Boxster has gone whack!

[davidbridgman]

Last week my top would not go up, I did some researching and figured since the parking brake light was not on, that was probably the problem. I ordered a new brake sensor and threw a tarp over the car. It then rained for 3 days straight. Some mositure got in the car, but not much.

This morning the car, with no keys in the ignition, starts making a loud fan type noise and both doors are clicking constantly like something is going on with the locks. I start the car, and the fan noise stops. I drive it around the block and the fan noise starts randomly and the stops while the car is on. I park it, and suddenly the brake sensor is fine and the roof works. Do what?

I then try to open the hood, but trunk and hood won't unlock. I try to unlock the car with the key in the door, and the fan noise starts again, and it does this fan noise for a few seconds every time I turn the key in the door.

Now, the red light on the lock button stays on regardless of whether the keys are in the ignition, and the car won't start at all. All lights, radio, top, etc. work fine but nothing when I turn the key.

The battery is not even a month old. Is this an ignition switch problem or what? Any help appreciated......

[davidbridgman]

Update - BTW this is a 1999 Boxster with tiptronic.

Car starts randomly but most of the time won't. Locks still don't work. Radio will turn on with no keys in ignition.

[phillipj]

Sounds like your ignition switch. Interesting that it's acting up even without the key in the ignition. They do some very strange things when they go bad. Great DIY here if you do a search.

[Loren]

Update - BTW this is a 1999 Boxster with tiptronic.

Car starts randomly but most of the time won't. Locks still don't work. Radio will turn on with no keys in ignition.

Feel under the drivers seat - is it wet?

How old is your car battery?

All Porsche radios work without the key - that is a "feature" of German cars.

[pk2]

Ditto Loren,

If its a swamp, get the black box down there out ASAP open it up and, dry it out and you may save it. Defy s all conventional wisdom but I've saved 2 of them this way. Leave it in the lake a couple days and it's history.

Regards, PK

Edited March 19, 2009 by pk2

[davidbridgman]

It is definitely wet under the driver's seat. So, what do I need to do? Get out the box under the seat? Sorry I'm such a noob at this stuff? Thanks, Dave

Ditto Loren,

If its a swamp, get the black box down there out ASAP open it up and, dry it out and you may save it. Defy s all conventional wisdom but I've saved 2 of them this way. Leave it in the lake a couple days and it's history.

Regards, PK

[davidbridgman]

Also, the battery is basically new, less than a month old.

Update - BTW this is a 1999 Boxster with tiptronic.

Car starts randomly but most of the time won't. Locks still don't work. Radio will turn on with no keys in ignition.

Feel under the drivers seat - is it wet?

How old is your car battery?

All Porsche radios work without the key - that is a "feature" of German cars.

[Loren]

As said previously get the drivers seat out and the alarm/immobilizer box ASAP and get it dried out.

Check your drains and find your leak (covered here in other posts).

[davidbridgman]

I have it out, but it does not look so good, was damp and smells fried, has places on the board that look fried. I guess I need to replace it, will look for a thread on that.

Thanks for everyone's help. - Dave

As said previously get the drivers seat out and the alarm/immobilizer box ASAP and get it dried out.

Check your drains and find your leak (covered here in other posts).

[davidbridgman]

Update - I dried the thing out and the car starts fine now even though the board looks fried. However, the lock button does nothing and the hood and trunk release can't be pulled as if the car was locked. Does anyone know if there is an override for this or a way to get the hood and trunk open before I get this board replaced?

[Loren]

Update - I dried the thing out and the car starts fine now even though the board looks fried. However, the lock button does nothing and the hood and trunk release can't be pulled as if the car was locked. Does anyone know if there is an override for this or a way to get the hood and trunk open before I get this board replaced?

Sorry, bad news - you will need a new immobilizer and a major programming of that new unit. If they are lucky it is alive enough to get some of the old key codes from the unit.

Check with independent Porsche shops that have done this before and have a PST2 or PIWIS tester - one of those and the experience using it will be required for the repair.