Thatcham Approved Immobiliser

[944psi]

Can anyone recommend a make / model of immobiliser? Most of the insurance companies seem to be requesting them when I've been getting quotes.

I don't really want a CAT1 system, i.e. full alarm, but remote central locking would be good, so any recommendations there too would be good.

Thanks, Phil
'91 S2

 

[Fen]

My most recent Mazda has a Toad that is quite convenient as it has a proximity sensor near the ignition barrel that picks up the little key fob when it's on the same ring as the key. No central locking though of course.

 

[chrisdenton]

The Turbo is fitted with a Clifford which is way too complicated and shrieks at any thing that comes within three feet. The immobiliser works on a timer, after clicking the fob you get thirty seconds to get in and start the car. If you're too late you have to remove the key from the ignition and start again. I had a toad immobiliser in the S2 fitted by Jon Mitchell which was excellent. The tag on the key fob is a much better solution.

 

[sawood12]

You can get some cat 1 systems where you can disable the alarm part of it so you've just got an immobiliser. Can't remember the brand but it is one of the premium ones and I was quoted about £340 or there abouts last year when I was looking at getting one before I found an insurer that would accept a cat 2 immobiliser.

 

[944psi]

Thanks for the ideas. I don't really want an alarm but the immobilser seems a must for most insurers. I'll phone around in the morning but I think it's the Toad Sterling Excel that has the key fob transponder, so I'll get a fitted price for this.

Sticking with Toad there is a remote central locking kit that looks reasonable - but this may have to wait for now.

Phil

 

[millisland]

When the original Porsche factory fitted alarm/immobiliser on my 944 Turbo failed, I had a Cobra Thatcham 1 category system fitted at a cost of £349.00. This is what insurance companies seem to request now adays. Category 2 is less accepted.

Harriet

 

[Diver944]

Whatever you decide, make sure it is fitted by someone who knows how to remove ALL the existing alarms and immobilisers properly. Quite often existing alarms are left in situ or bypassed and can cause problems or make fault diagnosis very difficult []

 

[Fen]

That Toad looks exactly like mine. I didn't have any problem insuring my Turbo with a Porsche cat 2, the Roadster with the Toad cat 2, nor the MX5 with the factory immobiliser only - nobody ever asked about cat 1 at all. Since I detest alarms for being utterly useless as everyone ignores them and they all flase alarm in my experience, plus they cause a much bigger drain on the battery when parked for a long period, that was fine by me.

 

[944psi]

Agree with that. An alarm is not going to stop the opportunist who smashes and grabs anything you may have left in the car. An immobiliser seems to be the minimum that insurance companies require.

Thanks, Phil

 

[Hilux]

The Turbo is fitted with a Clifford which is way too complicated and shrieks at any thing that comes within three feet. The immobiliser works on a timer, after clicking the fob you get thirty seconds to get in and start the car. If you're too late you have to remove the key from the ignition and start again. I had a toad immobiliser in the S2 fitted by Jon Mitchell which was excellent. The tag on the key fob is a much better solution.

My Cllifford is sensitive but if you are too late then all you have to do is press the key fob button and it re-enables with the key still in the ignition. Strangely mine also locks the doors when it it is enabled and unlocks them when you turn the key off [8|]

 

[944psi]

Got hold of a certified fitter today who will come out and fit the Toad immobilser (mentioned above) for £125 - A lot better that the Laserline touchkey model I was offered earlier for £150!

The guy that offered me the Laserline refused to fit a Toad as they don't supply them - then went on to introduce his recommendation of the Laserline by saying "all of the best alarms are made in Italy" - must be something to do with the temperate climate and olives!

Phil

 

[Fen]

Why did I have the urge to burst out laughing at that statement? Did he mean "all of the best Italian alarms are made in Italy", or is it just he has misunderstood Italy's reputation in auto electrics?

I had my steering column shroud off today and the Toad picks up the key fob using a loop of wire around the ignition barrel as an antenna it would seem.

 

[944psi]

Yes - I immediately thought of the Fiat 131 that I used to drive years ago....

Looking at the RAC magazine today (it was raining and I had nothing better to do!) they do something called Invisishield [see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4460938.stm]

The following is from http://www.aviva.com/index.asp?PageID=55&NewsID=2706 [blockquote]"RAC Invisishield, a new in-car security system. Home Office statistics show that more than eight out of ten cars are now driven away using the owner's keys so Invisishield goes beyond a car's built-in immobiliser and alarm by preventing the engine from starting even when a thief has stolen the keys."

"A tiny transponder is installed in a secret location of the driver's choice within easy reach of the driver's seat. This prevents the engine from starting until the driver holds their unique Invisishield fob next to it for a couple of seconds."
[/blockquote]
So I guess it is similar to the Toad except the antennae / touch point is not obvious.

I'll stick with the Toad and book a fitting for this week. In the meantime, looking at the wiring diagrams for the 944, I've discovered where the bohlman compartment is!

Phil