key fob unreliable
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
key fob unreliable
my factory remote barely works. it still works but its temperamental. it rarely works at a distance, usually I have to be standing right next to the car for it to work, or even have the remote inside the car for it to work. to make it function I have to press the unlock button over and over again. eventually it starts to make the car respond, then after that it usually works fine until next time. I have an aftermarket remote I use to unlock/disarm. I keep the factory fob around only to use the window valet. I tried replacing the battery but the guy at radio shack said according to his meter the battery was fine. it wasn't always this way, its gotten worse over the last several months. actually it started to really act up when I got the aftermarket alarm.
I know the manual says that the remote and car use a rotating security code so its hard to scan. and that if you push the buttons too often while the car is out of range it can cause them to go out of sync and make it take a while before it works again. I wonder if using the aftermarket remote is causing the same problem, since I rarely use the stock one anymore. but I'd really like to make it work better, the window valet is a nice feature to have.
should I replace the battery anyway? try re-pairing it with the car?
I know the manual says that the remote and car use a rotating security code so its hard to scan. and that if you push the buttons too often while the car is out of range it can cause them to go out of sync and make it take a while before it works again. I wonder if using the aftermarket remote is causing the same problem, since I rarely use the stock one anymore. but I'd really like to make it work better, the window valet is a nice feature to have.
should I replace the battery anyway? try re-pairing it with the car?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 553
Likes: 97
Mine would act up exactly as described when the battery was low. It should be really simple. Replace the battery! To re-sync, press both the lock and unlock buttons at the same time for 10 seconds till the car beeps. If it doesn't fix the problem, it's not the battery 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,266
Likes: 8
From: Indian Rocks Beach FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Probably not the battery. Sounds like the FOB has died. You can try repairing it or just get a new one. I'd suggest you get the FOB for a 2000. It will work with all models '97-'00 but is considerably cheaper and doesn't have the annoying passive feature. Gene Culley at www.gmpartshouse.com has them for about $60.00.
If you want to try the fix look here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...em-solved.html
If you want to try the fix look here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...em-solved.html
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Yeah, just buy a new one and be done with it. They do seem to have a lifetime and once past, they become nothing but problems. There's a device inside with four posts on it and some have discovered one of the posts is seperating from the circuit board.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
I may make an attempt to fix it. I know my way around a soldering iron, that would be great if its repairable. I'll test the battery again also but last time I checked it was over 3V still.
I actually really like the passive feature of my 99. I don't understand why most people don't. if I couldn't turn it off that would be different, but I can always turn it off if I'm not using it.
I actually really like the passive feature of my 99. I don't understand why most people don't. if I couldn't turn it off that would be different, but I can always turn it off if I'm not using it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,266
Likes: 8
From: Indian Rocks Beach FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I may make an attempt to fix it. I know my way around a soldering iron, that would be great if its repairable. I'll test the battery again also but last time I checked it was over 3V still.
I actually really like the passive feature of my 99. I don't understand why most people don't. if I couldn't turn it off that would be different, but I can always turn it off if I'm not using it.
I actually really like the passive feature of my 99. I don't understand why most people don't. if I couldn't turn it off that would be different, but I can always turn it off if I'm not using it.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 347
Likes: 1
From: Martinez GA
had the exact same issue with my fob.......AND right after i got a valet
made me think valet was a problem but finally bit the bullet and bought a new fob with the passive feature (only cause it came that way stock) and it has worked like a charm since........now the valet works like it should as well and life is good
if i had not gotten the valet i probably would have just dealt with it but couldn't stand having the valet and not being able to make it work properly......kept the old fob and trained it to fob2 and let the wife have it for a back up (it still works, just intermittently not enough to trigger the valet everytime)
made me think valet was a problem but finally bit the bullet and bought a new fob with the passive feature (only cause it came that way stock) and it has worked like a charm since........now the valet works like it should as well and life is good
if i had not gotten the valet i probably would have just dealt with it but couldn't stand having the valet and not being able to make it work properly......kept the old fob and trained it to fob2 and let the wife have it for a back up (it still works, just intermittently not enough to trigger the valet everytime)
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Metro Detroit
I've had the same issue with my fob for years (2000 MY).
I went ahead and resoldered two chips (one with 2 legs and a big one with 14 or so legs)on the fob circuit board and since then the piece works like new. Never lost its memory since then (1 year ago).
There is a nice writeup with pictures in the archives.
Alex
I went ahead and resoldered two chips (one with 2 legs and a big one with 14 or so legs)on the fob circuit board and since then the piece works like new. Never lost its memory since then (1 year ago).
There is a nice writeup with pictures in the archives.
Alex
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
Probably not the battery. Sounds like the FOB has died. You can try repairing it or just get a new one. I'd suggest you get the FOB for a 2000. It will work with all models '97-'00 but is considerably cheaper and doesn't have the annoying passive feature. Gene Culley at www.gmpartshouse.com has them for about $60.00.
If you want to try the fix look here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...em-solved.html
If you want to try the fix look here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...em-solved.html
For some reason I hadn't heard that (guess I don't read many FOB post) I had hesitated buying one because they are well over $100 for the early ones, but I've seen later models for 1/2 that
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 347
Likes: 1
From: Martinez GA
am going to try the solder fix on the old one i gave the wife and see how that works also
