Life of your key fob/remote...how long does it live?

[Paul]

Originally Posted by FrayAdjacent

$220 for programming a key? Ripoff! My local dealer said they would charge about an hour of labor. This included programming as many keys as I wanted them to, AND cutting new keys from a blank.

I only have one key for my Box, and the remote head has stopped working. The rubber over the buttons is pretty much completely separated, and the underlying main button has physical issues. The light will still blink when I hit the button, but the car does not respond.

I've wondered about getting a Cayenne key and seeing if the dealer can program the car to work with it. Might be a little odd with the different buttons, but I think it has three. One can be the main lock/unlock and the other two for the front/rear trunks.

I just bought a proper remote head from Sunset Imports for $99.18.

[Boxtaboy]

Not sure how it's lasted so long, but I haven't needed to change my key remote's battery ever. It's an 01.

[porsche986spyder]

Yesterday I went in with my key fob and a new battery installed in it and showed them how it WAS working but continuously drained the battery inside it. They took it away and could not figure out why it was doing it and completely replaced the one I gave them with a new one. Took my car away to program the remote and all is good. No cost out of my pocket. The dealership said my last replacement covered it under warranty.

[Rob-00BoxsterS]

QUOTE:

"... The bar code that is sold with the remote is necessary for the technicians to use in order to program the remote to the cars anti-theft and central locking control system. If that bar code with the programming codes is lost then the remote fob cannot be used as intended... When bringing your car in to have one key programmed you should bring all the keys that you have. The other keys might lose their programming codes and get overwritten by the new key code...The car will not start unless the remote is programmed to the vehicle..."



I only have one key that came with the car. It works properly but I do not have the bar code that (I'm assuming) originally came with it. I have been wanting to buy another key (item 16 on my "Porsche to do" list) and get it programmed at the dealership but it looks like my original key may lose it's programming. If I don't have the bar code, does that mean my original key will now be un-programmable?

[Kendo]

For those that have just had the tactile switch fail and want to replace it it can be found at Mouser Electronics for $0.60 each.

Tactile switch

The item you want is figure "C" 101-TF25R-EV (at least this is true for the three button key FOB head on my 2004 key). I used the 400 gf switch for my failed unlock button, but comparing the operating force to the stock switches I think 300 gf would be closer to correct.

BTW the description says it is a thru-hole part. This is incorrect it is surface mount as shown in the picture.

De-Soldering and soldering this piece is easy. Just use a soldering pencil (get one at radio shack cheap) rather than a soldering gun.

[Tool Pants]

That is a good find. I have seen those tiny switches break off the circuit board and there was not much left to even attempt to solder it back together.

[dja1980]

Originally Posted by Kendo

For those that have just had the tactile switch fail and want to replace it it can be found at Mouser Electronics for $0.60 each.

Tactile switch

That is some fantastic information! Where did you find this? I just got done ordering 4 switches. I figured I'd replace all 3 if there is a different feel to the new one, plus an addition just in case.

I'll report back once I complete the install. I'm hopeful that you just saved me several hundred dollars!

[dja1980]

I got the new switches soldered to the circuit board last Friday night. I started with the one that wasn't working, and when I found out how easy that went, I did the other two so that they would all have the same feel.

The entire project was very simple and took me about 20 minutes. Since I ordered 4 switches, I stuck a spare in the keyhead just incase I have a future repair.

Thanks to this fix and the climate control fix I found in another thread, this forum has saved me close to $1,000!!!

[sd_boxster]

My remote made it through the washing machine and still works fine - so I am not in a position to talk smack about the Porsche alarm remotes...

[Log]

My trunk button was not working. I opened up the remote, and found that the switch fell off the circuit board.... I soldered it back on and it works perfect.... Easy!!!!

[clickman]

Got my switches today from Mouser. After fiddling with the tiny little sucker with my shaky old hands, I finally got it soldered on.

It works! Yes!! Don't you love it when a few bucks and a couple minutes of your time saves many Porsche $.

[ekam]

Originally Posted by sd_boxster

My remote made it through the washing machine and still works fine - so I am not in a position to talk smack about the Porsche alarm remotes...

There's a rubber seal on the inside to protect water from going in to the circuit board.

I've just replaced the battery last week and it's been a year since I got the car.

[dja1980]

Originally Posted by ekam

There's a rubber seal on the inside to protect water from going in to the circuit board.

Mine used to have the rubber seal, but it started to get very loose, so I removed it. It was causing the top of the key head to pop up in the front.

At first, I thought it was the key ring putting to much pressure toward the back of the key head... but problem fixed since I removed the rubber seal. Now I just have to keep it dry!

[Viper5]

I made a post a few months back about this very same topic. My key is draining the battery. They are definitely good batteries and then in about a week or two it just doesn't work anymore and the light gets faint. It's also not me hitting the button in my pocket. I never did get a solution to that problem and I refuse to pay that much money for a reprogramming.

[sandyman65535]

"I've wondered about getting a Cayenne key and seeing if the dealer can program the car to work with it. Might be a little odd with the different buttons, but I think it has three. One can be the main lock/unlock and the other two for the front/rear trunks."

The cayenne key has separate lock and unlock buttons. Not sure whether you could reprogram it to do exactly what you want.

Would it be possible to use a 987 key? They're a bit prettier (IMHO) and look more robust.