These instructions apply to the Porsche 911 Mk8 (992) 2019-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The Porsche 911 (992, 2019–Present) keeps a Porsche tradition that surprises owners the first time their fob goes flat: the ignition lock sits to the left of the steering wheel, and a dead key is no obstacle. You physically insert the fob into that slot and twist, exactly as Porsche drivers did with a metal key for decades, so the 992 starts even when the coin cell is completely dead.
Start the 992 with a dead fob
- Unlock and get into the car using the emergency blade (next section), then sit down and close the driver’s door.
- Look to the left of the steering wheel for the ignition slot. The PCM may prompt “turn to the left, pull out, insert key.”
- Push the flat face of the fob straight into the slot until it seats; the back-up reader coil inside the barrel energises the chip.
- Press the brake pedal, then twist the fob clockwise as you would a key. The flat-six fires and you can release.
If nothing happens, push the fob fully home and square — the inductive read range is only a centimetre or so.
Unlock the 992 with the emergency key blade
- Slide the catch on the fob and pull the metal emergency blade out of the body.
- The driver’s door lock barrel hides behind a small cover on the handle; lever that cover off with the blade.
- Insert the blade and turn to unlock. The alarm may chirp until the immobiliser reads the chip at start-up.
Why the immobiliser still reads a dead fob
The coin cell powers only the keyless proximity broadcast and the remote-lock buttons. Engine authorisation runs through a passive RFID transponder that draws its power inductively from the coil in the ignition slot — not from the battery. Seating the dead fob in the slot lets the immobiliser read the chip and authorise the start.
Replace the fob battery
The 992 fob uses a single CR2032 3V lithium coin cell. Pull the emergency blade and use it as a lever to lift the battery cover free, or slide the casing apart at the seam. Lift the old cell out, fit the new one + side up, and click the cover back on. Remote and keyless functions return immediately with no coding needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the ignition slot on the 992?
To the left of the steering wheel, where Porsche has placed the ignition since the brand’s Le Mans days. The fob slides straight in and twists like a traditional key.
My 992 has a start button, not a slot — what then?
Some 992s with the optional push-button start instead hold the fob against the start button. Press the flat fob to the button, keep your foot on the brake, and push to start.
Does the fob get stuck in the slot?
No. Once the engine is running the fob stays parked in the slot or you can pull it back out; to shut down, twist it back and the engine stops.
Why did the alarm sound when I used the blade?
A mechanical unlock counts as forced entry until the car reads the transponder. The alarm cancels the instant the engine starts.
Is it the fob or the car’s 12V battery?
If the cockpit is dead and nothing lights when you open the door, suspect the car’s 12V battery, not the coin cell. A flat cell only affects the remote.
If a warning light stayed on after the no-start, look it up on autodtcs.com to confirm it was just the fob rather than an immobiliser fault.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Porsche. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.