[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/rennforum...e-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.

[Vicegrip]

Originally Posted by 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.

This. I think you are looking at dealer type work. It does what it says and is resistant to just being swaped out.

[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.

[turbo23dog]

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

http://986forum.com/forums/general-d...twell-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.

[HateDCRoads]

Originally Posted by turbo23dog

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

http://986forum.com/forums/general-d...twell-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.

[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*. 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!

[BlackTalon]

Originally Posted by 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*. 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.