OBD-II Code · Security
P0513
Incorrect Immobilizer Key
Severity
high
Left alone, this one tends to take other parts with it.
Can you drive it
Not for long
Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it.
Indicative cost (USD)
$50–$400
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
Key not recognized by immobilizer.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- No start
- Security light on
Likely causes
- Unprogrammed keyMost common
- Failed transponder
- Module issue
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0513 means the PCM (or the immobilizer module talking to the PCM) received a transponder key signal that does not match any of the keys currently pr…
P0513 means the PCM (or the immobilizer module talking to the PCM) received a transponder key signal that does not match any of the keys currently programmed into the vehicle's immobilizer memory, so the engine either will not start, will start and immediately stall after two seconds, or will start once and refuse to crank again. This is not a sensor failure; it is an authentication failure.
Cheapest-first ladder
- try every key you own one at a time to rule out a single failed key (the transponder chip in the head can crack from being dropped), then verify the key is being read at all by watching for the security telltale to extinguish within one second of key-on.
- If the light stays on or flashes a slow blink, the immobilizer antenna ring around the lock cylinder is not detecting the chip, which on most vehicles is fixed by reseating or replacing the antenna ring.
- Caveat: this code is overwhelmingly the result of a recent PCM, ECM, or BCM swap where the replacement module was never married to the existing keys.
Vehicle-specific patterns2000-2010 Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles with SKIM (Sentry Key Immobilizer Module) are the highest-volume case after used-PCM swaps, requiring a…
- 2000-2010Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles with SKIM (Sentry Key Immobilizer Module) are the highest-volume case after used-PCM swaps, requiring a locksmith with DRB-III or Witech to relink keys to the new module.
- 2002-2008Ford F-150, Explorer, and Mustang with PATS need a Forscan or IDS session with two known-good keys to program a third.
- 1998-2005Volkswagen and Audi with the immobilizer-3 system require dealer-level access or specialty tools to add keys after a cluster or ECM swap.
- 2005-2012GM full-size trucks with PassLock can throw this after a steering column or BCM swap and need a 30-minute relearn.
Estimated repair$60 to $400.
Look up another code
P0513 — frequently asked
What does a P0513 code mean?
Key not recognized by immobilizer.
What causes a P0513 code?
Common causes: Unprogrammed key; Failed transponder; Module issue.
What are the symptoms of a P0513 code?
Typical symptoms: No start; Security light on.
Is it safe to drive with a P0513 code?
Not for long. Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it. Estimated repair: $50-$400.
How do I diagnose a P0513 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
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