Don't immobilize me, dude ('99 Boxster)

[eltren]

Talking about a 99 base 986.

Backstory: Rainwater flooded the driver's side footwell while the car was parked needing a coolant pump.

Pump, thermo and sundry hoses replaced and good.
Drains cleared and not so good. Water is still coming in somewhere,
slowly. Top is brand freakin new. Ideas?

Most of all, the immobilizer seems to be toast.

The car had been starting oh, half the time after I installed the pump.

Now it won't crank at all. Everything else is fine, as in batt, idiot lights, etc.

So.

How to diagnose definitively?
Can the immobilizer be bypassed allowing the car to operate normally?
If I need to replace the immobilizer, is it a bolt-on job, or...?
If I need an immobilizer, can you recommend a solidly reliable source for a used one?

Cheers

[Cliff Claven]

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/993-forum/635919-they-said-it-couldnt-be-done-ha.html

[pjalexandre]

I don't know of any way to bypass the immobilizer in the 986 and 996. If we could I certainly wouldn't have mine double wrapped in plastic in my Spec Boxster to keep it safe.

You may have luck buying a used ECU and Immobilizer pair from the web.

[tbernard]

The immobilizer and DME are coded, along with the keys. If you get a new immobilizer you need to have it recoded. Unless the DME can be flashed like the 993's, and have the immobilizer bypassed so you can used any DME.

[Vicegrip]

I don't know of any way to bypass the immobilizer in the 986 and 996. If we could I certainly wouldn't have mine double wrapped in plastic in my Spec Boxster to keep it safe.

You may have luck buying a used ECU and Immobilizer pair from the web.
This. I think you are looking at dealer type work. It does what it says and is resistant to just being swaped out.

[turbo23dog]

If you are still getting wet carpets, read the posting at this link.

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/22781-drivers-side-footwell-wet.html

Summary: wetness along the bottom edge of the door means that water is leaking past the vapor barrier in the door panel, which then runs down into the footwell ie: wet carpet.

[eltren]

Cliff, thanks for the tip...that's a 993 fix that they're arguing about. I got hold of what looks like the grownup in the room, and he says it does not apply to my car.

Anyway, time to tow it to a shop.

As I'm in NW Fairfax co, I have three choices.

Tysons Porsche
Intersport
IMA

Where would you go in this situation?

[creseida]

I am also interested in this discussion as the same thing has happened to my 98 986. First the switch in the back of the ignition broke, then the immobilizer in the floor shorted out and shut down my car. I cannot believe that Porsche would actually put such a sensitive piece of technical equipment in the floor of a *convertible*. :bang: Must have come up with that design during Oktoberfest... . Really a stupid design. But I digress... .


So, do we need to pay a dealer to do everything? Or is it possible to replace the box ourselves and simply have the dealer program it to the car and keys (or a repair facility with the proper programming tools)?

Thanks!

[Mark in Baltimore]

Cliff, thanks for the tip...that's a 993 fix that they're arguing about. I got hold of what looks like the grownup in the room, and he says it does not apply to my car.


Which person did you contact? Bill Verburg or Loren? Both will give very different answers.

[VaSteve]

Which person did you contact? Bill Verburg or Loren? Both will give very different answers.


LOL.....

[BlackTalon]

I am also interested in this discussion as the same thing has happened to my 98 986. First the switch in the back of the ignition broke, then the immobilizer in the floor shorted out and shut down my car. I cannot believe that Porsche would actually put such a sensitive piece of technical equipment in the floor of a *convertible*. :bang: Must have come up with that design during Oktoberfest... . Really a stupid design. But I digress... .


So, do we need to pay a dealer to do everything? Or is it possible to replace the box ourselves and simply have the dealer program it to the car and keys (or a repair facility with the proper programming tools)?

Thanks!Seriously bad idea. It would be crazy and irresponsible to do any of this work yourself. Really, the Dealers are best for this. They are thoroughly trained, and are well aware of the safety implications of an immobilizer failure. To take on any of this yourself, including the purchase of the box, will put not just yourself but the innocent drivers on the roads around you at risk. This is a serious liabilty concern.

There is a reason dealerships have service departments. Car owners mean well, but are ingorant and do know know what is important. A car owner should never do anything to their car that has not been approved by a Dealer. Do not attempt to diagnose or repair anything that could ever possibly go wrong with your car.

[Trak Ratt]

^
http://ourblessedarrows.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/tongue_in_cheek_smiley.jpg

[creseida]

Black Talon, thanks for your input. Based on what you've written, perhaps you should suggest to Dorkiphus that they do away with the Technical Discussion forum altogether since we owners shouldn't do anything to our cars. :)

I guess I have no business replacing my o2 sensors or my MAF sensor either? Oh wait, I already did that... my bad.

[Trak Ratt]

Black Talon, thanks for your input. Based on what you've written, perhaps you should suggest to Dorkiphus that they do away with the Technical Discussion forum altogether since we owners shouldn't do anything to our cars. :)

I guess I have no business replacing my o2 sensors or my MAF sensor either? Oh wait, I already did that... my bad.
Don't worry about it, he was only talking about real Porsches :p

[Mark in Baltimore]

Black Talon, thanks for your input. Based on what you've written, perhaps you should suggest to Dorkiphus that they do away with the Technical Discussion forum altogether since we owners shouldn't do anything to our cars. :)

I guess I have no business replacing my o2 sensors or my MAF sensor either? Oh wait, I already did that... my bad.
OMG, someone needs to install a new sarcasm sensor. Be sure to use some PB Blaster to remove the old one since it may be stuck.

[HateDCRoads]

If you are still getting wet carpets, read the posting at this link.

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/22781-drivers-side-footwell-wet.html

Summary: wetness along the bottom edge of the door means that water is leaking past the vapor barrier in the door panel, which then runs down into the footwell ie: wet carpet.

I'll add something to Rich's post - he is correct that your water is probably leaking through the door past the vapor barrier, but the cause I discovered in my Boxster is that the Door Drains are clogged. The 986/996 doors have two drains in the bottom (one front, one rear) that eventually get clogged with debris that works its way into the door.

You need to remove the door panel and then the drains are built into the bottom of the door. You could have a dealer do this.

[roundel]

Black Talon, thanks for your input. Based on what you've written, perhaps you should suggest to Dorkiphus that they do away with the Technical Discussion forum altogether since we owners shouldn't do anything to our cars. :)

I guess I have no business replacing my o2 sensors or my MAF sensor either? Oh wait, I already did that... my bad.


Can we see pics of your wet carpet? :twisted:

[Cliff Claven]

Don't worry about it, he was only talking about real Porsches :p

don't listen to him, creseida. chixster is as close to being a real porsche as a car can get without being a real porsche. studies show that a lot of 44's have chixster envy.

[creseida]

don't listen to him, creseida. chixster is as close to being a real porsche as a car can get without being a real porsche. studies show that a lot of 44's have chixster envy.

No worries. I'm used to people picking on my over-priced VW that was designed after the car that killed James Dean. I'm famous for buying the red-headed step children of the auto world. To wit, I own a 65 Corvair. :drums:

[creseida]

OMG, someone needs to install a new sarcasm sensor. Be sure to use some PB Blaster to remove the old one since it may be stuck.

Voice of experience? LOL :lol:

[Trak Ratt]

... I own a 65 Corvair. :drums:pics or it never happeded! '65 vairs are cool! Had a '60 4 door aand '61 cab back in the day

[creseida]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/308157_2317619498208_1181106089_3807886_146752261_ n.jpg
Caitlyn on the left (my boyfriend's '67) and Cassandra the 65 on the right. And the back end of my faux-Porsche that thinks it's been stolen and won't move.

We bought Cass for $400 because the guy couldn't keep her running. Replaced 6" of rubber fuel line and 7,000 miles later.... She's not pretty but she runs amazingly well... . Certainly better than my Porsche right now~! LOL

[Mark in Baltimore]

Voice of experience? LOL :lol:
Voice of observation.

[Vicegrip]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/308157_2317619498208_1181106089_3807886_146752261_ n.jpg
Caitlyn on the left (my boyfriend's '67) and Cassandra the 65 on the right. And the back end of my faux-Porsche that thinks it's been stolen and won't move.

We bought Cass for $400 because the guy couldn't keep her running. Replaced 6" of rubber fuel line and 7,000 miles later.... She's not pretty but she runs amazingly well... . Certainly better than my Porsche right now~! LOL Cool pair O cars. the white one reminds me of some misspent youth. Buddy had one and we would get a kick out of a couple of us sitting in the front trunk with the trunk lid removed and driving around smoking joints and just beingh stupid. "Oficly honester I am not as think as you stoned I am".

[Lupin..the..3rd]

Caitlyn on the left (my boyfriend's '67) and Cassandra the 65 on the right. And the back end of my faux-Porsche that thinks it's been stolen and won't move.

We bought Cass for $400 because the guy couldn't keep her running. Replaced 6" of rubber fuel line and 7,000 miles later.... She's not pretty but she runs amazingly well... . Certainly better than my Porsche right now~! LOL
Nice. Any pics of the owner?

[aerokurt]

Corvairs!
Go girl....
Got 2 of my own, but they are not your average models,
Ultravan - google that
Got not one but 2 of them, altho, one of them is slated to become Porsche powered soon.

[creseida]

No need to google; I know what they are!

We have uh.... (counting on fingers and toes)... um, we're down to I think 7 Vairs right now. Just sold a 63 convertible. Have a 68 Coupe for sale with 31k original miles on the clock. It needs restoration, but it's solid. We're trying to downsize since between the two of us we have something along the lines of 16 or 17 cars. :cool:

[HateDCRoads]

Now, back to your immobilizers.

Two thoughts:
1) Make sure you minimize water coming in. This is done by cleaning the front and rear drains with pipe cleaners (the location of the drains is in the manual) and by making sure your door drains are clean. To clean the door drains you need to take the door panel off. (Pelican article here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/76-BODY-Door_Panels/76-BODY-Door_Panels.htm
2) As for your immobilizers, they should work fine once they dry out. Can you get inside the car? If so, first disconnect the battery then take the seat out and disconnect and remove the immobilizer unit. You can then take the casing off, which should expose the circuit board. MAKE SURE YOU ARE GROUNDED WHEN HANDLING THE CIRCUIT BOARD. Bathe the circuit board in rubbing alcohol - alcohol is hygroscopic and will absorb the water from the components. Remove the board after about 30 seconds and GENTLY, GENTLY shake it. Then dry it for 5-10 minutes with a hair dryer on the COLD setting. You should then be able to reassemble and reinstall the immobilizer.

Before everyone jumps on me for this stupid idea, I have done it with a friend who is an EE when this happened to his car, and it worked like a charm.

Another piece of advice - even if you clean the drains you may still get some water in the car. A number of folks have address this issue by getting a piece of tupperware and cutting holes for the wiring and mounting screws. you can then seal the holes with silicone and, voila, you have protected the unit.

[creseida]

Well, since my immobilizer looks completely nasty inside and obviously doesn't work as it is, it's worth a shot. :)

[creseida]

OMG, someone needs to install a new sarcasm sensor. Be sure to use some PB Blaster to remove the old one since it may be stuck.

Upon further consideration, might I suggest you try KY?... :p :D

[Vicegrip]

Upon further consideration, might I suggest you try KY?... :p :D :lol:

I am starting to like you. ;)