Ahhh, so it appears I purchased a fob that does not have the "pill"? I thought it included the pill that could be linked to the car to enable me to start it.

That sucks, I guess I threw away $40, my bad. Glad I saw this thread before I hit the dealer...

 

A valet key also has an RFID transponder pill in it. Mine does and it starts the car. Simply put, a laser cut key will open the door but will not start the car. I highly doubt a local locksmith can do the programming of the key to the Porsche immobilizer. As said, it is a dealer only proposition. And to program a key, you have to have the key code to program it to the immobilizer. And, I think if recollection serves me, you can only program up to 5 keys, then the immobilizer is dead.

 

DBjoe996 So basically, and correctly me if Im wrong, all you need to start the car is the laser cut key and the RFID pill that is coded to the immobilizer (thats all that a valet key is correct)? The pill is passive and does not require power so theoretically you could set your coded pill in the car and have a laser cut blade with no head and start the car? Im just trying to wrap my head around how it all works and find it interesting.

 

That is an interesting idea, but of course it defeats the anti-theft purpose of the transponder. And maybe system requirements that the transponder be brought in and out of range for each start.

 

The transponder pill from your non-functional remote and the key blade can be transplanted into your brand new fob with the remote unlocking feature. No locksmith required for that part.

 

DBjoe Yes that would defeat the anti-theft purpose of the pill, was just an thought as to how the pill communicates with the car and how it all works. Hell you could have the pill in a key chain and a cut blade and it would still start the car, right? Interesting thought on having the transponder in and out of range for each start, but if you left your keys in the car all the time it would start every morning right? It seems I read somewhere the transponder uses a rolling code, every time its used a new code is used. Ive always had older cars that don't have RFIDs in the keys so I find this all very interesting and like learning about new things (especially when they are Porsche things)!

 

You made a good point I think it would start if the key was left in the ignition all the time. There must be some distance requirement for the transponder, and maybe position. You could take it out of the key head and experiment, and knowing the results would show if it could be put on a keychain, glued behind the dash, etc.

 

Funny you mentioned glued behind the dash. I was just reading through a different thread and the guy was listing the cost of key parts, for transponder pill he had "found behind dash - free"

 

Have the same problem as the OP. Just bought a 2000 C4 Cabriolet w/only 1 key.

Will probably just bite the bullet and get a new one from the dealer (or may get 2 new keys since the old one may die soon anyway).

 

Several times when I bought a car from a dealer ,, that had only 1 key,, a few weeks later a second key showed up in the mail that ad been "found" in the wrong folder.. They do it in case the financing falls apart and you don't want to give the car back..

Twice they found them when I went back and made them pull the folder on my car..

 

When something fell between the console and seat in my Jaguar XJ it disappeared and could not be retrieved. Once I had the seat full forward and reached my hand all the way in and found many interesting items including a brand new remote/key! At purchase I received two remotes and one valet key, so with the new one had four keys total. When I traded it in I wonder if all those keys disappeared except the oldest remote? Seems like purchasers of used vehicles only get one worn out remote.

 

Just confirmed this cost w/my local dealer.

In my case, $383 plus tax for the key and about $120 (for an hr shop time; does it really take an hr to do it?) to reprogram the key. $503 plus tax. WTF's up w/that? I knew that parts/service for my new to me 996 would be expensive (I already own a BMW & MB as well) but what they're asking for a key is pretty f*cking outrageous by any standard.

Going on a trip in a few weeks and want to explore some options b4 paying this. Won't get it done until I get back in any event. May also want to get a new transmitter head for my existing key (didn't ask how much that cost but probably not much less than the whole key itself) because the existing 19 yr old one doesn't look/operate all the great (when I lock the car sometimes it beeps and sometimes it doesn't but it always give me a double beep when I unlock the car w/the key). Not sure if that's a problem w/the key or the car.

We'll see . . .

 

As a general statement, arming the alarm does not provide an audible response (horn beep) unless there is a fault such as door open, hood open, glove box open. Here's what is said about a double beep:

Fault indication

A double horn signal during locking indicates a
defect in the central locking or alarm system.
Have the defect remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.

 

Ok, thanks for the info.

Generally, no beep when locking but it has beeped ONCE doing that a couple of time. I usually get a single beep when locking my other cars but not beep for the 996. Got it.

As for the double beep, I only get the double beep when unlocking, not locking the car. So, I don't think there's a defect based on your reference above.

 

Page 22 of the 2002 996 owner's manual states upon locking emergency flashers double, and unlocking single flash. Mine does that sometimes, but far more often when locking no sound or flash, and unlocking two beeps of a horn. So you and I have the same symptoms, and clearly there is a fault even though the double beeps happen when unlocking and not locking as the owner's manual states.

I tried to find a pattern when lights would properly flash and out of 44 lock-unlocks it only flashed (worked properly) 6 times. I didn't find any pattern of time of day or bright sun or shade, it is apparently random.

When lights flash (work properly ) dash LED has about 10 seconds of rapid flashes, then settles down to 1 flash per second. I haven't yet observed how dash LED operates when fault is present.

Supposedly if a door or compartment is open the horn beeps once during lock. Ours doesn't do that so maybe all sensors are being properly set.

When at the dealer for major service they said our horn had a problem, and I noticed sometimes when unlocking door with key the alarm goes off. I think we should be able to unlock door with key when alarm armed and have 10 seconds to put key in ignition and turn. So maybe our faults are the system is detecting an intermittent horn or intermittent wire related to driver side door lock.