Key fob range ?

[healandtoe]

Hi

I had another great weekend in the trev. I am still looking forward to getting it on the rolling road and checking that I am getting all the horses if the kings army at my disposal.

I love the way the car draws attention when you pull into Tesco’s, but I’m not so keen on looking like a tit, waving my arms all over the place to try and get the key fob to lock the doors. I look like I have ant in my clothes.

I have changed the batteries, but it still hasn’t made it any better. Sometime it locks easily from a couple of meters away, but other times I find myself walking all around the car pointing it in all directions.

Any tips??

[mongoose]

How long are you holding the button in for?I had the very same symptoms you describe,then (after 8 months)found that if i held the button in for just a little longer,it would work fine,and from quite a distance!

[jasandjules]

I had a few problems with this, but it seems if you point it at the dash through the drivers side door window, that does the trick....

Or failing that, don't bother locking it?

[griffsmith]

It depends on what type of sensor it is. if its infra red then you generally need 'line of sight' to the receiver and need to be quite close. If its a radio key, most are i think? then it should work from quite a distance mine works 20-30 yards away.

The interesting thing is if you hold the key to your head whilst pressing the button, then it extends the range, mine about 40-50 yards . I was quite surprised by this but I don't think this is special to my head I think it probably (hopefully) everyone

However I try pressing the button for longer first

[theaxe]

Mine's the same, it takes several attempts from close range to get it to unlock.

The only way around it is to hold the fob against your head, the extends the range quite a bit (but you look a bit stupid).

[SpielBoy]

Mine sometimes becomes a bit 'stubborn'

... when it does I simply hold the fob against the metal window guide and then click ..

... never fails to work.

[SpielBoy]

SpielBoy said:

Mine sometimes becomes a bit 'stubborn'

... when it does I simply hold the fob against the metal window guide and then click ..

... never fails to work.

It is a Griff of though - things might work differently for Chimaeras

[s5tvr]

I have to move round to the passenger side door to get the car to unlock. Holding the fob against your head works, but it has to be done subtly i.e adjusting your hat or sunglasses or syrup (best keep the roof on for the last one though !).

[healandtoe]

i assume the receiver is in the passenger footwell next to the ecu?

[mouseymousey]

I had this problem until I got 2 new fobs from Carl Baker. Now the range is about 10 feet or so. Much better than waving the fob around in front of the windscreen like I used to.

[gavstar]

Had mine replaced by Carl Baker too - much better range now.

[healandtoe]

right.. i think holding it for a second works a little better. If i still look a idiot in a few weeks time, then i will have to get some new fobs.

[gavstar]

healandtoe said:

right.. i think holding it for a second works a little better. If i still look a idiot in a few weeks time, then i will have to get some new fobs.

If you wait for both fobs to totally pack up it will be harder and more expensive for Carl to replace them - so best get them done beforehand.

[mouseymousey]

gavstar said:

If you wait for both fobs to totally pack up it will be harder and more expensive for Carl to replace them - so best get them done beforehand.

Er, yeah, I waited until both of them packed up so Carl had to re-program the control unit. Much cheaper to get them done as soon as you start having a problem.

[mitchp]

try holding the fob to your temple - it seems to increse the range by 200%!!!

try it - it really works!!

Not sure if it's good for your brain tho

Mitch

[Nuggs]

mitchp said:

try holding the fob to your temple - it seems to increse the range by 200%!!!

try it - it really works!!

Not sure if it's good for your brain tho

Mitch

Do you have to think very hard abour unlocking the car while doing this?

What if you did it and accidently thought "laser death ray"?

[blenkinsop]

gavstar said:

healandtoe said:

right.. i think holding it for a second works a little better. If i still look a idiot in a few weeks time, then i will have to get some new fobs.

If you wait for both fobs to totally pack up it will be harder and more expensive for Carl to replace them - so best get them done beforehand.

How do I Contact Carl as I require a new remote

[theaxe]

blenkinsop said:

gavstar said:

healandtoe said:

right.. i think holding it for a second works a little better. If i still look a idiot in a few weeks time, then i will have to get some new fobs.

If you wait for both fobs to totally pack up it will be harder and more expensive for Carl to replace them - so best get them done beforehand.

How do I Contact Carl as I require a new remote

Carl can be found here.

[MattW]

theaxe said:

blenkinsop said:

gavstar said:

healandtoe said:

right.. i think holding it for a second works a little better. If i still look a idiot in a few weeks time, then i will have to get some new fobs.

If you wait for both fobs to totally pack up it will be harder and more expensive for Carl to replace them - so best get them done beforehand.

How do I Contact Carl as I require a new remote

Carl can be found here.

Interesting. Anyone know anything about that key conversion and what it does? Looks like it has a button built into it is that for the remote locking? Does it work on a Chim?

Matt

[theaxe]

Do you mean this key conversion which you can do yourself?

Edited by theaxe on Monday 17th July 21:07