Question 1

How long does the Porsche dealer actually take to replace a key for a 2006 Cayman?

Accepted Answer

Longer than most people expect. Porsche keys for older 987-generation cars are often ordered by VIN and cut to spec rather than pulled off a shelf. Forum owners report waits ranging from a week on the short end to several weeks on the long end depending on parts availability and the dealer's shop schedule. Once the key arrives, programming requires the dealer's diagnostic system connected to Porsche's network, so there's a separate appointment for that step. Some owners describe dropping the car off and not getting it back for days because the immobilizer took longer to cooperate than expected. The total door-to-door timeline from "I need a key" to "I have a working key" can stretch well past what most people budget for.

Question 2

What exactly is a remote flip key and how does it work on the 2006 Cayman?

Accepted Answer

The flip key is the folding key your Cayman came with from the factory. The blade folds into the housing when not in use and flips out when you press the release button. Inside the head there's a transponder chip that communicates with the immobilizer each time you turn the ignition. The car checks that chip before it allows the engine to start. Separately, the same key body contains a remote module for locking and unlocking. Those are two independent systems sharing one housing. A key that locks and unlocks the doors just fine can still fail to start the car if the transponder side has a problem. And a key that starts the car perfectly can lose its remote function without affecting the ignition at all.

Question 3

Why does the dealer take so long on Porsche keys specifically?

Accepted Answer

Because Porsche doesn't stock cut keys at the dealer level the way a domestic brand might. For a 2006 Cayman, the key is ordered by VIN, cut to your car's specification, and shipped. The dealer doesn't cut it in-house. On top of that, programming requires their proprietary diagnostic system with a live connection to Porsche's servers. Owners across the forums describe it as two separate appointments: one to order and receive the key, one to program it. Some describe being told they need to leave the car overnight because the immobilizer enrollment takes time and can require multiple attempts to complete. If the immobilizer itself has any issues, that timeline stretches further. It's not the dealer being slow for no reason. It's genuinely a more layered process than most brands.

Question 4

My 2006 Cayman starts fine but the lock and unlock buttons on the flip key stopped responding. Do I need a new key?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. The remote and the transponder are separate systems. If the car starts, the transponder is doing its job. A dead or weak battery in the remote housing is the first thing to check. Beyond that, the remote module inside the flip key head can fail on its own, especially on keys this age. A locksmith can test the remote signal output directly to tell you whether the module is dead or just starved for power. If it's the module, the key can sometimes be rebuilt rather than fully replaced and reprogrammed from scratch.

Question 5

Can I buy a replacement flip key online and have it cut and programmed, or does it have to come from Porsche?

Accepted Answer

You can buy aftermarket and OEM-equivalent flip key shells and blade blanks from third-party suppliers without going through the dealer. The factory FCC ID on the fob is documented and aftermarket housings that match the original are available. What you cannot skip is the programming step. The transponder inside the new key has to be enrolled to your specific car's immobilizer using the right diagnostic equipment. That step is not optional and it is not something you can do with a code reader or a button sequence. The blade also has to be cut to your car, either from the key code on record or by decoding one of your door locks. Buying the blank yourself and bringing it to a mobile locksmith is a completely reasonable way to handle this, and often saves a meaningful amount compared to ordering through the dealer.

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