Drive Box bypass

[Sumflow]

Last year I had trouble with the computer immobilizer. Cleaning it helped but it does not stop rust. Is there any way to bypass the anti-theft module under the drivers seat on Boxster racecars?

Battery is strong, turning the key, no starter, no ignition.

[j.fro]

try this question over on renntrack.com
that's JUST the racecar folks over there

[Jittsl]

Yes there is. A company called Specialized ECU repairs in Florida can provide you with an ECU that does not need the immobilizer. They are not cheap however. I think you will find them at Specialized ECU Repair, Replacement, & Testing - Restore or Exchange your Electronic Control Unit (ECU)

Laurie

[MaxD]

Can't you just get the ECU re-flashed to remove this function?

[Sumflow]

Thanks Laurie,
That is exactly what I was looking for, remove and dispose.

Originally Posted by Jittsl

They are not cheap.

The Dealer quoted me $3,000.00 to replace the computer under the seat with reprogrammed keys. I saw a car last week (2001 from Kauai) that actually cost $3,100.00 to replace the box. The place that you sent me and I otherwise did not find in Google search, wants only $675.00 to bypass the immobilizer by adding a chip that emulates the immobilizer signal so that the car will start. About 25% of dealer cost.

[Jittsl]

Happy I could help. You could also look on eBay. Often you will find a package of ECU, immobilizer and key for $600.

[MaxD]

Adding a chip? I bet you can get a ROW flash that eliminates the immobilzer for around that price.

From Pedro's website The DME

For special applications, such as race cars, we can now eliminate the immobilizer function, allowing the driver to not need the key to start the car.

I'm sure Brad can point you to a resource as well. It's all in the software, adding a sim is not a good solution.

[Jittsl]

I believe they actually replace the chip that reads and runs the immobilizer system rather than "adding" a chip. I have no idea weather it can be flashed externally or not but I suspect that they are effectively flashing the chip to build the replacement.

[Jittsl]

Originally Posted by Sumflow

wants only $675.00 to bypass the immobilizer by adding a chip that emulates the immobilizer signal so that the car will start. About 25% of dealer cost.[/COLOR]

I guess $675 to make something NOT work seems expensive to me

[Sumflow]

The EcuDoc’s bypass emit’s a signal that tells the Ecu that it is on all of the time. It does not “Mimic a recognized key's RFID and in order to supply the info when 'requested' by the in-dash RF transceiver security system.” EcuDoc puts something under the CPU, which emulates the Immobilizer Signal for the car to start without the remote's input. Ecudoctors

Pedro says he “can now reprogram a DME to completely eliminate the immobilizer and all the wiring associated with it.” However, with the Pedro cure you lose your windows working. But Pedro suggests:

Originally Posted by Pedro

if it turns out to be the ... the CLU (Central Locking Unit), not the Immobilizer, (that) is wet.

Try removing the driver's seat and then the CLU.

Disconnect it from its harness, remove it from the car and open the case.

Remove the printed circuit board and dunk it in a shallow recipient and cover it with isopropyl alcohol.

Shake it well so the alcohol penetrates all the spaces, in particular between the chips and connections.

Then, let it dry. You can accelerate the drying by using a hair dryer in the cool mode.

Dry out the inside of the case if it had humidity and put everything back together.

If it was water causing the problem, it should now work fine.

We have saved many CLUs this way.

Pedro on CLUs

Pedro makes it sound like the Clu is different than the Immobilizer, but I only remember one box under my seat. In this bypass scenario the original system might still work if the immobilizer bypass failed, because if it did not get a signal from the bypass, it could still receive the signal from Porsche.

Originally Posted by Jittsl

I guess $675 to make something NOT work seems expensive to me

Just like life insurance.

The Porsche dealer says it costs $3,000.00 to replace the drive box with new keys and installation. I have seen a Kauai car where they paid $3,100.00 earlier this month. Immobilizer replacements are a lucrative side business for dealers because they are covered under comprehensive on most auto insurance policies.

[MaxD]

Good info Sumflow.

Leave it to someone in Florida to have the method to resurrect a repeatedly wet control module.

One question - Is this car still street driven or is it a dedicated racecar?

[Sumflow]

Originally Posted by MaxD

Is this car still street driven or is it a dedicated racecar?

Is there a difference?

[MaxD]

Is there a difference?

The short answer is - Yes, there is a difference.

You really don't need the Central Locking Unit, Imobilizer or windows that roll up or down on a racecar. Read the rules of your class then rip out everything you can, you can always add weight back later.

The box under the seat has two control units in it.

[Sumflow]

The car in front at the finish wins. That is if the theft control module will let you start the car in the first place.

Originally Posted by MaxD

The short answer is - Yes, there is a difference.

You really don't need the Central Locking Unit, Immobilizer or windows that roll up or down on a racecar. Read the rules of your class then rip out everything you can, you can always add weight back later.

I don't see why a car would need a Central Locking Unit or Immobilizer on the street or the track. As long as the windows still worked. You could rip out the other stuff and go undetected on the street and track. Especially if its only real function is to lock the driver out of there own car. I don't see why it matters where the car is driven as long as you finish in front. These boxes do not help us do that.

Originally Posted by MaxD

One question - Is this car still street driven or is it a dedicated racecar?

What I thought you were going to get into was the philosophical, "Is this car street driven or is it a dedicated racecar?" Which of course leads to the car being a street driven dedicated racecar, used for pleasure as compared to menial transportation. Dedicated to having fun and winning the occasional dice under natural conditions. Real racing is street racing against strangers, with all of its unknowns and unexpected thrills thrown in. No one is fooled, racing under some supposed self appointed authority, on an artificial simulated street is "pretend." It is just make believe racing.

* Auto racing began 5 minutes after the second car was built. ~ Henry Ford

* A racing car has only one objective: to win motor races. If it does not do this it is nothing but a waste of time, money, and effort. ~ Colin Chapman: Inside the Innovator

Five minutes after the second car was built there was no authority, no fake road courses, but there was real racing. Real racing came before, and is not dependent on authority or closed circuits. The racecar build objective is to finish in front, not just finish in front with some parental organizations approval, on a phony course. Why do you enjoy passing?

[Kenny Boxster]

Originally Posted by Sumflow

[ Real racing is street racing against strangers, with all of its unknowns and unexpected thrills thrown in. No one is fooled, racing under some supposed self appointed authority, on an artificial simulated street is "pretend." It is just make believe racing.

Five minutes after the second car was built there was no authority, no fake road courses, but there was real racing. Real racing came before, and is not dependent on authority or closed circuits. The racecar build objective is to finish in front, not just finish in front with some parental organizations approval, on a phony course. Why do you enjoy passing?

While this has nothing to do with your drive box problems, please don't street race. You post indicates that street racing is the only true race. Just last Christmas a 7 year old girl was struck by a car in our town when two clowns were trying to look cool street racing. Her parents later were forced to pull the plug when her brain activity ceased. There is a reason why racing is sanctioned under authority and practiced on closed circuits.



As for your belief that anything other than street racing is fake, I suggest you try your hand at F1, Gt3, Lemans, or hell, even the much criticized Nascar. Come back when you win. Yeah, anyone can mash the peddle and go fast driving on the street, but it takes refined skills to be a competent and skilled driver on the track. We all have our own opinions of racing which is totally one's prerogative, but I assure you it is no "pretend" or "fake" skill on the track. You truly crossed a line when you called these pros that could and would leave you in the dust in any race, "phony."

[Sumflow]

Originally Posted by Kenny Boxster

But I assure you it is no "pretend" or "fake" skill on the track.

Not phony racing on the track. But the track itself is a fake artificial road.

[hasanulbanna]

is there are very big different.

[Kenny Boxster]

Originally Posted by Sumflow

Not phony racing on the track. But the track itself is a fake artificial road.

Yeah, that is something any rational person can agree upon. Track conditions don't reflect upon ideal every day conditions. Just a misunderstanding you could say. Nonetheless, I urge others not to drive recklessly in public conditions.

This thread is somewhat hijacked and should go back to helping out the poor guy's drive box. Sumflow, please keep us updated, as I am interested in finding out what solution works for the faulty drive box.

[Topless]

Originally Posted by Sumflow

Not phony racing on the track. But the track itself is a fake artificial road.

Sorry Sumflow but you just don't get it. A racetrack is an arena where two or more gladiators can duke it out without taking out someone's innocent grandmother or 4 yr old daughter in the process. It's simply a mayhem containment vessel. We don't do cage fighting in our momma's kitchen, and we don't go racing where someone's little precious might be walking home from school.

Racing on public roads is just :chicken:

[Sumflow]

I had a neighbor racing at LeMans, and while he was waiting for his car to come in, a chain of events led to 83 speculators deaths. Is that what you mean by an arena for gladiators?

Originally Posted by Topless

A racetrack is an arena where two or more gladiators can duke it out without taking out someone's innocent grandmother or 4 yr old daughter in the process.

The only way you can be sure your grandmother and kid will be safe is to have them watch the race on TV. These events happen because track owners are only concerned with making money. Any thing track owners do for safety is because they are forced to do it, and they drag on and delay as long as they can.

See: Death at the track