996 Remote fob fault
Discussion
Nothing happens when I press the button on my key fob from a 1998 996. Up until Friday, a little red light came on and my car unlocked, which was nice. I changed the battery but this didn't help. I can get in with the key, but with all the noise of the alarm, people keep thinking I'm stealing the car. Even then, the passenger door and trunk remain locked. I've only got one key too.
Any one know of someone who could repair the fob? I've been told that if I buy a new one from the dealer, then they need to reprogram the whole system at huge cost - is this true?
Any one know of someone who could repair the fob? I've been told that if I buy a new one from the dealer, then they need to reprogram the whole system at huge cost - is this true?
I would have thought the OPC should be able to copy the programme from your existing key. Even though it might not be working, the programme should be recoverable somehow. I am guessing the "huge cost" would only apply if you lost your key.
I had a similar experience with mine and upon opening the fob, I found the little knob inside had worn, so when I press, it does not actually make contact and create a circuit.....if you get my drift. Try and operate the fob while outside the key casing....obviously holding the battery and transmitter together.
Peculiarly though, mine does not set off the alarm when I use the key to open it, rather that the fob . which I have to do often as I rare drive it, forcing the alarm into 'sleep mode'
Good luck
>> Edited by flexya on Monday 8th December 16:20
I had a similar experience with mine and upon opening the fob, I found the little knob inside had worn, so when I press, it does not actually make contact and create a circuit.....if you get my drift. Try and operate the fob while outside the key casing....obviously holding the battery and transmitter together.
Peculiarly though, mine does not set off the alarm when I use the key to open it, rather that the fob . which I have to do often as I rare drive it, forcing the alarm into 'sleep mode'
Good luck
>> Edited by flexya on Monday 8th December 16:20
sprior said:
Nothing happens when I press the button on my key fob from a 1998 996. Up until Friday, a little red light came on and my car unlocked, which was nice. I changed the battery but this didn't help. I can get in with the key, but with all the noise of the alarm, people keep thinking I'm stealing the car. Even then, the passenger door and trunk remain locked. I've only got one key too.
Any one know of someone who could repair the fob? I've been told that if I buy a new one from the dealer, then they need to reprogram the whole system at huge cost - is this true?
Couple of things:
1) You should have 2 fobs. Get it sorted.
2) If its similar to our Boxster, the fob will go "off" if you leave the car for several days. This is for safety reasons. To reprogram it you must unlock the drivers door with the key (don't open it or the alarm will go off). Then you should be able to use the keyfob.
If this doesn't solve your problem then your fobs knackered (I think).
Good luck!
Greg
i was under the impression that if you had a fob,an OPC could replicate this copying the code for about £60
The expense comes in if you have no fob and they have to replace the "brain" part in the car as well.I thought this was about £1000. All based on a chat I had with my OPC last year, so prices may be approx.
The expense comes in if you have no fob and they have to replace the "brain" part in the car as well.I thought this was about £1000. All based on a chat I had with my OPC last year, so prices may be approx.
On my 02 996 if you leave the car for 5 days+, the remote doesn't work, as similar to greg's boxster the alarm goes into some sort of car battery saving mode. What you then do is open the car using the key and you then have 10 seconds to get in the car and start the engine before the alarm starts sounding.
I would suggest you get it checked before you find one cold night the car won't start.
DAZ
Edited to say welcome to PH, anywhere near Bristol?
>> Edited by dazren on Monday 8th December 23:48
I would suggest you get it checked before you find one cold night the car won't start.
DAZ
Edited to say welcome to PH, anywhere near Bristol?
>> Edited by dazren on Monday 8th December 23:48
Thanks for the comments on this.
I opened up the fob and after very careful examination found a fractured leg on the 'switch block'.
I soldered this back together but still no luck.
I might have broken it by repeatedly pressing too hard when it packed up.
If I put a jumper wire between the terminals of the switch then everything works OK, but I must confess to not understanding how the switch does (or maybe that should be should) works.
There are 3 parts of the switch:
1. Body, containing 2 internal terminals (again, if I short these with a wire then that works)
2. Rubber membrane that when the button is pressed, 'shorts' the switch terminals. It really is rubber, and a multimeter can't distinguish between it's resistance and infinity)
3. Metal cap that holds it all together.
Maybe I lost a bit when I took it apart, but I don't think so.
I cleaned all the bits up with alcohol (vodka), but it still doesn't work, so I've resigned myslef to buying a new key.
(In the meantime I'll carry the internals of the old fob and a piece of wire to get in).
The dealer wants about gbp90 for a new key head, will swap the old key shank into it, and will reprogram the key and the little grey key (the one that doesn't have a remote) from codes that he gets from the factory using the vin.
It seems that needing to reprogram the alarm, even if the keys are lost, is a myth.
Interestingly, one dealer - Swindon, wanted half an hour labor for the reprogramming, but Bristol will do it for free. Guess which one I'm going to....
As an aside, there are similar key pads in my very old but favorite calculator, which also doesn't work properly any more, but is called a casio fx911, which probably got me into the cars at a tender age of 12.
I will take the advice of 'get it sorted' and get two keys at the same time, unless I perservere and actually fix this one.
MrChubby - this all does make it seem that it is OK to take the battery out of the fob though.
I opened up the fob and after very careful examination found a fractured leg on the 'switch block'.
I soldered this back together but still no luck.
I might have broken it by repeatedly pressing too hard when it packed up.
If I put a jumper wire between the terminals of the switch then everything works OK, but I must confess to not understanding how the switch does (or maybe that should be should) works.
There are 3 parts of the switch:
1. Body, containing 2 internal terminals (again, if I short these with a wire then that works)
2. Rubber membrane that when the button is pressed, 'shorts' the switch terminals. It really is rubber, and a multimeter can't distinguish between it's resistance and infinity)
3. Metal cap that holds it all together.
Maybe I lost a bit when I took it apart, but I don't think so.
I cleaned all the bits up with alcohol (vodka), but it still doesn't work, so I've resigned myslef to buying a new key.
(In the meantime I'll carry the internals of the old fob and a piece of wire to get in).
The dealer wants about gbp90 for a new key head, will swap the old key shank into it, and will reprogram the key and the little grey key (the one that doesn't have a remote) from codes that he gets from the factory using the vin.
It seems that needing to reprogram the alarm, even if the keys are lost, is a myth.
Interestingly, one dealer - Swindon, wanted half an hour labor for the reprogramming, but Bristol will do it for free. Guess which one I'm going to....
As an aside, there are similar key pads in my very old but favorite calculator, which also doesn't work properly any more, but is called a casio fx911, which probably got me into the cars at a tender age of 12.
I will take the advice of 'get it sorted' and get two keys at the same time, unless I perservere and actually fix this one.
MrChubby - this all does make it seem that it is OK to take the battery out of the fob though.
The service I got from Bristol OPC today was brilliant.
I bought a new electronic module for the key and a new plastic key head for GBP104.
The technician swapped the shank from the vallet key into the new fob and reporgrammed all the bits of keys for nothing. The really great bit is that he gave me the (presumably failed) internals from a boxster key that had two switches on it. I swapped one of these onto the broken fob (for which I had lost a steel spring membrane from the switch when 'repairing' it), and presto! Two working keys for less than the price of one complete key - fabulous!
>> Edited by sprior on Wednesday 10th December 16:41
I bought a new electronic module for the key and a new plastic key head for GBP104.
The technician swapped the shank from the vallet key into the new fob and reporgrammed all the bits of keys for nothing. The really great bit is that he gave me the (presumably failed) internals from a boxster key that had two switches on it. I swapped one of these onto the broken fob (for which I had lost a steel spring membrane from the switch when 'repairing' it), and presto! Two working keys for less than the price of one complete key - fabulous!
>> Edited by sprior on Wednesday 10th December 16:41
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff