I'm a new owner of 95 C4. So far I love just about everything about the car. However, I am not sure what the "drive block" is all about.
What it is supposed to do etc. Would someone please explain the system/functions.
Thanks

 

The "Drive block" sticker on your car represent the Porsche factory anti-theft immobilizer system that's installed in your car.

It prevents unauthorized individuals from starting the car without the proper remote or security code to disarm the system. ....................Unless you know exactly which wire to tamper with............

 

It's also something that must be (electronically) disabled to make a 993 "brain" (and engine) work when installed in an earlier model car . I don't know this for certain, but I'm guessing there are only a handful of people (tuners?) that have this skill.

 

Thanks for your reply. So there's nothing else to it, the remote does it all?? Why sometimes after I unlock the car and put the key in ignition and turn to start nothing happens. I learned that when this happens I depress the button on the remote again and then turn key to start and then it starts. Is this normal, it can be a problem for people who arn't familiar with the system, i.e. vallet or ???

 

The operation of Drive Block is explained in 4 or so pages in the Owner's Manual. If you don't have a Manual, you should get one from your P dealer or from my-porsche.com
You'll especially want to have the convoluted emergency start procedure handy if your remote ever fails.

Although Drive Block makes the car extremely difficult to steal, it can be a daily PITA to live with. I think it's poorly designed and certainly not user friendly. E.g., it shouldn't take 4 pgs to explain a "passive" system; if you unlock the car & fail to open a door, a minute later the car relocks itself; if you don't turn the ignition w/in 3 min. of opening the door, you must deactivate the immobilizer again; & dead remote battery, well, just make sure your battery is good & always keep a spare battery in the car.

The RadioShack part # for the battery is 23-154 for a 2 pack. It is a 12v battery. BTW, the same battery is used in many garage door remotes - it's a pretty common size (same as #23, 23M, VR22, EL22 - among others).

 

What does the non-Drive Block 993 have in terms of an "alarm?"

I have a 95, has no remote, but it does have the LEDs on the door sills. As a test, I locked the car with the key, then opened the door by reaching inside (windows down) to simulate "theft." What I got was a honking horn, but does it disable anything? I guess I could have tried starting the car, but didn't think of it until just now

Edward

 

While owners of other reputable sports cars often stash a "hide-a-key" under a fender or among the suspension components, with Porsche's Drive Block System I've found it more useful to stash a "hide-a-battery"...

MC

 

Hi Edward,

I've tried this on my '91, and it does disable the ignition. I love this feature, BTW. Very nice when parking the car with the top removed.

Does your door also relock automatically (mine does)?

 

Randall,
Haven't tried it....yet (I'm not near the car at the moment).


If the engine is disabled on the '95, exactly what is the "Drive Block" and remote supposed to do beyond what the '95 does?
Anyone?

Edward

 

Edward,

From what I can decipher from the factory shop manual, that all 993 equipped with the factory alarm unit have the same feature and function. With the exception of the introduction of the new alarm box factory designated number "System I 001", the System I 001 incorporates the "immobilizer" function which basically include the additional remote control.

So your car without the remote control should have the same alarm feature the "immobilized" 993s car with remote have.

When the alarm is triggered the DME control unit is interrupted, and the ignition and the injection systems are disabled.

 

Hi Edward,

With the drive-block, I believe a 993 is basically impossible to hot-wire (suppose you gotta' tow it, instead ). The only way to start the car with the drive-block enabled is to get inside the DME and alter the computer code. Or, perhaps trick the DME into thinking it has received a valid disarm signal?

On an older style theft-protection system like my '91's, I believe it's possible for an extremely resourceful thief to hotwire the car--no need to access the DME's code.

Some logic behind my reasoning. You can trade pre-drive-block DME's between cars with no trouble. A drive-block DME must be electronically modified to function.

Oddly enough, the '97 993 engine in my car is a theft recovery. Perhaps the P.O. left the keys in the ignition?

 

Then all the problems people have encountered with the infamous "immobilizer" actually stem from the remote? Is this correct?
Or is it also with the self-locking/self-arming "features" which the "regular DX" arm-the-car-with-the-key alarm lacks?

Edward

 

As Ray said one time: 'I love the 95s system, put the key in the door and it locks or unlocks - whatever you want.' (or something like that)

E. J.