Love my C6 but the key fob ignition system is a nuisance. Most of the time the car will start with the key fob in my pocket, which is what it should do. Sometimes when turning off the ignition, the start button indicator goes directly to accessory mode and a no fob detected message appears on the dash. Sometimes I can take the key fob out of my pocket and wave it near the dash to restart. On one occasion I had to use the emergency slot in the glove box to start it. Changed fob battery, but that didn't help, and the original battery tested OK.

Has anyone else had this experience? Fob problem or design glitch?
kcembry@aol.com

 

I would try the other FOB and if it's the same then it's time to go to the dealer and have them take care of it.

 

It has happened to others here for several reasons: cell phones & cell phone chargers in the cockpit. Also, miscellaneous objects in the pocket with the fob, including fobs from other vehicles.

There are 3 antennas in the car that detect the fob. Sometimes, one or more of them will go out.

Some garage doors and garage door openers seem to play havoc with the system at times.

However, the most likely problem is other objects in the pocket with the fob.

 

My FOB's do the same thing.

 

Mine never did until Friday when I was 125 miles from my house. I had the FOB next to the switch and nothing for 5 minutes. It finally started, went to the dealer today. I also learned about charging the FOB does everyone know that trick?

 

it happens to me when I put the fob with the cell phone in the same pocket. anyway if you dont want to take the fob out of your pocket just push the off buttom again and it will shut off

 

This happens on my Z06 alot. I usually put my key FOB in the cupholder, while my cellphone goes in the other cupholder. I have to pull the FOB out of the cupholder to start the car. This has never happened on my convertible??????

 

No, what's the trick?

 

 

Don't know it, but am interested.

 

It happened to me today for the 1st time. I did have my bluetooth earpiece in my pocket with the FOB and it was turned off. As soon as I moved the FOB to the console, it kicked.

 

Mine is at the dealer right now as it will not start. Got stuck Saturday night 110 miles from home. When I got in the car I had the FOB in my pocket like I usually do, when I push the start button it just turns over but get this when I let off of the start button it keeps turning over, I had to actually push it in the off position to stop it from turning over. I got out of the car and walked away about 20 yards and then back thinking the FOB was not registering properly still would not start and same problem with it still turning over even after letting off the start button. I tried it with the FOB sitting on the console, dash, my lap same results. I waited about 30 minutes and tried again same results. Ultimately I had to call Roadside Assistance to have it towed to the dealer. Could not get a rental and had to have a friend drive 110 miles one-way to get me by this time it is 2:00 AM. Needless to say the experience so far has not been good. The dealer Penske Chevrolet in Indianapolis told me today they believe it is the security system as it relates to the FOB's. At this point I would rather have a regular keyed ignition. I will let you know the outcome once they get it all figured out.

 

Ok, it won't attempt to crank unless it has properly negotiated the code sequence with the fob. So your fob is fine, and so is the RCDLR in the car. It is normal for the car to keep cranking after you tap the start button (you aren't supposed to hold it down, read the manual). The ECM will crank the engine until it starts, or until 10 seconds of cranking have occurred, when you tap the start button once. That's the way it is supposed to work. So that's not a problem either.

What is a problem is that the engine isn't starting. Since it is turning over, the problem is either lack of spark or lack of fuel. My guess would be the latter. The in tank fuel pump may not be running. There were a rash of 2005 C6s where the wiring connector for the fuel pump wasn't fully plugged in from the factory. Over time, water would splash up on the connector and corrode the contacts. Eventually the corrosion would get bad enough that the fuel pump wouldn't run. This may be your problem. Simple 5 minute fix. (Reach up and unplug the connector, clean the contacts, plug it back in fully.)

BTW, your dealer service guy is an idiot.

 

I have to admit my own ignorance for not knowing that the start button does not need held down. Of course it has started as soon as I push the button up until last Saturday. Plus I just took delivery on the car an 06 on July 3rd and just put plates on it last Friday so I have not had time to read the manual as of yet. I was thinking the fuel pump myself but the dealer said it could also be the security system which I know nothing about on the C6 so I deferred to them since you would think they would know. Thanks for your explanation. I will mention the fuel pump connector possibility to the service people at Penske and see what they say.

 

It's understandable that you might not know how the start system works. It is different from the familiar key based systems. It is the fact that the car does crank over that tells us your fob and the associated car security system (RCDLR) are fine, and the BCM is fine since it has told the ECM to start the engine. If the problem were the security system, it wouldn't try to crank.

The connector I mentioned is only one possibility, a possibility that should be familiar to anyone who works on these cars, but not necessarily your particular problem. The in tank pump itself could have failed, a fuse might be blown (but there's always a reason when a fuse blows), the crank timing sensor may have failed (that tells the ECM when to fire spark and injectors), or least likely, the ECM has partially failed. (The ECM is what ultimately commands the engine to crank, so we know it is at least partially working.)

The service writer may be unfamiliar with how the systems work on this car. But he shouldn't have shot from the hip by blaming the security system. That sort of flip, wrong, answer is what ticks me off. The fact that the engine tries to crank clears that system of fault. This is just an ordinary electrical problem. Systematic troubleshooting should find it in short order.

 

After posting my original message about erratic key fob performance my number 1 key fob begin to experience numerous failures: could not start engine even though waving it over dash like Cinderella's fairy godmother waving her wand and could not unlock door to even get in without pushing fob button several times. Dealer finally replaced fob and it works OK except that it is only recognized while in my pocket 50% of the time. Had to turn off key fob reminder in menu because horn would honk after getting out to fill my tank with gas, which scared the hell outof other people in the area filling their own tanks.

I think the person(s) who designed the Corvette C6 fob sensor circuitry must have been recruited from the same group who designed the BMW I-Drive. They need to be sent packing.

 

While I'm no great fan of the keyless ignition system, you have to understand how it works to deal with it successfully. The car's sense antennas are located in the lower B pillars (door jams) and near the hatch latch. So waving the fob around the dash area, or near the center console, is counterproductive. The other thing to understand is that the fob is a battery operated device, and even a new battery can be weak or bad.

If you are having trouble with a fob, first try holding it close to the driver's side B pillar. If that doesn't work, try the passenger side B pillar. If neither work, try the second fob. If none of that works, try putting the fob in the emergency start pocket in the glovebox. That has a direct coupled induction coil which can power and communicate with the fob even if the fob battery is dead or missing. If none of that works, you've got a problem with the sense antenna wiring or the RCDLR.

The most common problem I've seen is a shorted or broken sense antenna in the driver's B pillar.

 

Thanks for the info on the location of the antennas. The B pillar location makes sense because I only had problems entering the vehicle with the defective fob. The replacement fob and the second fob always unlock the doors. Starting the car has only been a problem when the fob is in my right hand pants pocket. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. I will try positioning it near the B door jam rather than waving it over the dash. Would be nice if Chevrolet told us about this situation.

Chevrolet should address this in the future since Edwards Demming, the godfather of Toyota quality control, states in his books that consistency of operation is a benchmark of quality. Inconsistent keyfob performance doesn't conform with what Demming preached. Like you, I would opt to go back to a simple key to start the car or place a dummy key slot in the dash with a built-in antenna to guarantee consistent results.

 

Forgive me but frustration has taken over. For the 2nd time I have just had my 2006 C6 towed out of my driveway. The car has gone into some sort of security lock down (again) for no apparent reason. On Friday I took her to the car wash and came home. I turn off the car same as usual and wait for my sis to come over so we can go out for lunch. Get in the car (same as usual) and....nothing. I get dash lights and a message No FOB detected then followed by shocks innoperable. Okay. So I read up on the problem and yesterday try to get in and acknkowledge the alarm by pressing reset but this time I cannot even get into the car. I have to reach in through the window to the emergency door release to get into the car and now the car just sits there. I put the key into the slot in the glove box with no results. Take the cell out of the car with no results. I lock it and walk away and try again. Nothing. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS MACHINE! To top it off the damn tow truck driver is an idiot. He attempts to front load the car and the tow wire smashes the front valence flat against the underside of the bumper. Does anyone have ideas? comments? related issues??? How about a phone number to call? HELP!

 

You didn't say where your car was when this problem happens. If it happens everywhere then you may have an entirely different problem. If it's in or near a garage or perhaps an overhead transformer on a street you could be too near electrical interference. In a garage, you may want to look for EFI or RFI sources ... a refrigerator or non shielded (Romex) electrical lines. Sometimes a ballast from a flourescent fixture can generate electrical noise and cause problems.

I've had trouble with my car identifying the FOB while in my friend's garage. Outside the garage maybe only 6 to 8 feet away from my parking spot-- no problem. But inside, the car wouldn't see the FOB and was a big pain. What I discovered was the circuit breaker box for her house was in the garage and most if not all of the Romex (non shielded) power lines were running overhead and near the car. The electromagnetic interference was causing sufficient disturbance to cause the problem.

Good luck!

Robert