Boxster Key - Spare

[Paul]

The immobilizer, and this procedure will not work on a Boxster.

[Legba]

The remote on my keyfob failed (1998 Boxster) and when I opened it up I found that one of the two small (very small) microswitches had broken off the circuit board.

I found it quite easy to solder it back with a small soldering iron.

Worth trying before spending lots of money on a new key and having it coded.

[tony_fury]

I think several of you failed to read the detail he provided.

My recently-purchased 2001 Boxster S (22K miles!) arrived with one key/fob combination and one keyless (bladeless?) programmed fob.

He is asking for a blank to be cut, not a fob programmed.

[jb92563]

Just to clarify a complete key/fob has 3 parts, the key, the transponder that allows the car to be started and the unlocking/security buttons.

If he has the keyless FOB would it include the transponder in case he ever adds a key?

If the keyless FOB does not include the transponder, even adding a key will not allow you to start the car.

I'm guessing Programming must also be in two parts.
Program the unlocking/security buttons to be recognized by this car
and programming the cars immobilizer to accept the key's transponder code if it is included in the FOB.

[iaincamp]

Thanks to everyone for his response. I've ordered the a genuine 986 Porsche replacement blade from ebay for $36, including shipping, thanks to Tony_Fury's advice. Now I have to figure out if I can get a good locksmith to copy it, or if I'll have to go through a dealer. The various online entities, like Keylessride, don't even list Porsche. Or maybe with my Dremel and some patience...

[boxster6354]

any locksmith that can cut a double sided key will work, the Porsche dealership around me do not cut their own blanks and send them to a local locksmith. If you drop it off with them they charge $75.00 to cut key, if you go to the locksmith yourself it was $8.00!

[iaincamp]

Thanks to Tony-Fury, Boxster6354, et al. If the blade arrives and is correct, and my excellent local locksmith can cut the blank, it looks like I can have a totally functional second key for under $50, all in. I'll keep everyone posted as to the results. It made me nervous not to have a spare, somewhere. (My brother once flew across the country to buy an older 911, which only came with one key. He managed to snap it off at the first diner at which he stopped, and had to start the car with his Leatherman stuck into the ignition until he found a Porsche dealer for a new ignition switch, which then required different keys for the doors and ignition, etc., etc...)