New Type Ford Remote Keys - Warning!!!

[nelly1]

I've had my new Fiesta for a couple of months, and while I'm over the moon with the car, came across something interesting over the weekend...

The new remote keys, these ones...



...are rendered U/S (fked) if you place them too close to a microwave oven, even if said device is unplugged from the mains!

At first I thought they (as both keys were together atop the oven) just needed re-coding to the car, and after being lied to by the Main Dealer (who said it had to be done via the IDS - Ker-ching! ), found they would not program and were fit only for the bin.

Since the remotes cost 65 quid each, I would spare any of you from finding out the hard way!

[roscozs]

I would never have thought a microwave could do that, even being unplugged. So what else do they break without us thinking of blaming the oven?

[ChapppeRS]

Oooh don't microwaves have a giant magnet in them? (A magnetron - the only thing I could think of that would still work when it's switched off, unless all the radiation made your keys mutate, grow a brain and they just don't like you?)

Don't put them on top of big speakers either in that case then!

[nelly1]

roscozs said:

I would never have thought a microwave could do that...

Nor would I!

Fair enough; if you put the keys inside and cooked them for 2 minutes on 'Full' (a la Brainiac) I could understand it, but not even plugged in?!?

The remote works at 440Mhz, which is right at the bottom of the microwave spectrum, and the ovens contain a microwave source and huge heating coil, which is enough to kill them stone dead.

The Main dealer seemed to know this was the case when I told him how the keys had met their fate, as if it was quite common...

WTF doesn't it mention it in the Manual then!!!

[Nolar Dog]

You'll get them on ebay for way less than the main dealer will charge you.

[DennisTheMenace]

my keys have been on top of the microwave loads of times and still work , as all things are ce approved and therefore shouldnt interfear with one another

[nelly1]

Shouldn't - but I've since been told you shouldn't even put them in the same pocket as a mobile phone, as this can also screw them up...

I'm just giving you the benefit of my experience - if you want to keep them on your microwave; fine.

I'll not be anymore!