Please Help With Troubleshooting Remote Locking/Unlocking

[jaelee]

My 1999 996 Cab just stopped remotely locking and unlocking. I put a fresh battery in the key itself and the red indicator light flashes appropriately, so it seems as though the problem is within the vehicle itself. Any thoughts as to how to proceed in troubleshooting? Thanks in advance for your help.

[Loren]

Have you tried your spare key?

Chances are the problem is still your key. Try the reset procedure by putting the battery in backwards for about 2 seconds and then put back in the right way.

[wyovino]

If your car sits for 5 days or more, the remote is disabled. Have you tried unlocking the car manually and starting it? That worked for me.

[jaelee]

I appreciate your suggestions. The car is my daily driver and has never gone more than two or three days without being started. Loren, I tried the reset procedure but am still having the same issue. Unfortunately, the remote function on my spare key has never worked. Any other suggestions? I appreciate all the help!

[fpb111]

That happened to me. I tried many reset procedures.

In the end I had to buy a new key head (~$100 from Sunset Porsche) put my working blade in it and bring the new one and my working head to a dealer for programming/ reprogramming. If you get one from E-Bay or anywhere else make sure that the bar code for the head is attached. Without a barcode for programming the new head will be useless.

I hope that they can program a key for you. I have read (hearsay) that without at least one working head they cannot program a new one??

Edited April 21, 2011 by fpb111

[Thklinge]

Try to open the key, hold the PCB (Printed Circuit Board - the green thingy with everything attached to it), with two fingers on each side, then use a finger on the other hand to press the button. What you're doing is slightly bending the PCB which can help with intermittent problems like this. If that works, stuff a few layers of paper in the bottom of the key-housing so that when you put it back together the paper pushes on the battery holder. That worked for me. Also: Order a new key from Porsche.

[jaelee]

I appreciate all the suggestions. Eventually I had to replace the key heads. I ordered two from Sunset Porsche (about $250 delivered for both), and paid $105 to my local dealer to program them. Interestingly, both dealers in my area refused to release the key codes to me. My indy mechanic would have programmed them for me for free. Pretty frustrating and perhaps even questionably legal seeing as how I own the vehicle. Regardless, I have two functioning keys for about $350 and minimal headache. Thanks again for all your help!

[fpb111]

Thank you for posting your solution.

I wonder why they would not give the barcodes back? When I bought the head from Sunset it came in a plastic bag with a code label and the head also had a tag attached. They both were the same number so I peeled the label and stuck it in my manual. I can't remember if I even asked for, or got the tag back.