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.

[997_986]

I copied that from POSES:

96 62 01 Radio remote control in hand-held transmitter without function:

The radio remote control function is not available under the following 5 circumstances

1. empty battery in the hand-held transmitter
After changing the battery, full functionality is restored without additional measures. The same applies if the vehicle battery is flat.

2. radio transmitter outside the capture range
If the transmitter is actuated more than 256 times without the associated receiver being reached - e.g. vehicle out of range or vehicle battery disconnected - the radio transmitter will no longer be recognised by the vehicle the next time it is actuated. If the number of activations is below 1024, resynchronisation is possible according to the following procedure:
- Switch on the ignition with key and valid transponder.
- Switch off the ignition.
- Remove the ignition key from the steering lock.
- Actuate the transmitter within 6 seconds of removing the key.
The catch range is then reset to zero (as with every recognised transmitter operation).

3. atmospheric jamming or jamming transmitters
Due to the abundance of small users on the radio frequencies permitted for automotive applications, temporary jamming and thus a lack of functionality due to interference sources cannot be ruled out. The Type 986 can then be unlocked with the vehicle key via the door lock. In contrast to the type 993, the immobiliser remains unaffected. The immobiliser is deactivated via the transponder in the key head as soon as the key in the steering lock is turned.

4. energy-saving mode activated
In order to minimise "idling" due to an empty battery, the radio receiver, which consumes a lot of quiescent current, is also switched off in the alarm system control unit after a certain period of time in addition to the consumer switch-off.

- If the ignition is not switched on again within 5 days (120 h switch-off time), the radio receiver is switched off.
- The radio receiver is switched off regardless of the locking status of the vehicle.
- A locked vehicle can be unlocked using the vehicle key. (This does not reactivate the radio receiver).
For vehicles for the English and Belgian markets, please note that the alarm system is not switched off in this case. To prevent the alarm from being triggered, turn the vehicle key with the valid transponder in the steering lock within the entry delay of 10 seconds. (Due to the "Passif Arming" function (automatic arming of the alarm system 30 seconds after leaving the vehicle with the ignition key removed; the central locking system is not activated in this case) on the Belgian market, this also applies if the vehicle has been parked unlocked for more than 5 days).
- If the radio receiver is deactivated, it can only be activated by switching on the ignition again.
- If the ignition is switched on within the 5 days, the switch-off time is reset, i.e. the energy-saving mode is not activated.
- If a valid radio command is recognised within the standby time (terminal 15 off), the switch-off time is not reset.

5 Defect in the hand-held transmitter or on the vehicle
If the LED on the hand-held transmitter remains dark when the transmitter is actuated, this indicates either a flat battery or a defective hand-held transmitter. If the LED on the transmitter flashes when the transmitter is activated and the alarm readiness light on the dashboard flashes rapidly, the radio transmission is OK. If the alarm readiness light remains dark and points 1 to 4 can be ruled out, there is a system fault in the vehicle.