Life of your key fob/remote...how long does it live? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

dja1980 · 09-12-2008, 02:32 PM

Whoa... $220 just for the programming??!! When you first posted $220, I figured that included a new keyhead. What is it about the programming that ONLY Porsche can do it?

RandallNeighbour · 09-12-2008, 02:45 PM

The key must be programmed to the car while a Porsche System Tester Tool (computer) is hooked up to it. It's a security thing so thieves can't easily duplicate keys.

Programming only takes about a half hour or less... book rate is an hour I think. If you pay more than $100 for programming, you're getting ripped off.

They're not termed "stealerships" for nothing.

Quickurt · 09-12-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

The key must be programmed to the car while a Porsche System Tester Tool (computer) is hooked up to it. It's a security thing so thieves can't easily duplicate keys.

Programming only takes about a half hour or less... book rate is an hour I think. If you pay more than $100 for programming, you're getting ripped off.

They're not termed "stealerships" for nothing.

Whoa, check this out!
All of your post from this quote, is not on your origianal post!
So does that mean I can say, when you're tired of your posts not showing up, get a PC?

Quickurt · 09-12-2008, 02:50 PM

Okay, now it is!!
It must be the magic post genie screwing with our heads, or maybe you were editing as I was doing my post?

Jacques79 · 09-12-2008, 05:35 PM

That's funny because I went to my dealer yesterday because my remote trunk button wouldn't work and they told me it's covered under my CPO warranty.

It's odd because my regular door button works; it's just the trunk one that doesn't make the red light on the remote go off.

I bet I'm the first customer to get a key remote fixed under warranty....

And on top of that's they've agreed to fix my radio.

I'm suddenly happy to have a CPO warranty...

Tool Pants · 09-13-2008, 06:57 AM

Mine was made in January 1997. The batteries have never been replaced, believe it or not.

9 years ago I opened up one of the remotes because one of the buttons was operating intermentently. There are tiny switches soldered to the circuit board and the switch had a bad solder joint. Got out a small soldering iron and fixed it.

I have also seen the buttons break off the circuit board.

So if one of your buttons are not working and you know how to solder you might be able to fix it.

Jeph · 09-13-2008, 07:15 AM

Porsche can make a decent key that works. Mine. Same batteries for me since 2003. (I don't know if they were the originals or not.)

Were the batteries that lasted only 2 weeks from the same batch/package? Where did you get those batteries? Maybe they were bad.

Buy a new, reputable brand of battery (Duracell, Energizer) from someplace like Best Buy (or any other place that wouldn't seem to let a stock of batteries pile up for a long time) to see if you get the same results.

If that doesn't work, I wonder if you're somehow pressing the button while it's in your pocket or something.

sb01box · 11-12-2008, 06:38 PM

I have a 01 box with certified Porsche warranty due to expire in a week.
my key remote just died. LED comes on but there is no modulation at the rf transmitter (used an oscilloscope).
does anyone know if the remote transmitter is covered under certified warranty -alarm system?
thanks in advance

clickman · 06-12-2009, 07:47 AM

Yeehaw! What a find. I just ordered 4.

My main remote just stopped communicating with the car (LED flashes but no response). My second remote works on the trunks, but not doors. So I'll replace the button on it and save myself the reprogramming charges (assuming they can even do it). At least I'll have one functioning remote!

Quickurt · 09-12-2008, 02:45 PM

Obviously Porsche has no-one who comes on these forums. If they did, BS like this would end.
I'm sure it takes no more than two minutes to "program" the key. How could it?
You can download an entire complicated CAD program into your computer in less than ten minutes. I know, I did it today.
Do they take the chipo from one key and put it into another, or do they "burn" a code into the chip in the key housing?
I bet it's no more complicated, or time consuming than programming your home button for opening the garage door.
My mech. buddy at my Mazda dealer, just happened to "burn" the new ECU MAP while he had it hooked up for diagnostics. I stood there while he did it and it took about three minutes. Had I requested it through the service writer, it would have been a $250 charge. For three minutes labor, admitting the ECU was already hooked up. That had taken another four minutes. Looks like about two mpg improvement with the new map and less noticable turbo lag on initial acceleration.