Programming Used Remotes

[shothem1]

I just purchased a 2001 Boxster with one key and the remote is completely trashed. The transponder "pill" is intact and the car still starts and runs fine. The dealer wants a ton of $$$ to replace the remote and key blade, etc. There are a lot of used remotes and key blanks for sale online. Is it difficult to reprogram the remote and how is it done? I understand I will have to relocate the existing "pill" and blade to the new (used) remote head. I don't mind paying the dealer to reprogram another key but if I can program the remote myself that would be great.

Thanks!

[1schoir]

I just purchased a 2001 Boxster with one key and the remote is completely trashed. The transponder "pill" is intact and the car still starts and runs fine. The dealer wants a ton of $$$ to replace the remote and key blade, etc. There are a lot of used remotes and key blanks for sale online. Is it difficult to reprogram the remote and how is it done? I understand I will have to relocate the existing "pill" and blade to the new (used) remote head. I don't mind paying the dealer to reprogram another key but if I can program the remote myself that would be great.

Thanks!

If you want to be able to reprogram the used key and get all of the remote functions to work, do not buy a key on eBay without the little tag attached.

Do a search here, as this issue has come up many times.

Regards, Maurice.

[pk2]

Shooheim,

I have to take issue with Maurice. I think he may have misunderstood your statements If you have a working pill, any body can cut you a key (if that still good) and your good to go. If you have a key hat turns, you can take that pill, hold it next to the key and fire it up. Once you fire it up,you can take the pill and stick it in the glove.

Two things matter.

1) your key sword turns all the way. (mechanical)

2)The car has to be programed swallow your pill (recognize and accept the pill) (electronic) yours does apparently.

Get a head and get a sword, get the sword cut and pop in your pill...and we'll see you at the races. Maurice's reservations are for people who have lost the key AND the pill. Yours is not the case. I gotta know, what on earth are you going to Porsche for a key? open your mouth and your in for a grand...find a decent indi.

Regards, PK

Edited January 5, 2010 by pk2

[1schoir]

PK is correct.

My comment should have been explained in more detail, and only applies if you want a completely separate working key and remote.

Here is one of the threads I was referring to: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...mp;hl=locksmith

Regards, Maurice.

Edited January 5, 2010 by 1schoir

[micksasloey]

Unfortunately only Porsche can program the key so that your remote central locking works

You can get a new blade cut and transfer the pill to it and the doors will open manually with the key and the car will start but you need to start the car within 15 seconds of opening the door or the alarm will sound

PK is correct.

My comment should have been explained in more detail, and only applies if you want a completely separate working key and remote.

Here is one of the threads I was referring to: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...mp;hl=locksmith

Regards, Maurice.

[Loren]

Unfortunately only Porsche can program the key so that your remote central locking works

You can get a new blade cut and transfer the pill to it and the doors will open manually with the key and the car will start but you need to start the car within 15 seconds of opening the door or the alarm will sound

PK is correct.

My comment should have been explained in more detail, and only applies if you want a completely separate working key and remote.

Here is one of the threads I was referring to: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...mp;hl=locksmith

Regards, Maurice.

Not quite true.

Anyone (or any shop) with a PST2 or PIWIS tester and the car's IPAS codes can program keys. I have done it.

[Chumly]

Great initial question. I too would like to get an extra blade and FOB for my 04 Carrera Cabrio, I saw the blank sword and (Unprogrammed) FOB out there on e-bay (78 bucks). Found a guy in Huntsville who will laser cut the key (free) and the dealer will program the key for 120 bucks. So that is 198 total for a key. Is that a good price?

[1schoir]

Great initial question. I too would like to get an extra blade and FOB for my 04 Carrera Cabrio, I saw the blank sword and (Unprogrammed) FOB out there on e-bay (78 bucks). Found a guy in Huntsville who will laser cut the key (free) and the dealer will program the key for 120 bucks. So that is 198 total for a key. Is that a good price?

Considering the choke hold that Porsche has on keys as a separate little profit center, $198 total for a key is not bad.

If you are buying an "unprogrammed" fob on eBay, just make absolutely sure that it comes with that little tag (which has a bar code and serial number for the key). Without the information on the tag, the key cannot be programmed, even by a dealer.

If you can get the fob with the little tag, and have the IPAS codes for the car, you can search for some of the members here that have a PIWIS and if you are lucky, you'll be located near enough to one of them who may generously help you out.

Regards, Maurice.

Edited January 21, 2010 by 1schoir

[ARModen]

What exactly does the dealer have to do with the PIWIS to get a key to work? Specifically I have a key that used to work perfectly. The battery on the boxster has been disconnected for some time. The key still works mechanically, the car starts, and the key battery is <1 year old.

There are a bunch of posts on the web about getting in and turning the car on and off and pressing the button and then jumping up and down 3 times while sacrificing cats to get the key and the car to sync. I believe most of these people are either A) charlatans and/or B ) mistaking the 5 day remote entry function for a problem with their keys. I've searched for a while now and the only answers I've found are 100 versions of the previously mentioned witchcraft or the generic "take it to the dealer" answer.

This seems to be solely an issue with the alarm module not recognizing the signal transmitted by the key. Is there a way to fix this at home without a PIWIS? I do have a durametrics cable, but I don't see a key programming option in there either.

Edited March 30, 2010 by ARModen

[RFM]

As mentioned in Loren's post above: 1) IPAS (dealer) 2) PIWIS (dealer) 3) BARCODE (customer ??). If you can have these items, than you can do it yourself, if not a dealer or independent can help you out.

[Wayne R. Dempsey]

We had this question come up at Tony Callas' Tech Session this past weekend. You can buy a used key off of eBay and then program it to start the car. Unfortunately, you cannot use it to access the alarm system without the little tag. So, it's somewhat useful as a backup or spare, but not 100%.

-Wayne

[mattatk]

ARModen,

I was in a similar situation with two keys, one worked perfectly & the other wouldn't work as a remote. I also tried all the previous suggestions to no avail. I noticed that the LED flashed differently (one small flash versus the sustained flash on the working remote coincident with button pressure). I believe it's a problem with the button on the circuit board.

Does anyone know where/if you can buy replacement key electronic parts, ie the button switch?

Cheers,

Matt

[Loren]

ARModen,

I was in a similar situation with two keys, one worked perfectly & the other wouldn't work as a remote. I also tried all the previous suggestions to no avail. I noticed that the LED flashed differently (one small flash versus the sustained flash on the working remote coincident with button pressure). I believe it's a problem with the button on the circuit board.

Does anyone know where/if you can buy replacement key electronic parts, ie the button switch?

Cheers,

Matt

Buy this months Excellence Magazine - there is an article there on repairing remote key circuit boards and buttons.

[mattatk]

Loren,

Yet again thanks for the info! I'll post any findings.

Cheers,

Matt

[dcorral]

2003 Boxster S. I have two keys with three button remotes. Both are programmed to the car and have worked in the past. Lately one of the remotes works intermittently, the other still works fine. The misbehaving remote flashes very slowly no matter which button is pressed, the working remote flashes quickly. I have checked the battery, replaced the battery and swapped batteries between remotes, the slow flashing continues. I pulled the module from the key and do not see any obvious solder joint problems. Any suggestions on what to check next? Can I replace just the electronic module in the key? Will replacing the key module require reprogramming the car?

A couple of years back I took the car into the dealer because the remotes would open the doors but the seat memory was not working. They ended up reprogramming the keys to the car. They told me that the computer could only be programmed a certain number of times for keys and that mine was on its last key code. Is it possible that there is a limit to the number of times the car can be reprogrammed for keys?