Unlockable car, ignition key okay

[mikefocke]

In 5 years, I doubt I ever locked the car and frequently left the car parked with the top down at the local Walmart. I have this attitude of "if you want it, take,it. Just don't hurt the car.". It isn't a car that is the target of joyriders. And I seldom had much in the way of valuables in it.

[MikeMcMo]

Assuming (or even hoping) nobody's gonna mess with your stuff makes it feel like a friendlier world.

[dghii]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

In 5 years, I doubt I ever locked the car and frequently left the car parked with the top down at the local Walmart. I have this attitude of "if you want it, take,it. Just don't hurt the car.". It isn't a car that is the target of joyriders. And I seldom had much in the way of valuables in it.

Right there with you. I go in stores all the time with the top down. Sometimes even leave key in the car (not in the ignition mind you). I guess its the benefit of living in a smaller town.

I can see how this car would be in the situation its in...
Key works in ignition because it has the pill with it. Missing the keyless transponder guts is the same as those of us who have the guts, but they no longer work.

Key not working in door could be a result of the lock mechanism being replaced at some point...and its key getting lost.

As mentioned, these are not new cars...lots can happen over the years.

[algiorda]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

In 5 years, I doubt I ever locked the car and frequently left the car parked with the top down at the local Walmart. I have this attitude of "if you want it, take,it. Just don't hurt the car.". It isn't a car that is the target of joyriders. And I seldom had much in the way of valuables in it.

Here in Florida, I would never dream of leaving the car unlocked or even parked with the top down. There are too many vindictive people who will damage your car just for fun because YOU have a Porsche and they don't. I live in a gated community and we still have thieves (probably neighbors) who patrol at night pulling on car doors and stealing stuff inside. A gentlemen down the block had his laptop and two pistols stolen from his glovebox (don't ask why he had his pistols in an unlocked vehicle.

[MikeMcMo]

My Boxster does not have the "Boxster" lettering across the trunk. Just has the medallion on the hood. I have a Toyota hood ornament sitting around. Thought it would be funny to stick that on the back, maybe put one on the front too, on the off-chance it would confuse a would-be thief, or defuse the situation somehow. Or maybe I'm over-thinking it..

[MikeMcMo]

For anybody still hanging on for dramatic details about solving my locking problem:

The Porsche dealer suggested we order a new key stipulated to the VIN and see what happens. Knowing it was a gamble ($130+) I did it, hoping it would work in one or the other door lock to allow me to lock the car, or otherwise shed some light into the mysterious past of this car. The key came and was worthless- didn't resemble the ignition key or work in a door or the storage compartment. When I was asking about next possible steps, the service guy said there was no way to reverse-engineer a key from an existing lock. Fortunately, he was wrong. He recommended one shop that had done quality locksmithing for them so I went there. They couldn't do anything for me but recommended another outfit, who also could only recommend a third place, which did the trick. A guy named Tom at General Lock 2414 W. Fulton, Chicago (773) 545-5625 had skills and an expensive key cutting machine.

He had a tool meant for picking Volkswagen locks but worked on the '99 Boxster. He was able to pick the door lock and as he backed his picker out in increments, he could read a gauge on it that told him, in numbers 1-4, the relative positions of the contours of the path cut into the key. I wrote down the numbers as he deciphered them, we went in and put a blank in the machine and punched the numbers in and cut a new key. Hallelujah, it worked, and not only on one door, but both doors and the storage compartment.

So, all three locks had been changed at some point. Porsche told me to set aside $1,000 to $1,500 to end up with two remotes with two keys that both unlock the doors and work in the locks and the ignition, but I don't have to go that far. I now have two mechanical keys to lock the car and to get in the car if the battery dies. I have one working ignition key with an empty clicker. I have to get one more ignition key with a transponder pill, and I want two remotes to get into the car.

It looks like I can get keys with remotes online for about $150, then have the one key cut to match the existing one at the Chicago locksmith*. Then I can have the transponder pill for the new key coded at Porsche, and have the two remotes programmed to the car.

*I can't tell from the listings if the remote key fobs have the transponder pills. And I see that I can buy them separately for a few dollars. Not sure if I need to buy the transponder pills separately or not.