Immobiliser and drivers door

[Guest]

Had a play with my new 944. Very nice, I feel a long term relationship coming on. But:

Grotty insurance company wants proof of existence of an immobiliser [] I assume this is the H&P item - it has the contact gizmo and an alarm (related in some way to the LH rocker switch). I can get the local auto electrical boys to provide this info for me, but it would help them to know where the ecu lives so they can get the details off it. Anyone know, or got any better ideas for getting documentation on this item ?

The drivers door needs slamming to shut it properly, quite unlike the passenger door which shuts with a quality 'thunk' at a lower velocity. But the drivers door hasn't dropped - the lock bits all engage in line without obviously rubbing where they didn't oughta. Difficult one to call, but anyone had any similar experiences or got any advice ?

 

[Fen]

If it is a "Porsche Immobiliser" branded H&P one then your local OPC should be able to testify to its existence in the vehicle. Obviously after the discussion last week there is a chance/likelihood it is incorrectly installed which they won't be able to tell you. In terms of the door I think it has to be an alignment problem, unless the hinge or latch mechanisms are partially seized.

 

[Guest]

Cheers Fen. I think I will get an opinion on the door while I am there.

 

[Guest]

If I were daft enough to consider re-hanging the damn door myself though.....

I see adjustment bolts on the body which allow in/out and possibly up/down. Are there any other twiddly bits in the door itself which would get me a back/forward adjustment - I reckon it just needs the bottom hinge moving back a bit.

Do Haynes still do a manual for the 944 ?

 

[Guest]

Meanwhile for your amusement and edification, I will relate the sad tale of insurance and the immobiliser. I am insured with Direct Line, as they will attribute my 500 years no-claims-bonus built up on one car to 2 cars, which is very handy. But they want proof of the make/model of immobiliser, which I don't have. The original dealer has stopped doing Porsche and therefore won't help with documentation from the original fitting. The local auto electric boys can track it down and ID it, but would charge for doing this and have no idea whereabouts it might be in the car. Hmmm. I visit the Shirley / Meriden Porsche outfit hoping for some info, but they aren't interested enough to actually come outside and see the car. They reckon that whatever it is, if it's original then it won't be Cat 2, so why bother. Rip it out and fit a new one is the gist. But I don't want to, since it works and it flashes the lights in the door locks and I kinda resent paying out my cash to replace something which is basically OK. So I call Porsche GB, and get a nice man who says that they don't know what it is either, but it won't be Cat 2. But if I really really must then I can go to the nearest OPC (Silverstone) and they will check it out for me.

Now by this stage I have to say that my brief experience of Porsce ownership has not been a happy one. If I want to be fobbed off, I can buy a much cheaper marque and get exactly the same sort of treatment.

Anyway, I call Silverstone and explain the problem. Silverstone have no particular reason to help me of course, so I don't expect too much. The service centre bloke is on the phone, can he call me back ?... OK.

And he does. And he asks a few pertinent questions and then says that it sounds like it is the original kit, and if so then it is Cat 2, and in that case they will write me a certificate to say so if I bring the car along to have it certified. And they will do this for no money at all any time I care to drop in.

Wow !

So, I'm just going on record to say thanks to Silverstone OPC for actually giving a damn. If my immobiliser isn't Cat 2 then it won't be their fault, and maybe they just got themselves another customer []

PS
Thanks also to Fen for some inside info and making me laugh. Irritatingly the section on the middle of the chassis (inc the doors) is missing from the site he pointed me at, but it is in all other respects an excellent chunk of info which will be damn useful. Fen, you are a star.

 

[Fen]

Yep, some OPCs aren't all bad. I'd also like to add that I have thus far found Westerly BMW in Exeter to be pretty decent too in spite of the dealer bashing I see on the BMW forums. For door hanging then, try Clark's Garage: http://www.clarks-garage.com/

 

[Guest]

I'll just mention that Lancaster Porsche (in Cambridge) did the same for my original alarm and immobiliser and gave me a Cat 2 certificate of installation for the immobiliser. However, they charged me £40 IIRC, which seemed a bit steep. They even said they couldn't find an alarm, despite the standard flashing door locks and loud beeping from the horn when you set it off - they finally tried to sell me the lastest porsche cat 1 alarm for £800 or so. No particularly impressed, particularly since they kept me waiting for over an hour while they did this.