I bought my '05 CTT about 3.5 years ago and always thought it was strange that I didn't have to take my keys out of my pocket to open the doors but still had to put the key into the ignition to start it. Heck, my wife's Nissan engineers figured out how to do it so the key never needed to come out of her purse so why didn't Porsche engineers do the same?

Then, the other day my friend and I were talking about his new-to-him '06 CTT and I mentioned my frustration about the keyless entry. He said something that made me remember a couple of plastic keys that I had remembered seeing way back when I got the car. I found them in the glove compartment, put one into the ignition with my keys in my pocket and...ugh, I'M SUCH AN IDIOT!!!! She started right up...

Just a note to everyone, I can program a VCR. People still use those, right?

 

I would feel like a bigger idiot when i leave my wallet key in the ignition and someone breaks into the car and drives off with the car. - If that can be done - I am not sure about the engine immobilizers etc.

 

Uh, would you believe I discovered the exact same thing last week? Always knew the doors unlocked when I approached the vehicle, but I still thought I had to put the key in the ignition.

So one day after lunch, I was on the phone for a minute just sitting in the driver's seat messing with the key. Apparently I put it in about 1/4 inch and turned and the car just started!! I thought I had just broken the ignition or something. Tried it again, and then with a nail file or something and it still worked. Then tried it with the key out of the car, and got the "Key Not Found" message.

Immediately called Sunset Porsche 30 seconds later and they said you insert a dummy plastic key in there and leave it, and keep the real key in your pocket and just walk up and turn it! Total hidden feature to me for 3 years!

I looked like a magician when I showed my kids the day the dummy key arrived. Dad - Can I try?! Can I try?!

 

Gotta have a real key in the front seat for the dummy to work. And it's not a wallet key - the thing is 3-D and thumb-grippable.

 

So, as soon as you sit down it turns on? What if you're not ready to go and just got in the car and started doing something like texting and didn't want the car to start? I'm about to get delivery of my Cayenne and have this option. Just wondering how "automatic" it is.

 

Okay so I have an '06 CTT and I don't have to unlock the door either but I don't have any plastic key . Where do you get the dummy key at ? Or is it key for the dummy {me}

 

Aah! Ok.
I should not be spilling the beans on my lack of knowledge on a public forum i guess

But nonetheless, i have enjoyed the smart key feature on my infiniti for the past 3 yrs now.

 

You still have to turn the dummy key to start the car: you insert it like a real key, and it clips in and stays there. It's truly like a plastic uncut key, but not as large since there are no transmitters -- simply something that fits in the cylinder and turns to fire the ignition.

But when you turn it, the KESSY system kicks in looking for a real key, somewhere in the car. Apparently the interior sensors in the car are under the front ashtray, front cupholders, backrow middle seat somewhere, and maybe even trunk.

Here's a pic of the key (I googled and it brought up another 6speedonline thread):




I didn't have one either, so I called Sunset Porsche, and $16 and two days later, it was in my mailbox.

 

Sensor locations, courtesy of Mudman2!

 

The guy I bought my CTT from had no idea what the dummy key was for. Just had it in a pile of stuff for the car.

Fortunately, I had actually done a ton of research before buying and knew exactly want it was.

 

Your friend sounds like a really awesome guy.

 

The bum sensor feature was a $1495 option I believe but I think a lot of folks passed on it.

 

Damn, I knew Porsche options were excessive, but a bum sensor....

 

quote from seankrider
<I didn't have one either, so I called Sunset Porsche, and $16 and two days later, it was in my mailbox. >


Thanks for the info, much appreciated

 

It's all in the owners manual.