Fob Prob
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Fob Prob
I have to hold the fob within about five feet of the receiver on my '97 for it to work.
Have two fobs...tried new batteries....no effect.
Replaced battery in car (it died, by coincidence) and that had no effect, either.
Tire pressure sensors work fine.
Ideas or suggestions?
Thanks
[Modified by brewtoo, 12:26 AM 8/7/2002]
Have two fobs...tried new batteries....no effect.
Replaced battery in car (it died, by coincidence) and that had no effect, either.
Tire pressure sensors work fine.
Ideas or suggestions?
Thanks
[Modified by brewtoo, 12:26 AM 8/7/2002]
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Re: Fob Prob (brewtoo)
I have to hold the fob within about five feet of the receiver on my '97 for it to work.
Have two fobs...tried new batteries....no effect.
Replaced battery in car (it died, by coincidence) and that had no effect, either.
Tire pressure sensors work fine.
Ideas or suggestions?
Thanks
[Modified by brewtoo, 12:26 AM 8/7/2002]
Have two fobs...tried new batteries....no effect.
Replaced battery in car (it died, by coincidence) and that had no effect, either.
Tire pressure sensors work fine.
Ideas or suggestions?
Thanks
[Modified by brewtoo, 12:26 AM 8/7/2002]
[Modified by Richin Chicago, 6:58 PM 8/6/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 767
Likes: 1
From: Noble OK
Re: Fob Prob (Richin Chicago)
I have to hold the fob within about five feet of the receiver on my '97 for it to work.
Have two fobs...tried new batteries....no effect.
Replaced battery in car (it died, by coincidence) and that had no effect, either.
Tire pressure sensors work fine.
Ideas or suggestions?
Thanks
[Modified by brewtoo, 12:26 AM 8/7/2002]
Check the contacts for corrosion on the fobs.. Only thing I can think of.
[Modified by Richin Chicago, 6:58 PM 8/6/2002]
Have two fobs...tried new batteries....no effect.
Replaced battery in car (it died, by coincidence) and that had no effect, either.
Tire pressure sensors work fine.
Ideas or suggestions?
Thanks
[Modified by brewtoo, 12:26 AM 8/7/2002]
Check the contacts for corrosion on the fobs.. Only thing I can think of.
[Modified by Richin Chicago, 6:58 PM 8/6/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, NV
Re: Fob Prob (Xssesive)
Hi all,
Hey Brewtoo, did you resynch the FOB's through the DIC after replacing the battery? Look in your manual and read the FOB resynch section I believe. I can't imagine both of them frying at once.
Steve
Hey Brewtoo, did you resynch the FOB's through the DIC after replacing the battery? Look in your manual and read the FOB resynch section I believe. I can't imagine both of them frying at once.
Steve
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 0
From: Dunstable MA
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Fob Prob (brewtoo)
I have the same problem on my 00 coupe. I literally have to be standing next to my car to open it, while my friend in his ///M3 opens his car from a football field away.
One thing I heard is that GM thought it was a safety hazard to allow the car to be opened up from far away (someone could get in your car before you get there and attack you once you get inside). I have not seen anything official from GM to corroberate this story, but it makes sense.
I too went through the same thing you did, with new batteries, fob relearning sessions etc... No luck.
The only thing that may help is something the FCC requires every fob to have: a tunable resistor to attenuate the transmit power. This is so the fob's power can be tested and modified if it is out of spec.
If we could boost the power (and violate the FCC laws) it would probably allow the fob to work at a much greater distance.
I haven't taken the time to examine the PCB of the fob to determine which component to expirement with, but I bet some of the EE's on the forum could do it much easier than me.
Good luck!
Chris
One thing I heard is that GM thought it was a safety hazard to allow the car to be opened up from far away (someone could get in your car before you get there and attack you once you get inside). I have not seen anything official from GM to corroberate this story, but it makes sense.
I too went through the same thing you did, with new batteries, fob relearning sessions etc... No luck.
The only thing that may help is something the FCC requires every fob to have: a tunable resistor to attenuate the transmit power. This is so the fob's power can be tested and modified if it is out of spec.
If we could boost the power (and violate the FCC laws) it would probably allow the fob to work at a much greater distance.
I haven't taken the time to examine the PCB of the fob to determine which component to expirement with, but I bet some of the EE's on the forum could do it much easier than me.
Good luck!
Chris
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 2
Re: Fob Prob (chrislee2)
I had the same problem...it worsened over a period of 6 months and finally the FOB wouldn't stay sync'd with the receiver.....turned out that the receiving unit went bad.......it's about $300-350 plus iprograming and installation by the dealer...OUCH!!! I haven't fixed the problem yet.....I just use the manual lock.....anyone know of a good deal on the receiver? :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: CA
Re: Fob Prob (brewtoo)
Brewtoo,
Not sure this will help but I had the same problem on my '99 Coupe. I went through the changing out the fob batteries but I still had to be standing next to the reciever (above the driver side rear tire) for the fobs to work.... Anyway, it turns out the problem would only exist in my garage... I think the garage door opener frequencies were jamming my fob signals.... :crazy: I had a Genie garage opener that would change it's frequency every time the door opened....
Rich
Not sure this will help but I had the same problem on my '99 Coupe. I went through the changing out the fob batteries but I still had to be standing next to the reciever (above the driver side rear tire) for the fobs to work.... Anyway, it turns out the problem would only exist in my garage... I think the garage door opener frequencies were jamming my fob signals.... :crazy: I had a Genie garage opener that would change it's frequency every time the door opened....
Rich
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
Re: Fob Prob (brewtoo)
If both fobs are doing the same thing its probably the receiver screwing up. Its located the the left rear 1/4 right above the wheelwell. There is a plastic cover over (well under it actually) it that is held by one of the cargo net nuts in the back and its glued on the rest of the way.
I thought for sure my receiver was bad since I had to hold the fob right next to it for it to work. When I removed the rceiver I noticed the antenna was loose. I took it apart and the plug in connector that is attached to the antenna was pulled loose on the PCB, soldered it back and now its fine.
Anyhow, a new receiver for a 99 is 160.00 from gm parts direct. I bought a used one for 25.00 so I'll just keep it as a spare.
I thought for sure my receiver was bad since I had to hold the fob right next to it for it to work. When I removed the rceiver I noticed the antenna was loose. I took it apart and the plug in connector that is attached to the antenna was pulled loose on the PCB, soldered it back and now its fine.
Anyhow, a new receiver for a 99 is 160.00 from gm parts direct. I bought a used one for 25.00 so I'll just keep it as a spare.