944 help

[planetdave]

Anyone in the house know if the factory fit immobiliser for a 89 turbo is a Thatcham class one? If not can you tell me what it is please.

[andy97]

Your local OPC will be able to tell you and check that its working....for free, and give youa letter for the insurance company. Yes, honestly. Nottingham did the same thing for me a few weeks ago, although the damn thing wasn't working when they checked it!

[planetdave]

Small flaw in that plan.

The car is not in my possession yet and the insurance company won't budge till they get confirmation. I don't really want to be driving it home uninsured.

[softinthehead]

IIRC the factory fitted immobiliser is a Thatcham Class 2.

My 968 has the a "2 to 1" upgrade but this was specifically arranged by the former owner.

"Category 1:

Combined alarm and immobiliser system with self-powered siren and two point engine immobilisation system. Category 1 systems meet Thatcham's toughest testing criteria. The category usually specified by car insurers.

Basic Features:

Alarm system
Flashes indicators when alarm operates
Battery backup siren
Automatic arming of immobiliser
Minimum 2 circuit immobilization i.e. Fuel pump & starter motor.
Anti scan anti grab remote controls
All black wiring
Anti tamper control box
Automatic arming
Thatcham approval number

Category 2:

ELECTRONIC IMMOBILISER


Two or more point engine immobilisation system. Offers no interior protection for goods left in the vehicle.

Basic Features:

Minimum 2 circuit immobilization i.e. Fuel pump & starter motor.
Anti scan anti grab remote controls
All black wiring
Anti tamper control box
Automatic arming
Thatcham approval number "

If your insurer insists on Cat1 then unless yoca nfind the documentation you have little choice but to take the car to an approved tester/installer and get a certificate stating what security system is fitted. If they will accept cat2 then the immobiliser is definitely this, so you can tell the its class 2 adn negotiate down the premium on confirmation/installation of cat1

thatcham have a website but it seems not to be working at the mo

[zcacogp]

I don't think there was a factory-fit one. There was a Porsche-Approved Hamilton Palmer one (PA2000, I think), which was fitted by OPC's too cars of the 944 vintage, but this was always an aftermarket affair.

This unit is NOT Thatcham Cat1 or 2 approved, but was a good quality alarm and many insurance companies will give you the same discount as if it was a Cat2 (immobiliser only.)

(I wanted extra security on my S2, so fitted a full Cat1 alarm, interfaced into the H-P alarm, and got a local alarm place to certify it. Peace of mind is worth a lot.)


Oli.

[henry-f]

I don`t think you`ll find the std alarm in an `89 944 is thatcham rated at all.

Some cars were retro fitted with a cat 2 immobiliser when later sold by the dealer network part number 999 999 795 01 or 02. These are disarmed by small rectangular electronic "keys" which push into a hole usually by the key. In addition many cars were fitted with aftermarket Thatcham cat 2 immobilisers of various designs.

Henry

edited to add :

The PA 1000 and PA 2000 alarm / immobilisers were Thatcham cat 1 approved.

Edited by henry-f on Wednesday 29th November 13:59

[z3944]

The fitment of the immobiliser is for theft purposes. The insurance company should issue you with a policy with the small print saying that you need to prove an immobiliser is fitted or else you're not covered for theft. Go and get the car, you should be covered to drive it - they just won't pay out if somebody nicks it on the way home. By the way, two things, have you asked the current owner, and can you not drive the car under your current policy under the 'car not owned by you' bit, as I don't think it's owned by you until it's registered at DVLA.

[hartech]

Yup it is usually regarded and accepted as cat 2

I am not a legal expert but I believe that something is owned by you once the time and date has passed that is on the document that transfers ownership to you signed by the previous owner (even if no money has changed hands).

So a timed and dated receipt stating that you have bought the car for whatever amount received or not makes it your property.

Registering at the DVLA is no proof of ownership.

Baz Hartech

[stevep2000]

I've been looking into this myself also as I have an '89 S2 & wanted to confirm Thatcham status for insurance, and this is what I've discovered;
- Standard Immobiliser is dealer fitted, made by Hamilton Palmer;
www.hamilton-palmer.co.uk/
- The model is known rather vaguely as the 'Porsche Immobiliser'. As Thatcham only started rating cars/devices from about '93, they don't specifically list the 944 on their site, however this device was also fitted to the 968, and therefore if you download the Cat 2 list from Thatcham site ( www.thatcham.org/security/pdfs/categories/PassengerCarCAT2.pdf )& look for the 'Porsche Immobiliser', that will show you the Thatcham reference no. (Spoke to the chap @ Hamilton Palmer who helpfully provided this info)
- Your insurance company may be happy with just providing this info, but will probably want an installation certificate that you're unlikely to have. Alternatively you can get an approved installer to verify you have the specific device installed, and a letter confirming this should satisfy your insurer.
- Without this, you may be covered for accident damage but probably not for theft, at least that's the story with min.

Have done all the leg work myself but not got an installer to do the verification yet, but hopefully this is all accurate & of some use to you.

[planetdave]

Thanks chaps.

Some really helpful stuff (as usual).

Gotta go back to the agent to hear what the bad news is going to be...had a great quote for a vehicle with class 1 fitted.

[planetdave]

Just spoken to the broker.

After all that pallaver the price stays the same. I need a note of confirmation that the immobiliser is working but otherwise it's all plain sailing.

So...if you're looking for insurance for a modified 944T then how does £429.11 for a 5K mileage sound?

See the nice people @ Sureterm.