18 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHNew to 996- won?t start
Leading reported evidence
Replace ignition switch, boom
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Leading evidence: 'Replace ignition switch, boom' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'battery' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check battery inside the fob' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that suspect a cause
1
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Suspected cause · Original poster
Well guess what- it WAS the battery but not the car battery.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that suspect a cause
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion · Original poster
Saw on a UK forum to check the battery inside the fob.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion
I would remove the driver�s seat to check the immobilizer module for water intrusion.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
18 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
Doesn't really explain why the main key didn't work though.
Battery tested and was 30%. Put on charger overnight, now at 70%. Lights come on, but won�t even crank. Does make a whirring noise at the front but I think that�s from a pump or something starting up?
Was running fine and volt indicated 14 when driving. So I�m flummoxed.
Well guess what- it WAS the battery but not the car battery. Saw on a UK forum to check the battery inside the fob. That was it, just a simple CR 2032.
i figured it out when I tried the valet key that has no fob. After a night of charging the car battery.
Yea, I'm confused too. The keyfob battery has NOTHING to do with starting the car. That's the role of the passive RFID which should be present inside the fob case and it does NOT use the CR2023 battery.
Now on the other hand if you were trying to start the car with spare blade (without a programmed RFID) then you would not be able to start the car. Is that what happened?
I know that my car came with a spare key blade and empty fob case. Will open the doors but not start the car.
I know- I don�t know what to say. I tried over and over to start the car with the main key w/ keyfob, the kind that has the 2 unlock buttons (car and frunk). It was not until I thought to try the extra key (it�s just the blade in a black plastic end, no Porsche logo) and it started up.
So then I opened up the fobbed key, replaced that little battery and it started right up.
I wonder if it had something to do with the immobilizer combined with the weak battery in the fob? I know- it sounds crazy.
Assuming this �crazy� story holds up (I believe you), it must really have been coincidental and that you may still experience this problem again in the future. There are probably some weird electrical gremlins mucking about in your car. Probably an issue with your immobilizer module. Your car is a convertible, so it may be likely that the immobilizer may be acting up intermittently.
Edit: it looks like you�re in California (it�s been raining recently in CA) and the ground looks damp. I would remove the driver�s seat to check the immobilizer module for water intrusion.
No-one has suggested the actual ignition switch. The one that goes bad all the time. That little $40 part can cause all kinds of issues that are hard to diagnose. And I agree with the fob battery not being the issue. It was strictly a coincidence. This will happen again, I would put money on it.
Is it possible the car went into a sort of security mode, and using the 2nd fully working key helped take it out of that mode? Doesn't really explain why the main key didn't work though.
FWIW the day after I bought my next car, neither key would open it. No remote, no keyless, nothing. I had to use the spare blade. This was seriously weird considering both fobs worked the day before. Turned out both batteries had packed up at the same time.
I agree with this. Also it would explain your low battery and needing to recharge . . . a bad ignition switch can often result in systems remaining on all the time and draining the battery. Replacing the ignition switch stopped my battery drain issues.
FWIW, on mine the bad ignition switch manifested itself as non-working headlights, climate control and windshield wipers. And sometimes the key would turn properly, sometimes it wouldn't. Often had trouble removing the key (would have to wiggle it out).
Okay, good to know! So far nothing like that. Also to add to the confusion, the fob was able to lock/unlock the doors, and open the front lid, even when it would not start the car.
Very strange- as electrical problems alway are- but I appreciate everyone's input. I just consider this part of the "Porsche Tax" lol
More or less - the fob portion of the keyfob is not related to starting the car - EXCEPT for the small non-powered "pill" located in the fob, near the key blade. That "pill" is what the immobilizer is looking for to allow the key to start the car. Without the pill - no start.
But, the ignition switch electrical components certainly could be failing causing your no-start condition.
The fob portion - contains the switches, battery and a very small control board. Those are the components that transmits the signal for opening the doors, frunk, etc. Those components have zero to do with actually starting the car.
-Tom
I see. Is there a "pill" in the valet key/spare key or whatever it is called (the smaller key in photo). That key does open the doors and it also starts the car.
