Key fob remote not working for years - now working!

[hornet]

As per a lot of owners my Boxster 986s has only had one key fully working (all remote buttons working) whilst the other key was only useful for emergencies ie I had to lock/unlock manually although it would start the car. I've had the car for over 10 years now and never been able to get the other key to work remotely despite the led led light on the key coming on and having tried all the internet and forum suggestions about resetting. I believe it must have sat in a drawer for years by the previous owner.

Then today I had to install a new battery on the car (can't recommend Tayna batteries highly enough for price and delivery) and being a bit ham fisted set the alarm off a couple of times taking the old battery out. Anyway after installation out of interest I changed the key fob battery in the non working unit and then locked the car with the working key and then tried the other key to unlock it and to my total surprise it started working again.

I have no idea why this worked but just thought I would share this in case there is one in a million chance it works for someone else.

 

[ftored]

I have a similar issue with my second key, i ll try some battery shenanigans as well to see if it ll work!

 

[David Ramsbotham]

I have a similar issue with my second key, i ll try some battery shenanigans as well to see if it ll work!

I have the same issue with my 996, did you manage to fix yours?

 

[ribroaster3]

I wonder if I should try some battery juggling. I got a new transponder supplied and coded by my Indy so I could have a spare. He took the old key blade out and fitted it to the new fob, so that all works fine and it looks nice and shiny with soft working buttons. However, I took my old working scruffy key fob/transponder and fitted a new cut blade to it. The fob opens the car -naturally and the new blade turns on the ignition-naturally. But the car won’t start with this old fob/new key blade combo. What am I missing? Why won’t the car recognise the new blade/old fob ? Might be a daft question but hey I’m scratching my head………!

 

[wasz]

Did he swap the immobiliser pill out of the old and into the new instead of coding a new one?

 

[½cwt]

For a comprehensive over view of the 986/996 alarm system go to this link:

JMG Porsche - Independent Porsche Specialists - Porsche 996 and 986 Boxster Alarm primer

The Porsche security system in the Porsche Boxster 986 models (up to 2004) and the 996 models upto 2005 can be problematic. When faulty they can cause all kinds of strange behaviour, including winding windows up and down, the car not locking or unlocking with the remote or in some cases with the...

www.jmgporsche.co.uk

The JMG team know more than Porsche have forgotten about these systems.

 

[David Ramsbotham]

For a comprehensive over view of the 986/996 alarm system go to this link:

JMG Porsche - Independent Porsche Specialists - Porsche 996 and 986 Boxster Alarm primer

The Porsche security system in the Porsche Boxster 986 models (up to 2004) and the 996 models upto 2005 can be problematic. When faulty they can cause all kinds of strange behaviour, including winding windows up and down, the car not locking or unlocking with the remote or in some cases with the...

www.jmgporsche.co.uk

The JMG team know more than Porsche have forgotten about these systems.

Thank you, a great article - have printed off to keep in my car file!