randytrish

Hello all,
I have recently purchased my first 993 (8-08). I bought the car from a soon to be Porsche dealer in Charlottesville VA. When I purchased the car it did not have a owners manual or key fob. Five months later I got my back ordered manual and spent some time reading through it. I was specifically concerned about immobillizer and the horror stories I've read about problems with the system. I have been using the door key to lock and unlock the car with no problems. When I lock the car the led's light up to show the alarm is activated. The manual states to always use the key fob to arm and disarm the alarm. Why I'm asking is that I don't have the immobilizer light in my clock between the 3and 4 position when you turn the ignition on . Does my car have the immobilizer and it's just not functioning because I'm not arming it with a key fob or did some of the early 993's not have this option? My manufacture date is 2-94. Thanks in advance,
Randy

quasr

I have a late '95 993 with the same situation. No imobilizer I don't think. I believe it was an option.

randytrish

If my car doesn't have the immobilizer can I still program a fob for it? I want to get the key fob for the convience.

NC TRACKRAT

You are blessed with a 993 that doesn't have "The Curse". In addition, your vehicle is sufficiently early to not have the additional curse of the dreaded SAI (Secondary Air Injection) System. Add that to the fact that the car is OBDI, not OBDII and you have a win-win-win situation!

Mark in Baltimore

Reports of the immobilizer's recalcitrance are greatly exaggerated.

amfp

The early production 95 993's had no immobilizer. I believe the starting including the immobilizer for 95's built after April 95.

ninjabones

A quick search revealed 554 Rennlist posts on immobilizer issues. I do not think that this is an insignificant or exaggerated issue. In fact, I specifically sought ought an early '95 for my second 993 after having had so many issues with the immobilizer in my first 993.

aribop

I have a '95 without the immobilizer but I like the remote lock/unlock. I bought a crimestopper unit and will be installing it this week following the great write up found here: https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...-95-993-a.html

Mark in Baltimore

Glen,

Hmmm, when I did a search on the 993 board with "immobilizer" in the title, I only got about 100 threads, many of which had titles such as "Help! Can an immobilizer take new programmed keys?" or "Immobilizer Remote Battery", all from as far back as 2002. When I put in "immobilizer issue" or "immobilizer problem" in the thread title, I only received ten threads.

Anyway, I am only speaking of my experience and, while I have occasionally needed to press the remote after trying to start the car and not being able to fire the engine up, one more press of the button disables the immobilizer and allows the engine to light. Normally, I press the remote button, turn the key and off I go. I've also gotten into the habit of pressing the remote button if the car has been sitting. I guess I don't see how dropping your hand one inch to press a button is such a big issue, and posted because too many noobs are going to shy away from a good car with an immobilizer. My $0.02.

David in LA

did all immobilizers come with remotes?

porscheralph

There is a major downside to the "no immobilizer" situation - the car is much easier to steal and the thieves know this and target them. My $.02.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

The Immobilizer (aka Drive Block), was an option in 1995 and standard equipment for '96 and later Porsche's.

Mark in Baltimore

I don't think there's any other way to easily disarm the immobilizer other than the remote.