Passive Keyless Entry Issue....please help!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda Maryland
Passive Keyless Entry Issue....please help!
So I have the passive key fob for my 99 and it has been acting up for quite a while. If i am anywhere within a 20 foot radius of my car it will just continue to lock and unlock repeatedly. Even when I park my car and take the key out of the ignition, if i dont open the door for a min or so it will lock me in then i have to wave the fob around till it unlocks me or else the alarm will sound. I know the easy answer is to just turn the passive function off, but I like it and I want it to work correctly. Anyone got any answers for this one? thanks in advance!!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 243
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I think the problems you're experiencing are the main reason GM discontinued the active/passive FOB. It was a good idea, but NOT well thought out before being put into production.
As far as I can tell there is no way prevent what what you're going through.
Do yourself a favor and just turn it off. I did. A long time ago.
As far as I can tell there is no way prevent what what you're going through.
Do yourself a favor and just turn it off. I did. A long time ago.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 166
Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
It sounds like the culprit is the passive switch on the remote. You could try just ordering a new fob and that should take care of the issue you are having.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 243
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 243
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Ordering a new FOB will not solve the problem. The OP wants the "Passive" feature to be active. As long as the switch is "On", he will continue to experience what he's going through now.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 166
Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
I used a passive remote on my '97 for five years. When it started acting up I replaced the fob and the operation returned to normal.
The continuous locking and unlocking as described is not normal behavior. That is a defective transmitter or dying battery.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,457
Likes: 0
From: bolckow missouri
none of the above sorry , the switch gets dirty , just move the switch back and forth several times and your good to go , i have turned several people on to this fix . simple your done
oak
simple your done oak
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,369
Likes: 73
From: The line waiting to see Santa Claus stretched all the way back to Terre Haute, and I was at the end, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Got tired of the same. I just turned it off and forgot it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I believe the problem is in the transmitting range the Fob has, for this Fob, it goes a lot father, therefore if you are anywhere within that range, it will unlock or lock as the signal reaches the car or is lost from it. They fixed that issue on the C-6's with a very limited range of approximately 3 feet now. All C-6 Fobs have the passive built in with no selector to turn it off however I think the function can be turned off in the DIC.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,664
Likes: 15
From: Wellsboro Pa
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I have it and it is turned off - period. I'll tell you why....
When I first got my '98 I thought this was a cool idea. I also had set the LOCK/UNLOCK function in the DIC to flash lights and horn.
I hang my keys on a hook inside the house right next to the door that leads to the garage. Apparently it was just barely within the range of the system and it would lock/unlock constantly - and of course - since I had set the system honk the horn and flash the lights, it would do that each time.
One night at about 2:00 a.m. - my wife elbows me in the ribs, I'm sound asleep....and tells me - "Your car is calling to you - could you please go see what SHE wants and tell her to SHUT-UP!"
Needless to say - I disabled the feature on the fob, and the flash lights/honk horn on the DIC.
I agree with Paul - it's possibly a faulty transmitter, you might be able to clean the contacts, or you simply might need a new transmitter.
When I first got my '98 I thought this was a cool idea. I also had set the LOCK/UNLOCK function in the DIC to flash lights and horn.
I hang my keys on a hook inside the house right next to the door that leads to the garage. Apparently it was just barely within the range of the system and it would lock/unlock constantly - and of course - since I had set the system honk the horn and flash the lights, it would do that each time.
One night at about 2:00 a.m. - my wife elbows me in the ribs, I'm sound asleep....and tells me - "Your car is calling to you - could you please go see what SHE wants and tell her to SHUT-UP!"
Needless to say - I disabled the feature on the fob, and the flash lights/honk horn on the DIC.
I agree with Paul - it's possibly a faulty transmitter, you might be able to clean the contacts, or you simply might need a new transmitter.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 243
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I believe the problem is in the transmitting range the Fob has, for this Fob, it goes a lot father, therefore if you are anywhere within that range, it will unlock or lock as the signal reaches the car or is lost from it. They fixed that issue on the C-6's with a very limited range of approximately 3 feet now. All C-6 Fobs have the passive built in with no selector to turn it off however I think the function can be turned off in the DIC.
The motion sensitive switch inside the FOB, combined with the distance it is from the car at the time it is "activated" (by motion) will cause it to transmit. The battery power will definitiely affect the range.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
I got a new passive remote last summer... brand new,, I have the same problem. I have the car sitting in the garage, and the keys hanging at the front door and the doors lock and unlock constantly. It says that the remote should be at least 20+ feet away. Guess I should leave my keys at my neighbors house then..
I got fed up with it and just keep the passive off. I use to use it when I take the car to work, then when I walk away I'm not sure if it actually locked or not,,, it's more of a pain in the butt than anything.
I got fed up with it and just keep the passive off. I use to use it when I take the car to work, then when I walk away I'm not sure if it actually locked or not,,, it's more of a pain in the butt than anything.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda Maryland
ok.. thank you all for the input. I guess i will attempt moving the switch back and forth a few times but my guess is that chevy just didnt think when they made this one. My dads c6 works great. The fob i have now is only a year old and has done it since i've had it. Sometimes more then others. If I have to disable it i will...oh well
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,466
Likes: 886
From: Fort Wayne IN
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C5 of the Year Finalist
2016 C5 of the Year Finalist
2015 C5 of the Year Finalist
Just disable the active/passive feature. Just open the fob up and cut the silver wire going to the bell looking thing.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
The last time I replaced the batt in the FOB I cleaned it all with contact cleaner and a Q-Tip. That was 8 month back and my problem has not returned.
