Keyless entry VERY slow to respond.
 

My 2013 BRZ has been with me for about 4 years now. The keyless entry has been pretty easy to use. However, starting from 1 month ago, sometimes it becomes very slow to respond. For example, I have to stay near the door for about 2 minutes this morning for it to respond. Once it worked for the first time, it worked well for the rest of the day. So I think it should not be a battery problem with the key or the car battery. The symptom is mostly consistent with the wireless unit inside the car cannot 'wake' immediately when the key is nearby. It might go into a 'sleep' mode overnight.

Has anybody had similar experience before and what is likely the cause or solution for this problem? Thanks a lot for the help. It is quite annoying to wait a while every morning.

Don't automatically rule the fob battery out. A low battery can do some weird things and 4 years is a long time for a remote one to last. Change the battery before trying to figure out anything else.

Electrical/electronics trouble shutting hierarchy is power source, connections, components.

Ok. Thanks. I remember I have another key lying around somewhere which I never use. Maybe I shall try that key first to make sure it is not battery related. BTW, with my key, there is also another very small black key, does anybody know what is that key for? Thanks a lot.

Even though you have never used it the battery in it is 4 years old as well. They don't have an infinite shelf life.
The small black one is the valet key. It won't open the trunk.

Yep -- Your fob battery is almost dead. If you have to sit there waiting for it to detect your hand for more than a second or two it is the battery. I couldn't believe it either until I replaced my batteries (buy from amazon) -- good as new.

PS: even if your fob battery is completely dead the door (and the start button) can send a tiny RFID signal to your fob to power it/unlock the door. This ensures that you don't become stranded if you have a dead fob. If you are waiting a long time for the door to unlock it is likely that the fob is eventually receiving power from the RFID signal (thus the battery isn't doing its job like normal).

If it is the battery in the fob, how can we explain the fact that the remote works quite well for the rest of the day?

I have no idea what to tell you there -- Except that I experienced the exact same thing. I had it work, on and off, for a period of a few weeks and then it finally decided to quit.

We can solve this mystery simply by changing the battery. That's my recommendation.

If your battery is completely dead, it will not unlock the car door. You have to use the little key in the key fob. Then prepare to jump in and hold the fob next to push button start and get the engine started so it will shut off the alarm.

Thanks for bringing this up. Here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-...identification

RFID tags contain at least three parts: an integrated circuit for storing and processing information that modulates and demodulates a radio-frequency (RF) signals; a means of collecting DC power from the incident reader signal; and an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal. The tag information is stored in a non-volatile memory. The RFID tag includes either fixed or programmable logic for processing the transmission and sensor data, respectively.

Is it possible that the key works for the rest of the day b/c it collected some energy from the reader (in the car) while I drive? Fascinating. Anybody knows about the details?

I had issues with mine being able to read the fob from inside the car for many weeks. A new fob battery did nothing. My car battery died when I left it at Subaru over the weekend for some warranty work, and that got me thinking that perhaps the sensor array in the car was sensitive to reduced voltages, and that my issues were actually a heads up that my OEM battery was on its way out.

New car battery and I no longer had any fob issues. And yes, my fob issues tended to be more likely to occur after the car hadn't been driven for longer periods of time - because the battery would be topped of immediately after any drive, and so caused no issues during brief periods of inactivity.

Thanks. But hopefully you are wrong. This is a $100 vs. $4 issue. I have ordered new key fob batteries. Let's see what is going to happen after I change the fob battery first.

What year is your car?

^

Is the engine cranking over slowly when starting?
It could be low charge on the car battery , especially if the car is only driven on weekends or used for short distance commutes/shopping.

Oh. 2013. Lol. Well that just reinforces my position.

The car drives fine. My commute is 32 miles one way. I am sure it is charged very well.

Other than the key fob issues, I had no sign of a dying car battery until it suddenly pooped out at a dealer visit. Just FYI.

Unfortunately, you might be correct! Today my Energizer battery came and I replaced the old Panasonic battery with it. However, things did not change for the better. No apparent change at all.

I last drove the car for 60 miles on last Thursday. So the car has been sitting for 5 days. Maybe a new car battery is due soon. How sad! Since I routinely get about 7 years' service out of my batteries (Acura OEM and Bosch), I did not expect this to be the cause initially. But my OEM Toyota did die twice around 3 years. So maybe Toyota and Subaru uses lesser batteries than Honda/Acura?

How long did it take for your battery to die after the symptom first started? Thanks a lot.

You may consider taking your car in to a shop and have the battery "load tested". If it doesn't score well ...... it's time for a new battery......;)


humfrz

I honestly can't remember. It was at least a few weeks - maybe even a few months.

It was weird to find this thread today because my keyfob just died too. At first it was slow to unlock my car. And then I couldn't open the trunk with the push-button.



I am almost positive that I have used my valet key to open the trunk. I can't remember why, but it was a PITA.



I'm being super lazy since this thread is already alive and kicking. Does anyone have a recommendation for replacement keyfob batteries? Any brands that work better than others with these things?

I like to use one fob for 6 months then I swap and use the other. I may be wrong but I thought your fob battery gets recharged when in the ignition and driving around.

Side question what's the battery spec for the key fob?

CR1632

It shouldn't since that is the whole reason it exists. Can't have nosey valets poking around in the trunk and finding the bodies... I mean valuables.

No the battery does not get recharged.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1331271821[/QUOTE]


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...7&d=1326266661

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/brz/brz13-keys6.jpg

If you don't want the valet to open the trunk then you hit a button inside the trunk to prevent the trunk from opening with the key fob. You give the valet the key fob and keep the small key for yourself. The valet wouldn't be able to start the car with the small key part.

Maybe that's what you meant though and I just misunderstood your original post.

Edit- you're probably talking about cars without push start right? Mine has push start so I've never seen the valet key for a FRS before.

My keyless entry used to work fine but recently i can seem to lock/unlock the car when i'm more than 10 feet away. I've replaced the batteries in the fob but it hasn't solved the issue. Any ideas?

Final update: after changing the battery of the key fob, it did not have any apparent effect at the first. BUT, after the 1st day, it started to work really well again. After 10 days' experience, I am pretty confident that changing battery solved the issue. So it is not due to a defective car battery IN THIS CASE. If my car battery dies in the next 6 months, I shall report back. Otherwise, consider the mystery is solved. Thanks for the help!

Just for reference, the battery type needed for the Push start key fob is CR1632. I just replaced mine yesterday.