Car 'randomly' immobilised
Discussion
I bought my 2013 981C just under 2 years ago; it was fitted with a VTS immobiliser, and I declined to renew the subscription (well, I live in an area where crime has never happened 😂). Car has been fine apart from micro-welding of the fuel-flap pin and brake pedal bush partial seizing with foot-well heater on; both faults in original design, but dealt with very quickly and cordially under 2 years warranty.
This morning, I dropped it off at Porsche/Tewkes (PT), and was driven to Chelt. On the way down the M5, I had a call from PT: is my car immobilised / what do they need to do to start it?
The answer was: no, and HTFDIK (expressed more simply). Some 3 hours later and no progress. Later PT called and said car now starts; they had re-flashed the software and all was fine (too late for the MoT, so will take it back tomorrow).
It seems that the VTS immobiliser can react to a flat main battery, or flat local (VTS) battery, or poor/interrupted Vodafone signal - and decide to render the car immobile. I don't use the Cay for weeks at a time, but it has the recommended battery-manager connected at all times.
The 2 years warranty expires in next few weeks, so there is no charge for the investigation and re-flashing of software (and other activities) to bring the car back to life.
My question is (of course): what happens if this event repeats (away from home, late at night, abroad when I'm 'doing' the Mille Miglia this summer, on the way back from a PCGB meeting...)? It would seem I would be responsible for the car's recovery, re-flash, and any other expenses that would arise from this most inconvenient event.
This has seriously reduced my confidence in the car. OK, it's only happened once, but there is no knowing when it might happen again.
Does anyone else have a similar experience? Was there a more detailed explanation / more permanent or guaranteed fix at no cost?
Or is the future of my Cayman to be trips from home that don't require a re-start of the engine (does this include the eco-stop at traffic lights?). I'd welcome others' experiences in this matter.
(As an side, I should say PT have been helpful and cordial through today's events.)
This morning, I dropped it off at Porsche/Tewkes (PT), and was driven to Chelt. On the way down the M5, I had a call from PT: is my car immobilised / what do they need to do to start it?
The answer was: no, and HTFDIK (expressed more simply). Some 3 hours later and no progress. Later PT called and said car now starts; they had re-flashed the software and all was fine (too late for the MoT, so will take it back tomorrow).
It seems that the VTS immobiliser can react to a flat main battery, or flat local (VTS) battery, or poor/interrupted Vodafone signal - and decide to render the car immobile. I don't use the Cay for weeks at a time, but it has the recommended battery-manager connected at all times.
The 2 years warranty expires in next few weeks, so there is no charge for the investigation and re-flashing of software (and other activities) to bring the car back to life.
My question is (of course): what happens if this event repeats (away from home, late at night, abroad when I'm 'doing' the Mille Miglia this summer, on the way back from a PCGB meeting...)? It would seem I would be responsible for the car's recovery, re-flash, and any other expenses that would arise from this most inconvenient event.
This has seriously reduced my confidence in the car. OK, it's only happened once, but there is no knowing when it might happen again.
Does anyone else have a similar experience? Was there a more detailed explanation / more permanent or guaranteed fix at no cost?
Or is the future of my Cayman to be trips from home that don't require a re-start of the engine (does this include the eco-stop at traffic lights?). I'd welcome others' experiences in this matter.
(As an side, I should say PT have been helpful and cordial through today's events.)
My main battery went flat after I left a data logging device plugged in whilst away for a few days. I got a call from Vodafone asking if the car was secure. As I could see it in the garage through a webcam I could tell them all was well. Alarm state stood down and I returned home, battery was flat and Porsche Assistance turned up and got it started again.
So my experience of dead main battery suggests that might not be the cause of your issue. I have never had a VTS system battery failing (low batteries in dongles resulted in Vodafone call to me) but I would guess that would also result in Vodafone alert.
On the above I would think issue might be in car's VTS system hardware or software, mine took three days and a complete replacement of in-car device to get it working correctly when I first collected the car from Porsche Centre.
Did Tewkesbury call Vodafone?
Was it that with key in it would not turn to release steering lock?
Key losing association with immobiliser is rare but not unknown condition which presumably Tewkesbury might have fixed with "reflash"
So my experience of dead main battery suggests that might not be the cause of your issue. I have never had a VTS system battery failing (low batteries in dongles resulted in Vodafone call to me) but I would guess that would also result in Vodafone alert.
On the above I would think issue might be in car's VTS system hardware or software, mine took three days and a complete replacement of in-car device to get it working correctly when I first collected the car from Porsche Centre.
Did Tewkesbury call Vodafone?
Was it that with key in it would not turn to release steering lock?
Key losing association with immobiliser is rare but not unknown condition which presumably Tewkesbury might have fixed with "reflash"
Edited by gtsralph on Thursday 3rd May 20:43
Yes - seems they had a chat with VF.
I assumed that, as I had not taken up the subscription, the VTS wouldn't operate. I left the discs in the house... I don't need more stuff to carry around.
I'm wondering if it would be best to carry a disc... just in case this might have solved the problem yesterday (and in future).
I hope to find out more about this... but worry that no-one really knows the answer...
I assumed that, as I had not taken up the subscription, the VTS wouldn't operate. I left the discs in the house... I don't need more stuff to carry around.
I'm wondering if it would be best to carry a disc... just in case this might have solved the problem yesterday (and in future).
I hope to find out more about this... but worry that no-one really knows the answer...
I don't know if vts works the same as Track star. But when I stopped the subscription to TS the lack of response to the tracker from central office when polled increased the poll rate and battery drain. So could be chicken and egg. I would suggest either restarting the subscription or getting it removed properly.
Apart from car being started at Porsche on Thurs (and driven home; and, AFAIK still OK...), I'm no further on this. Porsche Tewkes told me that it's possible for a car to immobilise itself if the battery is low; I was advised to drive it more regularly (but it's on a Zytec when I'm not using it).
Cobra/VF told me today that the SIM is de-activated, and so they can't control/query the vehicle. They said they would re-activate the SIM temporarily so that they can query for status/recent-events on the VTS tracker unit.
So I may know more in a couple of days.
But nothong Porsche has said leads me to believe the random immobilising event can't happen again.
Cobra/VF told me today that the SIM is de-activated, and so they can't control/query the vehicle. They said they would re-activate the SIM temporarily so that they can query for status/recent-events on the VTS tracker unit.
So I may know more in a couple of days.
But nothong Porsche has said leads me to believe the random immobilising event can't happen again.
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