These instructions apply to the Porsche Taycan Mk1 (Y1A) 2020-Present. For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
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The Porsche Taycan (J1, 2020–Present) is the one modern Porsche that breaks the old key-slot habit: it is fully keyless, with no ignition slot to push a key into. When the fob battery dies you instead hold the fob against the start button so its inductive coil can wake the transponder, and the EV powers up even with a completely flat coin cell.
Start the Taycan with a dead fob
- Unlock and get in with the emergency blade or door procedure first (next section), then sit down and close the driver’s door.
- Press and hold the brake pedal.
- Hold the flat face of the fob directly against the start button to the left of the wheel — the button houses the back-up reader coil.
- Keeping the fob pressed there, push the button. The chip is energised inductively and the Taycan switches to Ready.
If the display says the key is not detected, press the fob flat and square against the button and try again — the read range is only a centimetre or so.
Unlock the Taycan with a dead fob
- Slide the catch on the fob and pull the metal emergency blade out; use it in the driver’s door barrel (hidden under a cap on the handle) to unlock.
- If your car has no visible barrel, use Porsche’s back-up: firmly pull the driver’s door handle five times past its first stop, then within ten seconds hold the fob flat against the windscreen area carrying the VIN. The car unlocks.
- The alarm may chirp until the immobiliser reads the chip at start-up.
Why the Taycan still reads a dead fob
The coin cell powers only the keyless proximity broadcast and the remote buttons. Drive authorisation uses a passive RFID transponder that takes its power inductively from the coil behind the start button — not from the battery. Pressing the dead fob to the button lets the immobiliser read the chip and grant Ready.
Replace the fob battery
The Taycan fob uses one CR2032 3V lithium coin cell. Pull the emergency key and use it to lever the battery cover free, or fully remove the key and open the cover with a small screwdriver. Lift the old cell out, fit the new one + side up, and click the cover back. Keyless and remote functions return immediately with no coding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Taycan have an ignition key slot like other Porsches?
No. The Taycan is fully keyless with no slot. You hold the dead fob against the start button rather than inserting it anywhere.
What is the five-pulls-and-windscreen trick?
It is Porsche’s documented dead-key unlock: pull the driver’s handle five times past the first stop, then hold the fob to the VIN area of the windscreen within ten seconds. It may take a couple of attempts.
Where do I hold the fob — column or button?
Against the start button. The back-up reader coil sits behind the button, so that is where a dead fob must touch.
Why did the alarm sound when I unlocked manually?
A mechanical or back-up unlock reads as forced entry until the transponder is verified. The alarm cancels once the car goes to Ready.
Is it the fob or the 12V battery?
If the cabin stays dead and nothing wakes when you open the door, suspect the Taycan’s 12V battery, not the coin cell. A weak 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 a system fault.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general guidance only. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions when working on your vehicle. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or any damage resulting from the use of this information.
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