Central Locking / Alarm - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Trying to fix things on the 2001 project Boxster I got. One thing I need to figure out is the central locking / alarm. I've searched and read every post in here on the issue and thought it could be an immobilizer issue. Pulled it while I had the seat out to recover it and didn't notice anything obvious, but I'm no expert. Basically the button on the center stack does nothing. Locking the door with the key only locks the drivers side (fixed bad key fob buttons but the car doesn't react to them). Never had any lights or horns chirps at all when locking / unlocking. Checked the C3 fuse and its fine. Not sure if its related but a previous owner ran this wire from the window switches straight into the front of the fuse panel where there isn't a fuse. Removing the wire from the panel makes the windows inoperable. And this plug was in the bottom of the center stack connected to nothing.

That immobilizer is toast.

That's an empty connector on most of our cars. It was used for a car-telephone hook-up. That white powdery looking stuff on the immobilizer board is corrosion from being wet. You may get most of the function back if you can clean it off and dry it. Usually people clean them with alcohol and a soft brush. Even if you can get it functional, some of the corrosion will likely continue on the internal components and kill it later. The best repair is to have the data transferred to an undamaged unit.

Yup, my board looks the same as yours. And similarly, most of the functions work, car starts, runs and drives. But I don't have central locks, fob buttons don't work, and my windows dont roll down at all ( but I do get the 1/2" drop" when I touch the door handles). Bought the car with the damaged CLU. So knew I needed to do it eventually. Anyways, I'm going to get it for fixed as soon as I can. And expect everything to get back to normal. Waiting for Qumulus on here to get back to me on when I can send him my board.

Everything locks and unlocks perfectly using the key in the passenger door. It also locks the drivers door. When I use the key in the drivers door nothing happens. I can’t lock or unlock with key in drivers door. Is there a separate fuse? Would the Durametric help. I bought one but am a bit daunted with the programming options. Picked up the car 2 days ago and still sorting it out. Drives and runs great. Just a long list of small stuff to address. Today will be drilling lock lugs and figure out Durametric and call mechanic who forgot to give me IMS paperwork Ray

key in the passenger door? You have a key slot there? Durametric will tell you if there are errors, nothing to do with the programming.

I have a key slot because I guess my zero option car never had keyless entry. BTW the PORSCHE dealer in Manhattan got $260 or so for a new key. Not as outrageous as I’ve read. They said less than 1 hour charge for programming.

$260 just for the key? or does that also include programming? Other dealers have the key for around $160

I was told by the dealer that I had to be present in person with photo ID and the title to get a key which comes from Germany. That leaves out mail order, so I had to deal locally. Besides, they let me sit in the Koenigsegg, which had to be worth something.

the key is different then the key head. I bought the key for $20 locally (doesn't require any programming, it's just the metal key) and the key head for $160. The car has to be programmed to the key head. Always worth shopping around.