weird key issue - remote not working, but key is!?

[yan]

hi there.. i bought my '03 996 cab two years from the dealer who only had one key. today they called me and told me they found a 2nd key for the car. so i stopped by and picked it up. here is the problem:

the second key only works when i use it to physically lock/unlock the door with and to start the car with, but it does NOT work as the remote control (even though the red light flashes brightly on the remote) even from 2 feet away from the car.

anybody knows why that is? do i need to have special magic done to activate it?

i know the car disables remote control capability after 5 days of inactivity, but this appears to be a separate issue.

[Loren]

Try a new battery first.

If that does not work you might have to have programmed to the car.

[yan]

Try a new battery first.

If that does not work you might have to have programmed to the car.

tried it - not the battery.

if i reprogram the car, does it mean the other key will stop working? do both get reprogrammed?

[Loren]

Try a new battery first.

If that does not work you might have to have programmed to the car.

tried it - not the battery.

if i reprogram the car, does it mean the other key will stop working? do both get reprogrammed?

When you program a key you must have ALL the keys present. There are only 4 key slots available in the immobilizer - so max keys is 4.

When you replace a bad key you need the good keys so you know which key code is the bad one to program over.

If don't have all the keys present you run the risk of programming over a good key and leaving the bad key program in the immobilizer (wasting a spot or disabling another key).