Issue With Key Fob
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 5
From: Metairie LA
Issue With Key Fob
If the cars sits for a couple of days, I can't open the door without re-learning the Fob. Fob has a new battery and the car battery shows 11.9-12.1V at rest and 14.1-14.3V running. What would cause that? Second question-where do you/can you plug in a scanner/code reader on a '99? My Avalanche and the wife's Malibu have a plug on the bottom of the dash beneath the steering wheel. What am I missing?
EDIT: Disregard question on OBD port-found it by feeling back from bottom edge of dash. Checked car with scanner to see if it had thrown something RE the Fob issue. "NO CODES" says the tool. Back to original question.
EDIT: Disregard question on OBD port-found it by feeling back from bottom edge of dash. Checked car with scanner to see if it had thrown something RE the Fob issue. "NO CODES" says the tool. Back to original question.
Last edited by PhilsFRC; Oct 7, 2012 at 01:26 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,183
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
It won't throw a code if the fob is bad, which is what causes what you are seeing. You can also read codes on your driver info center in the car without a code reader by pressing the correct buttons on the dash. Search for codes and get the instructions for future use. You need to either buy a new fob (which is expensive for the 99), or try soldering the contacts in your old one. Whatever you do, don't buy a fob for a 2001 to 2004, it won't program to your car. You can also program the fobs yourself, via the instructions in the manual when you get a new one.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 5
From: Metairie LA
Fob
Didn't think about the Fob going bad. Do you know a link to the soldering instructions, or just search? Already got the reprogramming thing-hold both buttons until the horn blows.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,183
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
That doesn't reprogram the fob, it only resyncs and already programmed fob to the car. (It uses a rolling code) You have to follow the procedure to select fob programming in the DIC and hold down the buttons until it tells you to move to the next fob. If you could just hold down the lock/unlock and program a fob to your car, someone could get a fob and stand near your car and hold down the buttons on the fob and program it to your car and then steal it. Doesn't work that way.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 5
From: Metairie LA
Postscript
Didn't think about the specific programing of the Fob to the car, but you are obviously right. I'll check the owners manual. Anyway, soldering (or my [lack of] soldering skills) didn't work. Had to resycronize it this AM. Will order a new Fob.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 67
From: Bahama North Carolina
Could also be because your battery is getting low. It should be better than the "car battery shows 11.9-12.1V at rest".
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4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: East Longmeadow MA
My key FOB never fails if I drive the car very day but if the car sits for a day or more I have to re-sync. New battery in Key FOB and car battery voltage good. Could it be the key FOB solder connection issue? Seems strang that it never fails if used daily.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Morganton, NC, USA
How close to the top of the left wheel arch are you when you push the fob buttons? I think the receiver is sitting on top covered by a rectangular projection. Since the first day I owned my C5, I couldn't unlock or pop the hatch from the right side of the car. I have to be on the left, preferably close to the left rear wheel. Is this naturally a poor system, or can a "fix" be performed? Even when I replaced the fob battery and went through the relearn procedure, sitting in the drivers seat holding the fob in front of my chest, it's signal would not be picked up. I had to hold the fob behind the left side of my head in order for its broadcast signal to be picked up.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
I have the same problem with my 98 vert. I can only get the fob to work by being close to the antenna, which is on the driver's side just ahead and above the rear fender. I took it apart and cleaned contacts, changed the FOB battery etc.-no difference.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 426
I had fob problems. I found the clips that hold the fob battery had broken and let the battery move after a short time in my pocket. I stuffed the area surrounding the battery to hold it tight and no more problems.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.