CLU/Immobilizer/Key Fob Issues

[BK177V]

I have a 2001 986 S that I've owned for 4 years. Water got into the immobilizer a few years ago but I didn't have time to mess with it as I was in the middle of selling a house and buying another house and moving. Hectic time.

When I got the car to the new house I pulled the immobilizer and dried everything out and cleaned everything with electronics cleaner. Fast forward 2 years, I finally decided to try to get the car running again. I put the immobilizer back in and replaced the car battery.

She fires right up (aside from a massive fuel leak somewhere on the driver's side of the engine, separate story). It will start and run, but the car is unresponsive to the key fob. No trunk, frunk, unlock or lock. Obviously can unlock the door with the key, but it doesn't unlock both doors and the alarm never makes a peep one way or another. Red light on the dash never blinks either.

I've tried a few things that I've read to "reset" the CLU/Key fob, but nothing has worked. Here's the weird part. When I insert the key into the ignition and turn it forward and press the lock button on the fob, the red light on the dash blinks in unison with the fob. Seems strange to me that it's obviously picking it up, but never responds to it.

What are your thoughts? Is the immobilizer just wonky from getting wet and will never work right? Does something else jump out to you? Key fob battery is new, car battery is new, starts right up without issue.

I'm thinking I just need to send the fobs and immobilizer in to ECUDoctors and have them test and fix whatever is going on, but I really don't want to spend the $1300 if there is another way to "reset" something. My hunch is the immobilizer is shot, but was hoping someone could chime in with some voodoo type stuff that could get the fob and car communicating again.

Thanks in advance for any insight.