S2 remote central locking

[Monkeythree]

Am I correct in thinking it should have a remote plipper for the central locking? I don't have one. I read in the manual (extra page stuck in) that the UK market cars had an upgraded alarm system which I presume was fitted by the dealers prior to delivery. Does anyone know if Porsche still support spares for this system and if I am likely to be able to get a plipper and programme it to my car?

Also, I have an immobiliser "key" thing that needs to be contacted against a "socket" adjacent to the ignition key slot. Is this part of the above mentioned alarm system or does this sound like a further, separate aftermarket immobiliser?

Thanks for any info which can help me ensure a reliable system!

 

[GPF]

Not certain that you should have a plipper as standard, but I would have thought so.

The immobiliser you describe is part of the standard system though.

I think it's called "Porsche System 1" in my docs.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Plippers are not standard
Your immobiliser is and sounds like the UK system.
I added a remoteto both my 2.7 and S2 - very cheap off ebay for dorrs and hatch. 2.7s worked for 3 years without even a battery change and the S2 has done nearly a year with no problems.
Will look for a link!

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Item no 121514626002 exactly as I had and have

 

[Monkeythree]

Thanks both. Electrics and electronics are not really my strength so if my system didn't have a remote as standard then I'm not going to attempt to add one. Comforting to know that what I've got seems to be standard and not mucked around with. I'm just waiting for a pair of plastic actuator links from my OPC and then I shall be able to test if the locking works correctly on the key. If so, that will do for me!

 

[brummie]

Hi, I bought a S2 Cab last April. it came with a plipper and the immobiliser key but no manual. It was a Cobra alarm. I rang Cobra and they could not have been more helpful. They e-mailed me a manual straight away and were very helpful over the phone.

 

[944Scott]

They are not hard to fit.

This one is mine.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Car-Remote-Central-Kit-Door-Lock-Vehicle-Keyless-Entry-System-DT-/251747712938?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a9d553faa

 

[Chrishazle]

Monkeythree, what you have is the standard factory fit Porsche alarm/immobiliser. The little "USB type" thing that you stick into the socket to disarm the alarm/immobiliser can play up, but both the "key" and the socket are still available from a supplier near Sevenoaks in Kent. AFAIK a plipper (remote lock/unlock) is not part of the standard factory fit - and I've had 2 x 968's and a 944S with this alarm system in the past 20 years.

 

[Monkeythree]

Ok so it sounds like the plipper is not standard which is good because I don't have one! But I'm still slightly unconvinced that I have a Porsche immobiliser. In the handbook I have a pamplet from Gemini and the picture shows an immobiliser "key" which looks like the Porsche branded ones I have seen in other pictures. There is also a Porsche Accessories pamphlet which basically repeats the same information as the Gemini one so my working assumption is that this is the UK upgraded system, supplied by Gemini and fitted by the dealers.:

I have what looks like an alarm module fixed to the right hand rear inner wheel arch behind the carpet. Does this sound right for the Porsche UK system?

But my immobiliser key looks like this:

It simply contacts against a little "port" which is on the steering column cowl. There is no sign of a socket which would take the Gemini "key".

Reading through the Gemini/Porsche info, it sounds like the immobiliser beeps when activated/deactivated. Mine doesn't which is another reason I believe it might be an aftermarket fit.

Does anyone else have an immobiliser key which looks like mine? Any ideas on the manufacturer?

Thanks

 

[GPF]

No, that's not the standard immobiliser key.

It's more like the one in the brochure picture but not sure that it's exactly the same.

 

[zcacogp]

Porsche supplied the cars without any alarm or immobiliser, and UK dealers had a Hamilton and Palmer item fitted. It was just an immobiliser and had keys like this:

There was no alarm component or remote central locking, but it was given Thatcham Category 2 status in order that insurance was affordable.

Most alarms on 944s were retro-fitted. If these were Thatcham Cat1 then they would have had remote door looking as one of their features, and it is also possible to fit remote door locking without an alarm.

M3, yours looks like an aftermarket immobiliser from Gemini. Whether this was fitted by the dealer or someone else isn't clear, although if it was dealer-fitted from new then there would have been a letter from the supplying dealer certifying it to Thatcham Cat2 (although that letter may have been lost.)


Oli.

 

[Monkeythree]

Oli, where is the port that the Porsche immobiliser key slots into located? I can't find one in my car.

Is the Hamilton and Palmer alarm the module which is fitted on the rear inner wheel arch behind the carpet?

I just want to understand which bits of my system are currently operational and/or should be retained and which bits are redundant and can be stripped out (if it's not there, it can't go wrong!)

My immobiliser currently works but not in the way described in the Gemini brochure (there are no beeps). I'm happy to leave it as is so long as I understand how it works and what it is connected to so that I don't get left stranded if it goes wrong.

Thanks for all the help chaps.

 

[zcacogp]

H&P immobiliser key should slot into a small slot on the right hand side of the steering column, cut into the hard plastic of the cowling itself. The working parts (electronics) of the immobiliser would be under the passenger seat.

The thing on the rear inner wheel arch could be a H&P alarm (as opposed to immobiliser), and that is the ultrasonic thignummy. My car had one of those too but I understand it was a separate entity to the immobiliser. It is a pretty useless alarm as it is armed by the door locks being locked, so if the door lock was forced it would turn the alarm off. I removed mine entirely and had a more modern alarm fitted.

Any car of the sort of age of a 944 is likely to have had quite a few alarms and whatnot fitted over it's lifetime and the only way of understanding what is on there is to look at it and work out what's what.


Oli.

 

[Monkeythree]

Apologies but this thread is morphing into a more general S2 alarm one!

So, I definitely have an alarm because I've managed to set it and set it off. I also have stickers in the quarters windows which state the alarm was fitted by Porsche Cars GB. Not convinced it is functioning properly but I think that might be related to the central locking which will be fixed tomorrow when I get my new actuator links.

But I don't have a module under the front passenger seat and there is no sign of there ever being a socket for the Porsche immobiliser key in the steering column cowl other than the tiny button that my as yet unidentified immobiliser key locates against. Maybe Porsche GB ran out of the "USB style" key and switched to a generic Gemini one towards the end of 944 sales? (mine is quite a late car) I am going to email Gemini to see if they can tell me anything.

I think that the module in the boot is for the interior ultrasonics. It seems to have two outputs which go off in the right direction towards the sensors in the C pillar trims. It seems to be inop so I have disconnected the 4 pin connector which it plugs into so I can rule it out of any fault finding. I'm guessing for now that this module is an extension from the main alarm module but until I can locate that, I can't be sure. I might end up having to follow the wiring into the depths of the interior and see where it leads me!

 

[garyadams]

Hi M3,

The immobiliser you have is the same as mine, and I've been searching the web for many years to find who made it but no luck yet. I guess it's just a case of waiting to see if someone has any details on it, sorry I can't be of any further help, but at least you know you're not alone.

Regards

Gary

 

[Monkeythree]

Turning into a central locking/alarm fault finding mission.......

So I've fitted new plastic link rods on both central locking actuators so I know the mechanical connections are OK. But the central locking and alarm are not functioning properly. Here's what I've got:

When Locking:-
1) Drivers door: the drivers door locks but the passenger one does not. The alarm does not arm.
2) Passenger door: both doors lock and the alarm arms itself. Red LED's blinking on both posts.
From the centre console switch: both doors lock but the alarm does not arm. (I think this is correct function of this button??)

When Unlocking:-
Drivers door after locking condition 1), the drivers door unlocks. The passenger door pin gives a little kick which I presume means the actuator is actuating but since that door wasn't locked, it can't unlock.
Drivers door after locking condition 2), both doors unlock and the alarm disarms itself.
Passenger door after locking condition 2), the passenger door actuator bounces back into a locked condition and the alarm remains armed. The driver door does nothing.

So in summary, the only way to lock both doors simultaneously and set the alarm is from the passenger side and the only way to unlock both doors simultaneously and disarm the alarm is from the drivers side.

I'm currently thinking that all this points towards the microswitch on the drivers door lock being faulty/inop. Can anyone else offer a different diagnosis based on the above symptoms?

Thanks

 

[Monkeythree]

ORIGINAL: garyadams

Hi M3,

The immobiliser you have is the same as mine, and I've been searching the web for many years to find who made it but no luck yet. I guess it's just a case of waiting to see if someone has any details on it, sorry I can't be of any further help, but at least you know you're not alone.

Regards

Gary

Gary, your years of searching are over........it is a Cobra 8510!
I decided to go hunting in my car and after tracing the wiring from the sensor pad on the steering column it led me towards the passenger footwell. And lo and behold, I found the Cobra unit under the ECU mounting bracket next to the ECU. the good news is you can still get replacement keys for it.

I'm happy that I now understand my immobiliser and can specifiy it on my insurance policy but it hasn't moved me any closer to solving my more general alarm/central locking issues. Input on that subject still welcome!

 

[Monkeythree]

I've now found the alarm module. It is a Porsche factory alarm part number 928 618 260 00 and it is located piggyback style behind the main ECU in the passenger footwell. The wiring for the ultrasonic module which is in the boot is grafted into the OEM wiring that plugs into the main alarm module.

Just need to find the faults now.......!

 

[white944]

It sounds like the passenger door actuator is duff or the lock mechanism is too stiff for it to operate.

 

[rowey200]

I don't have much to add here, but my late S2 does not have a blipper or an immobiliser key/chip.

The alarm arms/disarms via the key in the door and I've tested that it works. There is no obvious 'socket' for an immobilised key in the cabin so I assume I don't have one?