Remote function actuation system
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,364
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From: S.E. Pennsylvania
Remote function actuation system
I'm a new owner of a 1998 C5 convertible. I received one key and fob with the car. I'm puzzled as to whether I have the original fob as it does not have an on/off switch for remote actuation features. I went into the manual and it states that "your vehicle has an RFA system" - page 2-6 and shows a fob with the on/off switch. Sellers of new fobs also show them with and w/o an on/off switch.
My question is do all 1998 Corvettes have the RFA system or was it an option? Were all OEM fobs equipped with an RFA switch? If I buy a new fob with the switch will it function in my car?
Thanks in advance...
My question is do all 1998 Corvettes have the RFA system or was it an option? Were all OEM fobs equipped with an RFA switch? If I buy a new fob with the switch will it function in my car?
Thanks in advance...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
ALL C5s have an RFA.
The switch became problematic and GM made the switch to FOBs without it. Get a set of FOBs without the switch for your RFA. You will SOON become tired of the PASSIVE feature as it causes the car to LOCK and UNLOCK and wake up frequently and help kill the battery!.
RFA & Fobs are compatible from 97-2000. The 2001 - 2004 FOBS and TPMs are a different frequency and are NOT compatible with your car/ RFA System.
The switch became problematic and GM made the switch to FOBs without it. Get a set of FOBs without the switch for your RFA. You will SOON become tired of the PASSIVE feature as it causes the car to LOCK and UNLOCK and wake up frequently and help kill the battery!.
RFA & Fobs are compatible from 97-2000. The 2001 - 2004 FOBS and TPMs are a different frequency and are NOT compatible with your car/ RFA System.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 471
From: S.E. Pennsylvania
The button that you are missing turns on/off the "passive" feature. That, if/when, it worked automatically locked and unlocked the car based on the proximity of the FOB to the car. It was a VERY problematic feature, so much so that it was abandoned by GM on the 2000 model year and never reappeared for the life of the C5 (2004 was the last model year).
Sounds like what you have is a FOB from the 2000 model year which looked similar to the 1997 -1999 FOB but lacked the switch in question.
I do not believe anyone makes new versions of the "passive" fobs but there are a one or two companies still making new model year 2000 FOB's. Both types are available USED on the big auction site.
It is possible that the keyless entry system on your car may have been upgraded to that from the 2001 - 2004. If so the FOB would have a large 1 or 2 on the back side of the FOB. If you do not have this number then you most likely have a model year 2000 FOB. The newer year FOB's required upgraded TPMS as well as a new RFA (receiver) unit.
Sounds like what you have is a FOB from the 2000 model year which looked similar to the 1997 -1999 FOB but lacked the switch in question.
I do not believe anyone makes new versions of the "passive" fobs but there are a one or two companies still making new model year 2000 FOB's. Both types are available USED on the big auction site.
It is possible that the keyless entry system on your car may have been upgraded to that from the 2001 - 2004. If so the FOB would have a large 1 or 2 on the back side of the FOB. If you do not have this number then you most likely have a model year 2000 FOB. The newer year FOB's required upgraded TPMS as well as a new RFA (receiver) unit.
No numbers on the back side of the fob. I set the passive lock/unlock feature on thru the DIC. It doesn't work. I may be doing it incorrectly. I access the configuration screen, get to the passive lock/unlock both doors, press reset and go on to the next setting by selecting "options". I also selected for the lights to come on at approach but nothing there either. Confusing for me.
Is it possible that a new RFA unit is required?
Last edited by bc6152; Aug 7, 2017 at 03:05 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
If you set up the settings to ignore passive,, you have use the FOB to unlock the car, that's when the lights will come on IF you have that feature set to ON..
The Remote Function Actuator just receives the transmitted signals from the FOBs and or the TPMs and turns that signal into a serial data signal that the BCM can understand and act upon.
It doesn't care what signal "FUNCTION" the FOBs or TPMs send as it just decodes it and sends it on as a digital serial signal. You can use any RFA from a 97-2000 and they all do the SAME THING.
If you want a better remote system, you can up-grade to 2001-2004 RFA, FOBs and TPMs.
The Remote Function Actuator just receives the transmitted signals from the FOBs and or the TPMs and turns that signal into a serial data signal that the BCM can understand and act upon.
It doesn't care what signal "FUNCTION" the FOBs or TPMs send as it just decodes it and sends it on as a digital serial signal. You can use any RFA from a 97-2000 and they all do the SAME THING.
If you want a better remote system, you can up-grade to 2001-2004 RFA, FOBs and TPMs.
