Programming Key Remote to Seat Memory Setting

I just got a new key remote today from the dealer (for $340!) Now when I disarm the car with the remote, the driver's seat goes completely out of position! Seat goes all the way back and seatback all the way down! Called the dealer from home and they told me I would have to program the key to the seat memory. They told me the procedure is in the owner's manual. I searched the whole manual and couldn't find that procedure. Does the C4S come with a different manual? I have a 911 manual that is very general and covers all basically, but some of the stuff I have in my car are different than that in the manual. I tried putting the key in ignition on, pressed memory buttons with seats in my position, but still it doesn't go right. It's a 2002 C4S, and the memory setting buttons are: 1. "M" 2. (key icon) 3. memory "1" 4. memory "2" The diagram in the manual shows the "M", "1", "2", "3" buttons, without the "key icon" button like mine. Does anyone know what the "key icon" button is for? If I use my old key remote, everything is fine. Does anyone here know how to program the key to the memory settings? Thanks!

I believe that the "key" button is used to set the seat and side mirrors to that key. It works the same as setting memory 1 or memory 2. I have my memory 1 and my key set to the same settings. If my wife moves the seat up when she drives the car and forgets to move it back, the next time I unlock the car the seat moves back into the memory 1 (my) seat/mirror position. If I recall correctly, you program the "key" the same way you program memory 1 or 2. Switch on the ignition, get the seat and mirrirs where you want them (BTW, if you want the passanger side mirror to tilt down when you are in Reverse, shift the car into reverse) and press "M" and "1" to program #1. Then press "M" and "key" to program the car to remember those settings for that particular key. It has been over 15 months since I programmed the memory and key finctions, so I am giving this info totally from memory (hee hee... a little "memory" joke there!). If these instructions don't work, let me know and I'll look it up in the manual.

Thanks for your response, Tim. I'm pretty sure I tried that, a few times. That was the only logical thing I could make out of that "key" button. But it didn't work. In the manual that I have, it doesn't mention anywhere about programming the key to the memory settings. However, I will try that again tomorrow. Here's what happened: When I deactivate the alarm with the new key remote, The seat starts to move all the way back, then the seat back moves all the way down. (This must be a key programmed for Michael Jordan or Yao Ming!) What I do is I immediately open the door and stop the seat by pressing my memory 1 or 2 button. Now if I press the "key" button at this point, the seat will again start to move back. When I use the old key remote, All's good. If I press the "key" button, nothing happens. I've just had the car for about 2 weeks now and I don't recall setting anything on the "key" button. I didn't even know what it was for! All I did was put my settings on Memory 1 and 2 buttons. Could it be the technician accidentally programmed the key to that weird seat settings? That's what I asked the service guy at the dealer but he insisted they don't do that programming, and the owner (me) should do it according to the manual. I showed him my manual and that it wasn't in there. So he said I could bring the car back in so they can look at the problem...in a week and a half's time!!! WTF!? I don't know about Porsche keys, but with my BMW 540i, the dealer would need to program the key to individual memory settings. If not programmed that way (it's optional) the key will not affect memory settings. (That's what I read in the BMW manual)

It's located on page 35 in my manual. Basically: - switch on ignition with desired key - set seats and mirrors - Put car in reverse if you want passenger mirror to tilt down while reversing - Hold down "M" while pressing "key" button Clearing key memory: - switch on ignition with desired key - Hold down "key" button and "2" for at least seconds

Opps... That last steps for clearing should be 5 seconds.

Tim, I tried it again this morning but still no go. Thanks for tip Bos! Maybe I should try clearing the new key's memory first, then reset a new memory to it. Will try that later afer work. Btw...what does your manual say on the cover? And what model do you have? I have a feeling I don't have the correct manual, it just says 911 on the cover, and the contents are very general, and slightly different from my C4S. The manual was dated 1998 (first few pages inside)

No problem... I have a '03 C4S and I think my manual just says 911 as well. I'll look this evening and post back.

Cover: 911 Carrera First Page Info: Date ?: 05/02 Part# ?: WKD 996 021 03

Cosmos - well, my "memory" did not serve me well. I got the manual out tonight and the instructions in my manual are the same for setting the personal buttons (1 & 2) and for setting the remote control in the key. - Switch on ignition with desired key - Set seats and mirrors. Put car in reverse if you want passenger mirror to tilt down while reversing - Hold down "M" while pressing button 1 or 2 The individual setting is assigned to this remote control and to the person button. As BOS wrote above, here are the instructions for Clearing the key memory: - Switch on ignition with desired key - Hold down "key" button and "2" for at least seconds

Bos: I tried both your instructions...negative. I did it over and over and over... Tim: Any more tricks from you? Ok, I think there's something wrong with the programming in the new key. If I can't fix this, I'm gonna have to take it in to the stealer. I can almost hear them tell me that the ignition switch, or the memory control module is bad. And there's gonna be some argument coz' I won't buy that. My original key works fine, and I can set whatever memory I want in those buttons. I hope the technician who did the programming missed a step or something like that. Thank you guys for trying to help, if there are anymore tricks, I'd be glad to try them!

Sorry... Out of my league with any other tricks or related causes. Hopefully somebody else will chime in with advise. As an after thought, have you checked Renntech? Loren may be able to help from a "what's going on" technical perspective before you challange the dealer to solve. Good luck.

I'll do that, but I have to sign up there first. Thanks again!

I tried it over and over but something is just not right with the new key. I guess I'll have to go back to the dealer. Should I try disconnecting the battery, then reconnect, and maybe that should erase any glitches in the memory settings? Will disconnecting the battery set anything else off that will cause or need reprogramming at the dealership?

I had the same issue when I purchase a key from my dealer last year. It took 4 trips to the dealer to finally fix. Here is what I uncovered. Apparantly there are 4 memory positions. When the dealer connected the computer to the OBDII port the memory positions were all mis-matched. For example, the new key was supposed to be Key 2 but was programmed as Key 3 and set the seats to key 4 in the computer. Ask the delaer to make sure Key 1 is used to save settings for memory 1, etc. Sorry I cannot be more help as it was a long time ago but my keys now work fine. Hope this helps. Adam

Yes, if you disconnect your battery you will need to know your radio code in order to be able to use the radio again. This is an anti-theft measure to make the radio useless without the code.

Thank you very much Adam! That really helps, and that's exactly what I will tell the service advisor when I take the car back there in 10 days time. Tim: Yes, I also got the radio code from the dealer while I was there for the key. When you buy a used car, so many things are missing: radio code, wheel lock socket, air compressor, wrong outdated manual, spare key...