996 Lost connection to Key

Hi there, Our 996 Convertible lost the connection to its key. Car runs perfectly. The key remote just won't open or close the car anymore. I suppose it lost sync as the battery was empty for too long. I read i need to sync the Key via Piwis. I cannot find that Option in Piwis. Does anybody have more information?

Did you go an extended period without using the remote to open/close the car? Does the fob have a fresh battery? If the car still runs then i dont think you need to get it re-sync'd, but others will opine.

New battery in car. New battery in key. Open (unlock) car with key. Put key in ignition and fire it up. Turn off car, remove key and try to lock/unlock with remote. It should sync itself. If not, most 20 year key fobs don't work anymore. The circuit board inside the key fob cracks and fails. Did you try your other key fob? And bonus, if you don't have the original key tag with the key code on it, you will have to buy new keys/fobs and have the Porsche dealer program them to your immobilizer. And another bonus, you can only program up to five keys, then you have to buy a new immobilizer as well, and have all that programmed to the car.

Hi, Yes the key was empty for a while. I noticed someone has tried to replace the battery and broke a small part inside the key, so the battery did not work properly. So I repaired that. Red light lights up when pressing keys. But remote does not work. i currently only have this 1 key. I want to resend it using PIWIS but I cannot find the correct menue for that. Maybe someone knows how to. I think I need the key number as well off the tag/ within the paperwork of the car. Does anyone know where in piwis to resend the key,

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We had already considered ordering another key. But even then it needs synching via piwis. So how does it work

I get that you're tying to DIY to save $ but there are just some things IMO that are better left to the dealer. Keys are one of those things. So, personally, I'd just take the car/key to the dealer to see if they can fix it and, if they can't, just buy another key and have them program it which only they can do anyway. Bit the bullet and already paid my dealer about $550 for a new key, key remote and programming for a 2nd key that my new (to me) 2000 C4 Cab didn't have. BUT, then again, I'm lazy and have more $ than sense. Just don't want to be bothered worrying about things like this and prefer hiring someone who knows "how" to just fix it and be done w/it. Good luck finding a "fix" that works for/satisfies you!

Thanks, I appreciate your opinion. I just like fixing it myself. And i think there will be a good fix. Perhaps someone knowa more details on where in piwis this function is. Some rhings are pretty hidden in piwis so I prefer asking before spending hours on something someone can answer. But u also learned there are many things within Porsche cars many people don't know compared to other brands. Like with my cayenne, I had an issue and it took me some time to figure out where others knew nothing to help. But I got it sorted finally. Taking it to the dealer always still is an option, as this is not an urgent matter.

When you find the right section in your PIWIS you will need your car’s IPAS code from Porsche.

Ok thanks. I was told you need the key number.

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Batteries of both my keys died last Friday (one had been dead for some time) so I replaced batteries and followed the above and voila, everything is in happyland with both keys. Hope yours is that simple.

It's more than likely that the circuit board in the key fob is bad. You can spend $400 or more getting a new key programmed, spend about $100 installing a third-party remote set, or do what I do and lock and unlock the car manually. Some people have successfully re-soldered the contact points, but that was more or less disastrous when I tried it.

Post 50 here might help. https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...a-996-a-4.html

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There is no function in PIWIS to "relearn" the key unless you have the 24 character code or some dark magic software to read the old 24 character code. Even so it's most likely still recorded in your ACL but the board has gone bad in the key or the counter has reached the maximum tries to communicate and stops working. Try to flip the battery over briefly this can reset the counter and can work, sometimes. When you get a new key + your learning code - go into PIWIS2 > alarm system > maintenance repairs > learning functions > remote. if you can get to that point ill post the rest of the sequence or you can find it in the factory manual but that shows the steps for PIWIS which are similar but not quite the same as PIWIS2.

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We have a recently Porsche programmed key and just noticed one function doesn't work. When unlocking door seat is supposed to automatically move to a new position that driver previously had car computer memorize by simultaneously pushing key and M buttons on side of seat. Our old key this function works, new one does not and did dealer miss one step when programming with PIWIS? Or do new keys not have function that old keys did? This function is on p.35 of the owner's manual. We know our car's computer has memorized the key and matched it to a seat position because with key in ignition and pushing the key button on side of seat it moves to correct position. I think the new key has a two year warranty and if Porsche missed a step when setting it up with PIWIS then maybe we can take it back to them.

Not too sure on seat positions - there is a section in the manual that explains it

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Yeah, this is my preferred course of action as well.