PKE/keyless entry question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,332
Likes: 1,143
From: Vermilion OH
PKE/keyless entry question
the previous owner went through the steps and disabled the PKE system on my 94. i'm completely ok with that as i leave the keys in the car when its in my garage every night and my spare set, which the primary keys with the transmitter would hang next to would be on my key rack not three feet form the car. my question is, am i still able to use the remote door locking and unlocking and hatch release features that are on the transponder with the PKE system disabled?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,770
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
the previous owner went through the steps and disabled the PKE system on my 94. i'm completely ok with that as i leave the keys in the car when its in my garage every night and my spare set, which the primary keys with the transmitter would hang next to would be on my key rack not three feet form the car. my question is, am i still able to use the remote door locking and unlocking and hatch release features that are on the transponder with the PKE system disabled?
There are no buttons on the PKE FOB that would lock/unlock the drivers door.
Even though there is a door button, it will never lock either door and will only unlock the passenger door.
The hatch button will work though, even if the system is turned off.
So, the next question is how was the system disabled?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 109
From: Longmont Co
No being "turned off" means the remote lock/unlock function is not operational. You can use the fob to unlock the hatch. I think you might misunderstand the system. PKE is the only function there is (except for the hatch button). You cannot use the remote like a "normal" remote. The door button does two things, unlock the passengers door, and turn te system on and off. That's it. By the way, it takes about five seconds to turn the system on and off. I hope the PO didn't do anything else to disable the system .
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,332
Likes: 1,143
From: Vermilion OH
the previous owner went through the steps in the owners manual to disable the system. he said it would continuously lock and unlock the doors while he was sitting in the car. the owners manual warnes the reader of this, lol.
i had thought that since there was a door and a hatch button, the remote/transponder could be used to remotely lock and unlock the doors. after pulling the keys out of my pocket i see a picture of the hatch and the passenger door.. makes sense as to why you guys say that it only unlocks the passenger door. the button for the hatch is there but doesn't seem to pop the hatch. the button on the driver's door and the one in the center console work properly. perhaps i have a dead battery in the remote.
i had thought that since there was a door and a hatch button, the remote/transponder could be used to remotely lock and unlock the doors. after pulling the keys out of my pocket i see a picture of the hatch and the passenger door.. makes sense as to why you guys say that it only unlocks the passenger door. the button for the hatch is there but doesn't seem to pop the hatch. the button on the driver's door and the one in the center console work properly. perhaps i have a dead battery in the remote.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,332
Likes: 1,143
From: Vermilion OH
[QUOTE=RollaMo-LT4;1581694887]If the PKE system is turned off, then how would you unlock/lock the doors?[QUOTE]
i just use the round headed key to unlock the doors. i have two sets, the set with the pke remote and anohter set of keys that were supplied with the car as the secondary set. they are literally in brand new condition. i also have the courtesy key that is in the owners manual in the house. its in a little grey sleeve.
i just use the round headed key to unlock the doors. i have two sets, the set with the pke remote and anohter set of keys that were supplied with the car as the secondary set. they are literally in brand new condition. i also have the courtesy key that is in the owners manual in the house. its in a little grey sleeve.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 109
From: Longmont Co
If you think about it, a standard fob has a button marked LOCK and one marked UNLOCK. You can't really have a standard system without both buttons.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,770
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
QUOTE=RollaMo-LT4;1581694887 If the PKE system is turned off, then how would you unlock/lock the doors?
i just use the round headed key to unlock the doors. i have two sets, the set with the pke remote and anohter set of keys that were supplied with the car as the secondary set. they are literally in brand new condition. i also have the courtesy key that is in the owners manual in the house. its in a little grey sleeve.
What I meant was how would you expect the FOB to do this, if the system was turned off.
Hold the button down for approx. 5-8 seconds and you should hear the door locks cycle.
If the system was on, it will now be off.
If it was already off, it will now be on.
PKE = Passive Keyless Entry
Meaning, no buttons are pushed to operate (other than what we have already stated).
The C4 system is unlike any other keyless remote system out there.
No other FOB is going to operate it either.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,770
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Turning the System Off
1. Take the ignition key out of the ignition.
2. Press DOOR on the transmitter until the door locks
cycle (about two seconds).
To turn the system back on, just repeat the steps.
To check that the system is off, turn on the ignition. The
PASSIVE KEYLESS ENTRY light on the Driver
Information Center should not come on. If the light does
come on for a second or two, then the PKE system is
still on.
You can also check whether the system is on or off by
closing the door and moving away from the vehicle
with the keys and transmitter. If the doors lock, the
system is on.
If you are working around your vehicle and keeping
your keys with you, you might want to turn the PKE
system off. If you don’t, the transmitter will keep
locking and unlocking your doors.
1. Take the ignition key out of the ignition.
2. Press DOOR on the transmitter until the door locks
cycle (about two seconds).
To turn the system back on, just repeat the steps.
To check that the system is off, turn on the ignition. The
PASSIVE KEYLESS ENTRY light on the Driver
Information Center should not come on. If the light does
come on for a second or two, then the PKE system is
still on.
You can also check whether the system is on or off by
closing the door and moving away from the vehicle
with the keys and transmitter. If the doors lock, the
system is on.
If you are working around your vehicle and keeping
your keys with you, you might want to turn the PKE
system off. If you don’t, the transmitter will keep
locking and unlocking your doors.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,332
Likes: 1,143
From: Vermilion OH
i was thinking that perhaps the door lock button could be used to lock and unlock both doors, but after thining about it, i'm clearly an idiot, lol. you guys are totally right that only one door button on the fob, not stating lock or unlock would not lock or unlock the doors. i don't know what i was thinking, lol. the hatch release button i'm going to have to figure out and see why its not operational.
1st Gear
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia area
My PKE problem
So my 1996 has the Passive Keyless Entry light on all the time. Neither the original 2 fobs (with new batteries) work at all plus the new one I bought will make the PKE light go out when it gets near the car. None of the three will make it through the program mode as the PKE light stays lit as soon as your turn the key to 'On'. I've checked the fuses and disconnected and reconnected the battery. Sounds like a faulty PKE sensor yes?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 422
Likes: 53
From: PA
So my 1996 has the Passive Keyless Entry light on all the time. Neither the original 2 fobs (with new batteries) work at all plus the new one I bought will make the PKE light go out when it gets near the car. None of the three will make it through the program mode as the PKE light stays lit as soon as your turn the key to 'On'. I've checked the fuses and disconnected and reconnected the battery. Sounds like a faulty PKE sensor yes?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 109
From: Longmont Co
So my 1996 has the Passive Keyless Entry light on all the time. Neither the original 2 fobs (with new batteries) work at all plus the new one I bought will make the PKE light go out when it gets near the car. None of the three will make it through the program mode as the PKE light stays lit as soon as your turn the key to 'On'. I've checked the fuses and disconnected and reconnected the battery. Sounds like a faulty PKE sensor yes?
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I am not sure if anyone is still watching this thread or not but if so I have a question. I recently was able to get a PKE remote for my 93. I programed the remote as per the instructions in the manual and the posts here. It seems to be working fine I think. As I walk away from the car the doors lock and the horn honks. When I approach the car the horn honks and the doors unlock and lock repeatedly. Is this normal? Kind of a pain grabbing the handle to open the door at the correct time. Thanks for the help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 109
From: Longmont Co
I am not sure if anyone is still watching this thread or not but if so I have a question. I recently was able to get a PKE remote for my 93. I programed the remote as per the instructions in the manual and the posts here. It seems to be working fine I think. As I walk away from the car the doors lock and the horn honks. When I approach the car the horn honks and the doors unlock and lock repeatedly. Is this normal? Kind of a pain grabbing the handle to open the door at the correct time. Thanks for the help.
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thanks for the reply. I'm pretty sure it's not a battery issue. I have several fobs and they all do the same thing. I put a fresh new Energizer in all of them, programmed them and the same thing happens. I'm going to pull the fuse in the fuse box for the pke and see if that helps. Thanks again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 109
From: Longmont Co
Thanks for the reply. I'm pretty sure it's not a battery issue. I have several fobs and they all do the same thing. I put a fresh new Energizer in all of them, programmed them and the same thing happens. I'm going to pull the fuse in the fuse box for the pke and see if that helps. Thanks again.