Key Fob Problems
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 693
Likes: 17
From: San Leandro California
Key Fob Problems
Hi,
I'm having a problem with my key fob...2016 Corvette Stingray. I have replaced the battery in the fob 3 times and that doesn't seem to help. With the fob in my pocket I try and open the door manually, nothing happens. I go the passenger door and nothing happens, same with the trunk. But if I use the fob all opens as it should. I've looked through here and couldn't seem to find what I was looking for. Any suggestions, would be appreicted?
Thanks, Jerry
I'm having a problem with my key fob...2016 Corvette Stingray. I have replaced the battery in the fob 3 times and that doesn't seem to help. With the fob in my pocket I try and open the door manually, nothing happens. I go the passenger door and nothing happens, same with the trunk. But if I use the fob all opens as it should. I've looked through here and couldn't seem to find what I was looking for. Any suggestions, would be appreicted?
Thanks, Jerry
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,261
Likes: 4,363
From: Chirper Island
Replace the battery.
Fob batteries usually quit working when opening the door and using the fob passively first, but will usually still work when pressing a fob button (at that point). Fobs send out a very weak signal when responding to a query from the car, but use a much stronger signal when pressing a button on the fob, itself, so a failing battery is usually still strong enough to work actively for awhile.
Other concerns are something in the same pocket as the fob such as phones, magnets... so taking out the fob removes it from the immediate vicinity of the interference.
Fob batteries usually quit working when opening the door and using the fob passively first, but will usually still work when pressing a fob button (at that point). Fobs send out a very weak signal when responding to a query from the car, but use a much stronger signal when pressing a button on the fob, itself, so a failing battery is usually still strong enough to work actively for awhile.
Other concerns are something in the same pocket as the fob such as phones, magnets... so taking out the fob removes it from the immediate vicinity of the interference.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,659
From: Las Vegas NV
What Lisa said, especially about the interference.
If I have my fob in my pocket with my phone or even another car's fob, it often will give me trouble.
Try walking up to the car with the fob (and nothing else) in your hand to see if interference might be an issue?
If I have my fob in my pocket with my phone or even another car's fob, it often will give me trouble.
Try walking up to the car with the fob (and nothing else) in your hand to see if interference might be an issue?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 693
Likes: 17
From: San Leandro California
Replace the battery.
Fob batteries usually quit working when opening the door and using the fob passively first, but will usually still work when pressing a fob button (at that point). Fobs send out a very weak signal when responding to a query from the car, but use a much stronger signal when pressing a button on the fob, itself, so a failing battery is usually still strong enough to work actively for awhile.
Other concerns are something in the same pocket as the fob such as phones, magnets... so taking out the fob removes it from the immediate vicinity of the interference.
Fob batteries usually quit working when opening the door and using the fob passively first, but will usually still work when pressing a fob button (at that point). Fobs send out a very weak signal when responding to a query from the car, but use a much stronger signal when pressing a button on the fob, itself, so a failing battery is usually still strong enough to work actively for awhile.
Other concerns are something in the same pocket as the fob such as phones, magnets... so taking out the fob removes it from the immediate vicinity of the interference.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,076
Likes: 12,434
From: NE South Carolina
Two thoughts. The C7 FOB needs a quality battery. Bought some cheap ones and one worked only 1 year! Suggest buying a quality brand named battery that is not possibly a copy from China! I have an old analog battery checker that places a load on the battery and does not just measure voltage. Has a switch for all size batteries. The battery that gave me problems as you describe read just in the green OK area. The quality new battery read fully in the green area. A digital voltmeter has very high impedance and may read fine until current is drawn! (Reminded of the 12 volt AC yard light that read 12 volts with a digital meter at the socket but would not light the bulb. After trying several bulbs realized I had a high resistance and insufficient current was flowing to have the bulb light! As with yard lights the lamp wire to 12 volt buried line was the issue.)
The other is the car battery. Could be the battery, one not fully charged (if you drive mostly short distances it may not be fully charged.) It could be a battery connection. I changed my car battery at 3 years!
Just some thoughts but as has been mentioned in my C6 had issues when the FOB was in the same pocket as my cell phone. Warned against in the C6 Owner's Manual.
The other is the car battery. Could be the battery, one not fully charged (if you drive mostly short distances it may not be fully charged.) It could be a battery connection. I changed my car battery at 3 years!
Just some thoughts but as has been mentioned in my C6 had issues when the FOB was in the same pocket as my cell phone. Warned against in the C6 Owner's Manual.
Last edited by JerryU; Oct 19, 2018 at 11:54 PM.
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From: San Leandro California
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E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,076
Likes: 12,434
From: NE South Carolina
^^^
Great! Funny just had one of the 6 LED spots lighting the front of the house go out that I installed a year ago. There are 10 other path lights on that same 12 volt ac line. Foolishly used those mechanical fasteners to connect the lights to the line. Figured I could always solder when a connection failed! Was ready to do when the voltage measured 11.5 volts on the fixture wires I bared! . Still figuring it was a high resistance connection to the 12 volt line I redid it several times without success. Fortunately I bought some spare fixtures so tried one on wires I bared! It worked!
Some times it is the light (FOB in this case!)
Great! Funny just had one of the 6 LED spots lighting the front of the house go out that I installed a year ago. There are 10 other path lights on that same 12 volt ac line. Foolishly used those mechanical fasteners to connect the lights to the line. Figured I could always solder when a connection failed! Was ready to do when the voltage measured 11.5 volts on the fixture wires I bared! . Still figuring it was a high resistance connection to the 12 volt line I redid it several times without success. Fortunately I bought some spare fixtures so tried one on wires I bared! It worked!
Some times it is the light (FOB in this case!)
Last edited by JerryU; Oct 20, 2018 at 01:38 PM.