IMMO BLOCK A product that avoids the Key Fob double-tap to start a 993!

 

I rarely endorse third-party products, but this one is truly plug-and-play and completely eliminates the timing-out function of the ignition when the car is left to sit, while still immobilizing the ignition when the doors are locked. Most importantly, it avoids expensive internal ECU and fusebox/relay modifications to achieve similar results, which can cause technical problems down the road and are not easily reversed when sorting out Ignition/Alarm/Immobilizer issues or when selling the car.

The 993 comes with an ignition immobilizer function as an anti-drive-off security feature. It is enabled in two ways. 

• One when the doors are locked using the electronic key fob and the other; 
• When the car is simply left to sit for three minutes or more.

The annoyance comes into play when one has a good reason to leave the car standing for greater than three minutes, forcing one to double-tap the fob or fiddle with the fob button while the key is in the ignition to disable the immobilizer. This happens every time: 

• One goes out to the garage to use their 993, having sat overnight with the doors unlocked;
• One fills their tank with gas.
• One takes their 993 in for service, sometimes resulting in a call from your mechanic asking why their car won't start, or
• Sitting in your car or washing your car;
• Also, when using the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port, the Immobilizer must be disabled to use the reader.

Doing the double-tap dance also causes hundreds of unnecessary door lock actuations, potentially leading to excessive wear of the door mechanisms. This is the dollar-value proposition for this product. Avoiding just one servicing of the door locking mechanism will pay for this product. 

I installed the IMMO- BLOCK in my 993.

https://www.ezimmoblock.com/

• Works on USA and CANADA-delivered cars;
• Just plug it in, and the installation is completely reversible.
• Has an internal 9-volt battery with a service life of about 2 years.
• If the internal battery dies, the immobilizer still functions normally as it did from the factory until the battery is replaced.
• It does not require internal software changes to the BOSCH Motronic Control unit, unlike other solutions.
• It does not interfere with key fob programming/mating to the car. The procedure for mating fobs is available here.
• It disables the normal door chime function as it replaces the door chime relay behind the gauges in the dash.
• It does not add any meaningful draw (parasitic battery loss) to the overall electrical system.
• I previously added aftermarket automatic door locks and a headlight/turn signal left-on chime to my car, and IMMO BLOCK does not interfere with their operation.
• IMMO BLOCK now offers a kit to eliminate the 9-Volt battery internal to IMMO-BLOCK,
  Here is a page that describes how to do it.
• Designed and manufactured by a really nice guy, Jay Mingrone, jay@EZimmoblock.com, who is very active on rennlist.com and gives great communication and support;
• This product will not address existing system faults causing the door LEDs to flash in couplets, the Immobilizer status light in the clock to flash, loss of the ability to mate keyfobs or other faults with the Alarm/Immobilizer system. Look here to resolve such issues.

UPDATE 11/21/2021 

I have had it in my daily driver 993 for quite some time now, and have found it to be a reliable and enjoyable upgrade with no issues.

UPDATE 08/17/2022
Just replaced the battery in the IMMO BLOCK unit in my car. It lasted about two years. Easy to replace.

UPDATE 4/28/2026
I just installed the kit that eliminates the need for the 9-Volt battery that powers the IMMO BLOCK. Was not difficult. If you are handy with a soldering iron, it's a good, simple DIY project. Be sure to use Lead-Tin Rosin core solder to do the work. The newer lead-free solders have higher melting points and may overheat components during soldering.

NEWS FLASH... 1/29/2025 Jay of IMMO BLOCK fame now offers economical replacement remote entry fobs for the 993 that are completely compatible with the 993 and can be mated using the factory procedure on this page. 

He also offers second generation fob that will allow these new fobs to be mated (cloned) from any existing fob that is presently mated to your 993. He calls this fob the F2. This is a significant development in that some find it challenging to mate additional backup fobs to their 993 using the factory procedure. 

A description of how to use these new cloned fobs can be found at the bottom of this page:

https://www.ezimmoblock.com/

An inexpensive backup key to go with the above fob:

If you are looking for an inexpensive backup key to go with the above fob,

I recently had a 993 key made for me at a "KeyMe" kiosk at Walmart.

https://key.me/kiosks

The machine scanned my somewhat worn key, and it appeared in my home mailbox within a week. The completed key works perfectly in my ignition.

The key is not the pretty Porsche-branded key, as it is made from a standard aftermarket non-Porsche key blank. If you are considering purchasing a replacement electronic remote fob from IMMO BLOCK to make a backup key+fob set, this is an inexpensive alternative source for a key.

Great companion additions to a 993 IMMO BLOCK are:

• Automatic Door Locking
• Headlight warning buzzer
• Window control with the key out of the ignition 

If you found this page informative, return to the main page and bookmark it for future 993-related servicing, repair, and upgrading guidance & information. If it saved you some time, aggravation, or even a little coin, consider donating via the button in the top-left corner of this page.

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