I have a 1993 C4 US Corvette and the ABO0202T Fob and it seems it's the Fob that is damaged.

It would only work some times, and then even less and less, and now it's not working at all anymore for quite some months.

i don't really think, that all three antennas would quit working after another in about 3 months.


i tried reprogramming the pke system but the pke light will only blink endlessly when i bring the transmitter in range

i switched the pke system on and off to test if the module is working, and the doors locked when i left the car once, and then it waited for the pke fob. as the fob propably does not work it would not lock the doors when leaving the car again, only once when resetting the pke system and then waiting for the fob to come in range again.

the pke system is ringing the chime when i open the door with the key in ignition.

i checked for error codes (only got 13: Transmitter Not in Range), so it's most obviously the fob in my opinion.


is this probably related to the ASIC Chip on it or would the chip rather be working 100% or be broken at once ?

i cleaned the gold ball and all contacts with electronic contact spray for noble metal (as it's gold coated) and tested it with an electronic testing device, the contacts are working and there is a current when the ball is shaken, but only for a second or so.

i couldn't make out any hairline cracks.


if i knew this, maybe i could find the problem and fix it as my dad got his doctor's degree and fixed many household and small devices so far.



can i order the chip somewhere ?



i am located in germany and got a US Corvette and would only be able to order a new fob from Eckler's for 260 USD (not incl customs and taxes) and this is just too much.



It would be a great help, if anyone could help me in finding the damaged part on the fob.



I can do anything you ask me to, and test current or resistors on the fob.

maybe it's just a broken capacitor, if anyone got the values the caps on the board should have, i could test them.

 

Contact this site. She may be able to help?

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...t-forward.html

 

thanks, i already contacted her and awaiting a response.

anyone else in here who can help me ?

 

You could check the solder joints inside the fob. Look for cracked or broken solder, re-solder any bad joints. The battery hold-down clips like to break solder joints.

 

We had several threads over the years with repairing bad solder connections. Need a good magnifier, small tip and some skill. Avoid too much heat and solder on the pads. Usually look at the larger or heaver pieces for connections as they have more stress on them and more prone to failure….as said.

 

i tested the connections with a tester and i can't find any solder points without connection to the other solder point and can't see any loose solder points.

 

Well, the only repairs I've done to fobs is: battery replacement, solder repair and cleaning contact pads. If that doesn't do it, then I replace the fob.

Not sure about Germany, but some auto part stores in the US now have key fob testers you can use free. Just bring your fob in and they test it for a signal output. If there is no signal being emitted, the fob is bad.

 

good idea 1fatcat, outside of the US many practical ideas are not there, just like the stores with the fob testers. i don't know why, but sometimes it seems to me other countries are just not that motivated like the USA, not even when it comes to making money.

i'll try the local corvette club tomorrow, maybe i can catch someone who also got a 93-96 fob, so i can test if it's really the fob or the PKE System / antenna on the c4.

 

Many times you might not be able to see the cracks. I would re-flow the battery connections and any other one that has a larger component than the others. Go slow, be careful not to mess it up so if you want to send it out it is in workable condition.

You will them have to see if it works on the car or program it to find out where you are since that is the only test to see if it is fixed.

 

Can you explain what you mean? If you can turn the system on and off the fob is working. Sorry to ask a dumb question, but are you sure you don't have the system turned off?

what do you mean when you say it waited for the fob?

you have checked all of the fuses, right?

 

@mark

with switching it on and off, i was referring to the pke receiver module and functions inside the car, they are working, i get the pke light on the dashboard when turning the ignition together with the other lights and the programming function for the transmitter works, too.


with waiting for the fob i was referring to the PKE system inside the car waiting for me to bring the transmitter in range.

as something is not working, the pke system does not recognize a transmitter and so it does not arm the security system when i leave the car, because it would have to recognize the transmitter beeing out of range "again".


i did check all 3 fuses that correspond to the pke system (5V power, power lock and pke)

 

Not sure what you mean by "in and out of range"? The fob/transmitter is not auto arming/disarming. You have to hit a button. You have to hold lock and unlock together when programming.

The newer vettes have auto arming/disarming keyless entry, but not a 93.

 

oh, it does have auto arming / disarming, believe me
i read that all 93 corvettes are fitted with the pke system.
if not, it was an option, mine has got it from the start (gm codes) and it worked for the last 5 years i am owning it

when i come in range of about 12-15 feet, the pke system disarms and opens the doorlocks.

it arms itself, when the doors are closed and the transmitter goes out of range (happens sometimes when you dont move the transmitter while sitting in the car with the key out of ignition and doors are closed).

the 93 PKE Fob has the Buttons "Door" and "Hatch", you can turn the passive mode (keyless entry) ON and OFF if you press the Door button for about 5 seconds with the key out of the ignition.

 

afraid you are mistaken. It is auto arming. There is no unlock button. 93-96 all had keyless entry. PKE = passive keyless entry.

 

Just to confirm, can you still open your hatch with your fob?

 

no, the buttons don't work at all, because the transmitter is not recognized in the pke programming process.

 

Yeah, I'm afraid it does sound like the fob. Your best bet is to contact Bree and see if she can rebuild it.

 

You need to do some more research on the C4 PKE system.

 

WOW! I had no idea! I thought these systems were just like the regular GM RKE...remote keyless entry.

So in a 94 vette, you can just walk up to the car with the transmitter in your pocket and the doors will unlock?

 

Correct. All C4s, 93-96. (you can set it for both doors or drivers door only)
C5s 97-99 also had this feaure, but added the ability to use an RKE system instead, many people seem to prefer this. Or at least are more familiar with it.