Locked out! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

greenheckler · 02-03-2015, 07:55 AM

Hey folks, I need your advice on as I am getting close to the last option of potentially breaking my window

. 2001 boxster.

I locked the car and left it on my driveway for more than 5 days unattended. The key lock on my driver's door is broken - key wont turn left or right. I normally park in the garage unlocked or if I lock the vehicle I just use the key remote. I have never locked my car for more than a few hours.

Right now, the key remote will not work - (light on the key fob does work when button is pressed).

I do have access to the frunk because I luckily did the hack to thread the cable through my tow hook. However, I am not sure how this will help me as I need to get into the car.

Called AAA and they stated that this is a "dealer issue" and thus won't slim jim the door.

The car is in Southern California. Anyone know of a locksmith? I can't be the only one that has ever encountered this problem!

I have done a couple of Google searches on this topic, but those threads appear to focused on getting into the frunk.

Luckyed · 02-03-2015, 08:13 AM

How about the key lock in the passenger's side door?

KRAM36 · 02-03-2015, 08:17 AM

Charge the battery since you have access to it.

greenheckler · 02-03-2015, 10:36 AM

My car does not have a passenger side door lock to insert the key into.

I forgot to mention that AAA hooked up their charger/ jumper cables to my battery to see if that would allow my keyfob to unlock the doors (not successful)...

Giller · 02-03-2015, 10:52 AM

Do you have a second keyfob to try? Have you checked the battery in the fob itself? Yes, the light is coming on, but that doesn't mean it has enough power to send a signal that the car will accept.

particlewave · 02-03-2015, 10:54 AM

You may have to have a locksmith jimmy the lock. Another option may be to pry the passenger window out slightly so that you can fit a dowel rod through to press the dash lock switch (I think it unlocks the doors, but I've never tried).

Run · 02-03-2015, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giller

Do you have a second keyfob to try? Have you checked the battery in the fob itself? Yes, the light is coming on, but that doesn't mean it has enough power to send a signal that the car will accept.

Try this! I had same issue with my key FOB new battery and magically the doors open wide

newBgeek · 02-03-2015, 11:14 AM

Both my key FOBs act the same way. The LED lights, but won't lock or unlock the car. What happens is that the soldering connections get tired after awhile. The LED is on a separate circuit than the radio.

Try this. Carefully open the key FOB and remove the electronics including the battery. You can bend back the rubber part of the key back so it should come out easily. Then carefully push the button that opens the car. What happens is that the slight pressure that you put on the battery as you press the button should be enough to close the contact.

Good luck!

Kurt V · 02-03-2015, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRAM36

Charge the battery since you have access to it.

I would do this first as the battery just may be too discharged to unlock the door.

Does the trunk light come on when you open the trunk?

steved0x · 02-03-2015, 11:34 AM

If the car sits more than 5 days, the remote unlock functionality is disabled and you must use the key to unlock the door. Then you can press the unlock button on the key and it is active again. (I always thought you had to put it in the ignition and turn it to re-activate the remote unlocking)

To the OP, maybe you can insert the key and turn it like you are locking/unlocking the door, and then try the remote again? Even if the unlocking portion is broken maybe it will still activate? (Although I imagine you have probably run through a lot of combinations of turning the key and pressing buttons already)

From the manual: (2000 Model Year)

Ugg I just read this...

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenheckler

- key wont turn left or right.

newBgeek · 02-03-2015, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steved0x

If the car sits more than 5 days, the remote unlock functionality is disabled and you must use the key to unlock the door.

Good call. Try disconnecting the battery, then reconnect and that should reset the radio receiver.

tommy583 · 02-03-2015, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by particlewave

You may have to have a locksmith jimmy the lock. Another option may be to pry the passenger window out slightly so that you can fit a dowel rod through to press the dash lock switch (I think it unlocks the doors, but I've never tried).

This will unlock the door if the battery isn't dead. I had to do it last summer.

Retroman1969 · 02-04-2015, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steved0x

If the car sits more than 5 days, the remote unlock functionality is disabled and you must use the key to unlock the door. Then you can press the unlock button on the key and it is active again. (I always thought you had to put it in the ignition and turn it to re-activate the remote unlocking)

To the OP, maybe you can insert the key and turn it like you are locking/unlocking the door, and then try the remote again? Even if the unlocking portion is broken maybe it will still activate? (Although I imagine you have probably run through a lot of combinations of turning the key and pressing buttons already)

From the manual: (2000 Model Year)

I have to go through this routine every Saturday on my weekender Boxster. This is exactly why your fob isn't working. My 99s have a passenger lock. When did they quit doing that? Never tried unhooking the battery to see if it would reset, but that sounds like the most reasonable next step, before trying to find a good locksmith or the dowel rod idea. (how hard is it to pry that window out with it shoved up in the channel?)

steved0x · 02-04-2015, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newBgeek

Good call. Try disconnecting the battery, then reconnect and that should reset the radio receiver.

If that works, that would be awesome!

Steve

tommy583 · 02-04-2015, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retroman1969

I have to go through this routine every Saturday on my weekender Boxster. This is exactly why your fob isn't working. My 99s have a passenger lock. When did they quit doing that? Never tried unhooking the battery to see if it would reset, but that sounds like the most reasonable next step, before trying to find a good locksmith or the dowel rod idea. (how hard is it to pry that window out with it shoved up in the channel?)

It is easy to pull the window out. I just used a wedge to slowly pop it out. Also I forgot to mention that if the alarm is armed the button on the dash may not work. But what will work is to use the inside door handle. You will most likely have to pull it twice for the door to open. I used a bar that a police man let me borrow. He didn't want to be held responsible if something broke, so he let me do it. He was worried that the car was super expensive lol.

greenheckler · 02-07-2015, 06:19 PM

I ended up calling Porsche Roadside assistance (1-800-Porsche) and had them suggest a company who could get into the car.

They used the wedge and bladder (balloon) method to pry my driver side window apart, insert the balloon, and then use a long handled hook to pull my door handle. Didn't try the dashboard unlock button. I also did not need to jump the battery.

Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know since AAA was not useful for me this time.

Sid - Aka - UK · 08-29-2023, 11:44 AM

Call out and got in. Took 45 mins and first attempts pulling the door handles did not work. Second attempt - having again ballooned the window - tape the ignition key on the end of another rod and managed to turn on - to hard to get a purchase on the window buttons to press down and using a second rod to hit the central locking button on the****dash****opened****it