked over.

Apparently George gobbled the computer chip that communicates with a similar chip on the steering column to allow the car to start. The two have to be close together when the ignition key is turned.

Now George will have to sit by Presley's side when she wants to go anywhere - until nature has taken its course and the missing chip turns up on the manicured lawn.

- Beeld