Key Question

[JimHoyland]

I got three keys with my Boxster; two regular and one valet. Of the two regular, one works manually, but must have been crunched as it is held together with tape; the buttons don't work.

Given that, what is the best way to get the damaged key repaired ??

[Jamikest]

Step one: find out if the circuit board is good.

Take the top off the key off- it prys right off.
Inside is a circuit board with a battery attached.
It should stay attached to the top half of the key, if it isnt damaged.
Seperate it from the plastic housing of the key.
Try pushing the buttons and see if it lights up.
If not, try replacing the battery.
If it now lights up- see if it works on the vehicle.

If it doesn't work on the vehicle (IE locking/unlocking remotely) then you need a new key head.
If it does, time to repair it.

Step two: repairing the key.
The housings are available, and if you have a regular technician you use..
You may be able to get spare key parts from your regular technician.
I save all old key heads that dont work just for this reason. Lots of little plastic bits to repair ones that have been damaged.

GL, let me know if you need more help

[JimHoyland]

Thanks for the information; I'll test it today

[JimHoyland]

Battery is OK, 3 volts
Light does not come on; however, when I removed the circuit board to take a picture, it lit up. Could't duplicate the event though. Here's a pic of the key when I got it.

Question #2: When I went to manually unlock the car, it worked fine--just like the valet key; what surprised me was that the front and rear trunk controls worked. That was originally my concern, I had been under the impession that the remote function also allowed the manual trunk levers to work. My valet key also allowed access to the trunks...

Is my primary repair option to buy a new key head ? Would like to get everything working as original as possible.

Is my locking system working correctly given the valet key allows entry into the trunks ?

Thanks,

jim

[Wayne 962]

It may be that the valet key was programmed as a regular key, although I can't recall off the top of my head a setting in the PST2 to make it a "valet only" key? The valet key that you have, what markings are on it to indicate a valet key?

I've actually got four of these cars (two Boxsters, and two 996s), and I don't think any of them came with a valet key.

-Wayne

[JimHoyland]

I misspoke; the section on keys in the owners manuals calles this a Spare Key, not a valet key. I have been under the impression it acted as a valet key. Would it have programing inside ?

[Jamikest]

The micro-switches are broken off the circuit boards at these points. They are missing.

Unless you have the switches and can solder surface mount parts, you need a new remote.

On the plus side, the RFID is mounted in the plastic portion of the key and will still work to start the car.

I don't recall being able to program out the trunks- the locks cycle the trunk locks as well.

[JimHoyland]

Wow; thanks for the info. I also read on another board, the spare key indeed contains the RFID.

There's a professional electronics store in Costa Mesa, should they have the mico-switches ? If they do, are they soldered to the spot you marked. I have done a lot of soldering, it could be a challenge...

[Wayne 962]

Frankly, I would just buy a new one. You can't buy one off of eBay without knowing the programming codes, so don't go that route unless the fellow on eBay actually has the codes.

Here's how it's supposed to look:

-Wayne

[JimHoyland]

I bridged the two contacts where the microswitches are supposed to be and got the LED to flash. Then I tried doing the same close to the car, didn't unlock the car.
So, looks like I have one good remote key and two spares. Worst case: if I lose the good remote key, I still have ability to get into the car and open the trunks.