Lost key, replacement options?
 

So I lost my keys 5 days ago and have finally decided that they're gone. Called the local porsche dealership and they quoted $400 for the key and then $150 to pair it to my car, and that's not even considering towing fees (not even sure if my car can be towed where it is + the parking brake is up and it's 1st gear) I'd love any insight ya'll would have into the situation as I'm pretty young and this is my first car and have never dealt with anything like this, much less with porsche. Thank y'all in advance :)

If you have no keys, you don't have a lot of options

In addition to getting the key physically cut, it has to be programmed to the car, and that requires not only a Porsche PWIS, but the security codes that can only be gotten from a dealer.

What you were quoted is pretty much inline with other Porsche dealers. The $150 programming is a little high, but not unusual

Welcome to the forum. Maybe ask the dealer if they'll cut you a deal for two keys.

Oh, the word Porsche is CAPITALIZED. :cheers:

OUCH!!

Good idea to get 2 keys at the same time

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t there a cheaper key option that does not have any buttons that could just be used to manually lock/unlock the door?

I totally understand the key still needs to be cut and programmed, but would cut the cost of the key down as $400 seems steep.

It can be safely flat bedded; they will put wheel dollies under each wheel to allow it to roll up onto the flat bed to get it to the dealer you choose.

You might be able to find a cheaper key somewhere, but the car cannot be coded to accept it without the Ipass codes that come from the dealer and the PIWIS diagnostic tool to do the coding. If you want to get this done, just bite the bullet and pay the dealer's price.

A couple years ago, after receiving oxygen and recovering from getting the price of a new remote key at my local dealer!!

I purchased 2 spare basic keys that have just the light and no locking buttons.
Part # 996-637-041-01 and #996-583-531-00 Only $138.50 for the pair.

The dealer programed them for an additional $88.50

I find inserting the key and turning the lock is not that difficult. I do have to open the door to release the frunk and trunk.

A remote key also activates the security and alarm system

Maybe it varies with the model year, but my basic keys activate and deactivate the alarm system when I lock or unlock the door.

Are those able to turn on the car?

Yes, they do everything the remote key does just no buttons.
Manually lock / unlock the door, set and shut off the alarm, Raise and lower windows, start and stop the engine.

Here's a photo of the basic key.
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1614193721.jpg

Maybe the ECU Doctor could help. Send them your ecu and immobilizer?

Just a thought, maybe a reach.

not exactly, it doesn't remote lock/unlock the doors or open the trunk or frunk

I lost my keys and bought new key fob for 150 from a Porsche dealer here in Los Angeles sun coast Porsche has the fobs for about the same price I have a copy of my key I will just need to get it programmed asap I don't really want to tow it to a dealer and a few auto locksmiths I called don't to Porsche

Unless you have the small white paper tag with the Ipass coding numbers on it, no one can code the car with a new key, not even a dealer.

There are 2 basic security features built into our keys.

The first is a pill that when energized send a signal to the dme. This is what is responsible for disabling the immobilizer. It's the same technology in nearly every "key with a chip" (hint hint)

The second is the remote transmitter. It works similar to garage door openers, it communicated to the immobilizer through a set of rolling codes. In order for it to be programmed, you must (as jfp said) have the iPas code (comes with the key) and a piwis to enter that code into the dme system along with your immobilizer codes (which can be obtained by politely asking from most Porsche dealerships). You will occasionally see these keys with codes for sale on EBay. They're never cheap, but they're less expensive than what the dealer charges for them.

So, in short, you can buy a basic key (without buttons) and have the pill cut and programmed by anyone who has that ability - you can actually buy the programming hardware in Amazon - and it will work fine in your car. If you want the clickety click buttons though you only have one choice - legit key with code and piwis tool (unless you buy a basic key and then install a 433.9mhz receiver hardwired into the central locking circuit in the center dash, but that's a different discussion)

Sent from my POCOPHONE F1 using Tapatalk

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

When i purchased the keyfob from the dealer it has info on the white tags that come with the key. I do not believe they will sell you a keyfob without providing the info needed or is there some other info i might be missing thats needed? my unit under the car seat has been swapped out before hope that wont be an issue i thought i read it might be an issue.

There are a lot of people selling keys with either fake or totally missing Ipas tags, and you only find out the tags are bogus when you try to code the car.

Key? what's Missing?
 

Of course the photo of the key on BAT showed the good side of the key. I went to visit the car today, at the shop, waiting for center engine mount. of course the other side of the key is shown in the photo. What exactly does this key do? or should I say would do if it was all there.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02/key1626390998.jpg

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

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

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

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. :cheers:

Just make sure that you have a shop that will program it for you.
I did exactly this. Bought the fob and key blank from Suncoast.
Had to pay locksmith $50 to cut the blank (something about the steel).
Then had the local indy Porsche shop tell me to get lost and flat out calling me a liar saying that he had been doing this for 20 years and that it was not possible to buy the fob from Porsche without going through the actual physical dealership and that I had a knockoff rom ebay.

Then had to pay the local dealership $275 plus tax to program it.
Their price for a new key through them is $700.

So personally I would jump at $400 and be happy about it.

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.

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. :cheers:[/QUOTE]

I absolutely have a light blub in my key.

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. :cheers:

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

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

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.

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

New Key in late 2023
 

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!

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.