Help! FOB Hell
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Ellisville Missouri
Help! FOB Hell
All of a sudden my fob stopped opening and starting the car (06). All of the buttons work (unlock, lock, hatch, alarm) but the DIC says no fob recognized. Put fob in glove box slot, started right up. Got home and the wife's fob didn't work either (same symptoms). Bought new fob battery, replaced it, no change.
I tried to reprogram the fob per the owner's manual, but turning the rear key 5 times in less than 5 seconds did nothing. Nothing shows up on the DIC, just blank (supposed to give me a programming message).
HELP! This is my DD...
Thanks,
Don
I tried to reprogram the fob per the owner's manual, but turning the rear key 5 times in less than 5 seconds did nothing. Nothing shows up on the DIC, just blank (supposed to give me a programming message).
HELP! This is my DD...
Thanks,
Don
Pro
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 735
Likes: 3
From: New Harmony IN
St. Jude Donor '09
Mine has just started doing this in the last week or so, figured the battery was getting weak, just havnt gotten around to changing it out though, maybe not the case now. Mines an 05. Waiting to here some other input now.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,499
Likes: 312
From: Scottsdale AZ
If you haven't replaced the FOB battery, why not do it? You're due - -or close to being due and it may solve your problem. My `05 was a Duracell CR 2032 . a 2 pack's about $5-6 at Walgreens, CVS, etc . .
Just pry the fob open with a thin flat blade . . watch your fingers if using a knife !. . .( don't ask how I know . . . .)
Just pry the fob open with a thin flat blade . . watch your fingers if using a knife !. . .( don't ask how I know . . . .)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,753
Likes: 210
From: North Western Connecticut
That is the one major scary problem with sophisticated electronic systems. Lets hope it's something to do with the FOB and not something else. I do enjoy the FOB system but dread to think if something goes wrong. There is still something to be said for the old tried and true key system.
Keep us posted as to how the problem is finally resolved...
Keep us posted as to how the problem is finally resolved...
Last edited by cthusker; Jul 20, 2009 at 10:04 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
All of a sudden my fob stopped opening and starting the car (06). All of the buttons work (unlock, lock, hatch, alarm) but the DIC says no fob recognized. Put fob in glove box slot, started right up. Got home and the wife's fob didn't work either (same symptoms). Bought new fob battery, replaced it, no change.
I tried to reprogram the fob per the owner's manual, but turning the rear key 5 times in less than 5 seconds did nothing. Nothing shows up on the DIC, just blank (supposed to give me a programming message).
HELP! This is my DD...
Thanks,
Don
I tried to reprogram the fob per the owner's manual, but turning the rear key 5 times in less than 5 seconds did nothing. Nothing shows up on the DIC, just blank (supposed to give me a programming message).
HELP! This is my DD...
Thanks,
Don
So, either the replacement battery was bad (quite possible), or you installed it backwards (uh oh, that'll fry the fob), or since the wife's fob doesn't work either, the car's fob antennas may have shorted out. (We know the RCDLM still works because the fob would start the car from the glove box slot. That leaves the antennas as possible culprits in the car.)
In any event, you're heading down the wrong road with your attempt at reprogramming. If you aren't careful, you're going to wind up with a car that you can't start in any fashion. First try another battery. Make sure it is a fresh battery. Make sure you put it in the right way. If that doesn't work, check out the car's antennas in the door jams which normally interrogate the fob when you access a door membrane switch to open the door. Look for a short or a break in the wire.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: belmont california
Probably RF interference at the receiver. I have a small area in the garage where the fobs won't work, sometimes they won't even work in the glove box slot. After I push the car a foot or two forward or back it starts right up.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
The guys saying RFI have a good point. Have you left your cell charger plugged into the car? How about any other electronics? A RF noise source in the car, or on your person, can definitely prevent the fob and car from communicating.
Again, the fact the fob will work in the glove box slot tells us the fob and the car's RCDLM are fine. Dead fob battery, broken car antenna, or RF interference are all possible causes of your problem.
Again, the fact the fob will work in the glove box slot tells us the fob and the car's RCDLM are fine. Dead fob battery, broken car antenna, or RF interference are all possible causes of your problem.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Ellisville Missouri
Another clue!
My wife and I discussed the problem and she reminded me that after starting the car this morning (normally with the fob in my pocket) we started hearing a clicking noise that sounded like it was behind the center vent. The noise stayed a block or two before stopping. This morning was the last time it acted normally.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
2005 Beast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 8
From: Tarpon Springs FL
All of a sudden my fob stopped opening and starting the car (06). All of the buttons work (unlock, lock, hatch, alarm) but the DIC says no fob recognized. Put fob in glove box slot, started right up. Got home and the wife's fob didn't work either (same symptoms). Bought new fob battery, replaced it, no change.
I tried to reprogram the fob per the owner's manual, but turning the rear key 5 times in less than 5 seconds did nothing. Nothing shows up on the DIC, just blank (supposed to give me a programming message).
HELP! This is my DD...
Thanks,
Don
I tried to reprogram the fob per the owner's manual, but turning the rear key 5 times in less than 5 seconds did nothing. Nothing shows up on the DIC, just blank (supposed to give me a programming message).
HELP! This is my DD...
Thanks,
Don
1. Take your key FOBS to the next county, meaning so far away from the car its sickening...far far and I mean far away... did I say FAR.... Also get rid of any cell phones.... get them far away as well.
Ok...
2. Open the drivers door - leave open 20 minutes
3. After 20 minutes, do the key thing in the back - 5 times/5 secs
Your display should ask you to put FOB1 into the car - run and get your FOB and proceed with the program
This set of instructions will reprogram the FOBS from scratch.
I tried like every combination imaginable prior to this and this worked.
Good Luck.
Last edited by TBonez; Jul 21, 2009 at 09:37 AM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 644
Likes: 1
From: Edmond Oklahoma
A couple weeks ago, my 2005 started having the same problems - "fob not detected" etc. I changed out fob battery and still problems. Turns out the car battery was on its last breath. The OEM batteries in 2005-2006 cars may be getting old and summer heat can take its toll - check it out. A new car battery solved my problems.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 11,216
Likes: 178
From: Pensacola Florida GO GATORS!!! www.rlsebring.com www.c6c7vette.com
St. Jude Donor '17
A couple weeks ago, my 2005 started having the same problems - "fob not detected" etc. I changed out fob battery and still problems. Turns out the car battery was on its last breath. The OEM batteries in 2005-2006 cars may be getting old and summer heat can take its toll - check it out. A new car battery solved my problems.
A New Fresh battery should be considered a mod in these cars. I had to change out a battery in my 08 due to a dead cell. Had a lot of misc minor problems prior. It's amazing how many problems a new battery can cure.
PHOTOSHOP SPECIALIST
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 16,433
Likes: 40
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
It might be time for a new (car) battery. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 450
From: Texarkana Texas
My 05 did the same thing to me yesterday. Got out of car, went in store, came out, no FOB detected. I put a new battery in FOB about 2 months ago. Sat for a few minutes, car started. Maybe too many cell phones in the area. No other problems and hasn't done it since. Go figure. I may need to look into a new car battery also if it does it again.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,974
Likes: 148
From: Magnolia Texas
look at the age of most all the cars being posted as having the problem. me thinks its time for a battery as well! these cars do extremely weird things when the battery starts to near its life's end. be sure to post up the results once you install the new "heart".