One remote works, one doesn't
 

For two years I've been using only one of the two remote keys that came with my car. I don't remember ever trying the other key, but today I did try it and found none of the remote buttons work. It can open the door lock when inserted, and also starts the car. Just no remote capability.

I replaced the battery but it was no help.


The first key continues to work fine -- and on the original battery.


Anyone have any ideas? Dealer issue? The car is just under two years since purchase. Would this be a covered item?


Thanks for your help.


(To be clear, this is the physical key with attached remote, not the newer "smart" key system.)

In the manual you can look up how to "re-connect" the remote. If that doesn't help, then a trip to the dealer and a lighter wallet will do the job.

All I can say is when I got mine only one remote worked, I removed-reinstalled the battery and it started working. The remote should be paired from the factory, so at least double check the battery's polarity and do as ^^^ said before paying someone to do it.

Can you give me a pointer to this. I've searched my paper manual and can't find it. Just instructions on replacing the battery. Nothing about reconnect.

You might try switching the batteries in the two remotes - maybe you got a bum battery (the one you replaced it with)?


humfrz

I should have tried humfrz' suggestion. I would have saved some cash, and embarrassment. But I ran out of time and got lazy.


I took the car in for scheduled service yesterday, and asked them to check out the key. They changed the battery and it started working. $5 labor plus $4 parts. Outrageous for what I could have done it for, but probably not unreasonable.



I'm still a little skeptical, though. The OEM key should have been the same age as the one in the still-working key -- why totally dead? The "new" battery I tried wasn't so new, but never used. I expect a weak battery to have reduced range, not be totally non-functional like mine was.


I'm a happy camper, though, considering.



If it hadn't been the battery, they wanted me to leave the car for a day so they could diagnose the problem. with $200 diagnostic fee, refundable if a warranty issue. I probably just wouldn't have bothered.


Thanks to everyone that replied.

these new remotes are code hopping and all, it's probable that it takes a little while for it to 'boot up', and if you tried it too quickly after changing the battery it didn't work in that time.

technology.

5 min labor is generous. I'd charge you and make you spend that whole four extra minutes showing you how to do it yourself.

While sitting on the porch.

Yep, 1/3 of a beer job - ;)


humfrz

knowing how you talk, i can't imagine any job is less than a full beer!

Sometimes those button batteries don't have a very long shelf life - :sigh:

And then, sometimes the contact points are so small that it doesn't take much to prevent contact.

Just the other day, I re-discovered a secret compartment in the dash of mrs humfrz's 2007 Saturn Aura XR. Hey, wait one, before ya'll start giggling, that car was chosen as the "North American Car of the Year" back in 2007. - :party0030:

Anyway, in this secret compartment was a spare key and fob. Since our other one was starting to act up, I decided to try it - nope, it wouldn't open up nutten. How could that be, the car is fairly new? daaaaa - :bonk:, the car (thus that fob battery is 12 years old) - :eyebulge:). Time flies when you're older and retired.

So, after I put a fresh battery in it, it worked - sometimes. Then I remembered why I switched them a few years back.

Using @Ultramaroons special tool, I took it on the back porch and popped it open. With the aid of a magnifying glass and my head lamp, I discovered why it worked just sometimes. The "clip prongs" were bent and barely touched the sides of the battery.

I knew better than to fire up my old soldering gun to try to fix it, so, I just decided to lay a piece of match book cover (cut to fit) over the mechanism, then when I snapped the cover back the prongs on the contacts were forced over on to the sides of the battery.

Yep, it worked, so I put it back into the secret compartment - :happyanim:

If I ever need the spare fob, all I have to do is to remember that there is a secret compartment - and where it is - :thumbsup:

(what the hell was wrong with the old keys, stick the key in the lock and turn it, then open the door or start the car - :iono:)

END OF STORY



humfrz

Point well taken - see post #12 - :bonk:



humfrz

if you were closer, i'd solder it for you!