Lost key, replacement options? - Page 2 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

obthomas · 06-06-2021, 04:18 PM

There is another approach.

Remove the pill from a working key and attach it under the ignition cylinder bezel with tie wrap, shrink wrap or glue.

Buy a plain key online and have it cut to fit the car latches and ignition switch.

Buy and install an inexpensive remote start keyless entry system from Amazon or Ebay, Search this site for "3rd party keyless entry" for detailed information.

In the end you have as many keys as you buy and fobs that work for keyless entry.

All for less than $100

Good Luck

Stl-986 · 07-15-2021, 03:27 PM

starts the car, locks & unlocks the doors. It's like all keys but it doesn't do keyless entry

vetman · 07-15-2021, 04:11 PM

but is there a button to unlock the doors, or do you mean manually by turning the key? I was in StL 2 weeks ago, great town.

Ray
98 Boxster

Stl-986 · 07-15-2021, 04:28 PM

not on that key I believe. I think that is just the lighted key head.

vetman · 07-15-2021, 05:46 PM

So whatever is missing is probably just a light? Thanks

Ray

Starter986 · 07-16-2021, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vetman

So whatever is missing is probably just a light? Thanks

Ray

I have the identical key... with the button intact. Press button... zero response. Light? Do you see a light on the key... anywhere? I don't think so. Likely opened the door locks at one time and wore out. Smarter minds... please chime in and rest this matter.

vetman · 07-27-2021, 01:41 PM

Do you see a light on the key... anywhere? I don't think so. Likely opened the door locks at one time and wore out. Smarter minds... please chime in and rest this matter.

[/QUOTE]

I absolutely have a light blub in my key.

Starter986 · 07-27-2021, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vetman

Do you see a light on the key... anywhere? I don't think so. Likely opened the door locks at one time and wore out. Smarter minds... please chime in and rest this matter.

I absolutely have a light blub in my key.[/QUOTE]

I have that key. Mine does have a little light at the end... although never have I opened it to replace the battery... so the button/light remains unused.

Stl-986 · 07-16-2021, 09:29 AM

you can get the fob for around $150 from any dealer. Dealer should only charge an hour labor to program so $400 is about right.

Just make sure they dont delete your old key from the car. You want them to ADD not replace.

Stl-986 · 07-27-2021, 02:41 PM

Vetman, what you are missing is the button. Not 100% but I believe the button also has the battery in it.

vetman · 07-27-2021, 05:45 PM

I think so. Looks like I need a cover for the battery and a battery. I can’t find a part number for the cover and PORSCHE doesn’t have it

Stl-986 · 07-27-2021, 05:53 PM

yea, they wont have one for just that. That's how they get you to buy a whole new key.

Now, if you can find a used key or someone elses then you can make it work with your car. Dont know about these specific keys, but what the immobilizer looks for is a little pill inside the key head. You could get a key that works, take the pill out of yours & the key shank and put it into the replacement one. Since it isn't a keyless entry key then no programming is necessary. Just a thought. Haven't seen one of those keys myself so I dont know if the pill is accessible.

Other thing you can do is just fill the hole with epoxy so you dont have a hole anymore at least.

JayG · 07-28-2021, 07:08 AM

You can buy empty key fobs and put your electronics in them on Amazon and eBay

The 986er · 04-27-2024, 03:02 PM

I bought a second key for my 986 in late 2023. The lowest priced way to do this that I could find was this: 1) Buy actual key from the dealership online that offers the lowest price. I used Porsche Delaware ($221), but Porsche Atlanta had competitive pricing too. Look around, but you need to have from a dealership with the number codes they give you attached to the key, as they use in the programming. 2) Use autobest2015 off Ebay for a laser cut key blade. Take a picture of the old key and have them laser cut a replica. This takes forever, like a month, but cost $13 for my 986. Finally, call around to dealerships near you and get a price quote for programming the Fob. West Houston did mine for $150. All in, I got a second key under $400 in late 2023!

Danimal · 04-27-2024, 08:32 PM

Thank you for posting your solution. I need to do the same. My car came with only one key and the buttons on that one don’t even work. So thinking will make at least one good key and use the old one as a back up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The 986er

I bought a second key for my 986 in late 2023. The lowest priced way to do this that I could find was this: 1) Buy actual key from the dealership online that offers the lowest price. I used Porsche Delaware ($221), but Porsche Atlanta had competitive pricing too. Look around, but you need to have from a dealership with the number codes they give you attached to the key, as they use in the programming. 2) Use autobest2015 off Ebay for a laser cut key blade. Take a picture of the old key and have them laser cut a replica. This takes forever, like a month, but cost $13 for my 986. Finally, call around to dealerships near you and get a price quote for programming the Fob. West Houston did mine for $150. All in, I got a second key under $400 in late 2023!