964/993 owners - Has anyone reprogrammed a PA1000?

[Johnny G Pipe]

Hi folks, my 964 hasnt been used for a while - I went to wake her up but sadly there is no response from the unlock button on the PA1000 fob. Well, it lasted 30 years I guess..

I had the battery disconnected and immobiliser off, but have now discovered that the 'lock' button does work. So now its locked and immobilised. Super.

I see you can get new replacement fobs and I do have the red master fob - but in the reprogramming instructions it says it needs to be in the unlocked state to carry out the procedure. Before I spend 70 quid on a new fob does anyone know if it can be reprogrammed whilst locked/immobilised?

(Edit - I also contacted the original manufacturers Hamilton and Palmer, awaiting reply, not sure if they are still going - and specialist fob repairers autotronics have said they'll have a look to see if my fob is repairable. I suspect I might go for the last option as it looks pretty simple electronics, might just be the microswitch..)

Cheers!

Edited by Johnny G Pipe on Monday 3rd June 09:24

[C4ME]

Can you not just unlock the car with the key? Or does it have to be disarmed to reprogram.

[ras62]

New fob battery?

[Johnny G Pipe]

Thanks :-), tried fob battery, the led is blinking fine when I press the lock button, just not the unlock.

I could unlock it with the key but yes it would stay immobilised, and then alarm would be going off (if I hadnt removed the klaxon ages ago).

So that's the question..will it work when it thinks its immobilised/armed..its not like the newer cars where you can unlock it and turn the key in the ignition to cancel the immobiliser..

[guyvert1]

Going back some years now, but when I had issues with mine on a 993, these guys sorted it, sent guy out to repair : www.hamilton-palmer.co.uk

[C4ME]

Does sound like an issue with the microswitch on the unlock button if the fob is still working on the lock button. You can take the case apart to reveal the internal circuit board and you should see the micro switch (that is under the rubber switch cover when the case is on). With that exposed it might give you the option to see if there is a physical problem and to see if it can be pressed of wiggled to trigger a lock. Nothing to lose in trying I would say.

[stewart rix]

It does appear that you need the alarm off. According to the reprogramming instructions:

To program fobs you need a working red master.
With alarm off and sat in the car press the red master once. You should hear 2 beeps.
Press the raised lock button of the new handset for 2 seconds, Release for 1 second and press it
again for 2 seconds and release.
A third press should activate the system and lock the doors...
Basically as soon as the remote locks the doors the procedure is over and the fob is latched to the
system.

I seem to recall my PA1000 did some strange things after the car's battery died. However, with a new battery installed, I unlocked the drivers door using the key in the door lock, then turned the ignition to the on position, turned off, got out and relocked the door with the key again, the alarm seemed to reset and worked fine.

[Simon P993]

Really helpful information. Black box on one of my two keys recently stopped working . Changed battery but did not help. Fortunately the other key still worked and I found the red box. Key reprogrammed immediately when I followed the procedure set out in your note.
When I had a previous problem many years ago, H and P refurbished the control box for the car and sent new key boxes including a red emergency box. Main control box fairly easy to remove/reinstall but you have to take the drivers seat out to get to it.