key FOB not being recognized, not working (keyless start cars only)
 

(Keyless start cars only)

So 2 days ago, I noticed my car didn't start and the amber key/red lock symbol was blinking every time I tried to push the "push start" ignition.

I thought my battery died on my FOB (purchase date 6/2012) so I brought down my spare, and same issue. Perhaps both battery died at the same time :iono:

When I put my keys very close to the Start button, the car recognizes it and starts right away. Although sometimes, the car tries to "look" for the key, and it will flash amber yellow key symbol in the dash if I move the FOB out too quickly after starting the car.

My FOB will not lock/unlock doors, open the trunk any more which sucks because I can't lock my car. I'm scared if I lock it manually, it won't unlock with this FOB issue. Luckily I garage my car.

So has anyone had issues with the FOB all of a sudden dying? Electronic modding I've done that "may" affect this is:

Tapped turn signal/puddle light wires for my Diode Dynamic side mirror covers
OBDII bluetooth thing, although I disconnected this and still the same issue.
Toms tail lights
LED lights interior/exterior.

I've had these mods done quite some time now, and the newest addition of the side mirror cover turn signal light thing has been installed for 2 weeks now.

I will go to the dealer to switch out the battery to see if the 2 FOB's really died at the same time.

Any help will be appreciated!!

It could be a programming glitch....

The possibility of two batteries dying at the same time could happen... but not for sure.

Why would you go to the dealer to change a keyfob battery?

It's cheaper if you do it yourself.

You do know you can unlock your car manually too. That's why there is a keyhole on the drivers door handle. Your physical key is inside your keyfob.

Hope you find out the issue, but at least you can sleep easy knowing your not locked out.

well if its a glitch I want them to see it too. And I want them to change the battery so they know they did it, and can't blame it on me.

I'll be going in tomorrow, so I will update once I find out more.

The batteries tend to last 1 year, question is does the red light in the key fob work?

This has happened to me a few times (car not starting / doesn't sense the key). But like you said, I just take the key out of my pocket and it fires up. I would take it in to the dealership and have them take a look if it persists.

Unless you wired one of those accessories into something you really shouldn't have, I don't think they would be causing the problem.

Does your key fob light blink when you hit the lock/unlock button? If so, it's probably not batteries. Do you have to hold your fob next to the switch every time to start it, or did this only happen once? I know if you let your car sit for several days it will turn off the keyless system to conserve battery power, but once you start it again it should reactivate.

It could be the batteries getting weak, I'm not sure what the mechanism is for the FOBs (if they constantly send a signal to the car for the push button start, or if it's an RFID style reading where the FOB doesn't need power to start the car, the car can read it remotely.)

Assuming it needs power to start the car, could be your batteries are going and limiting the effective range of the FOB. Also, since I don't imagine you used your spare often, could be it died long ago(a week, month, or more), and you just didn't know because you didn't try to use it until your other one died. So it's not necessarily that they both died at once, could just be bad luck with which died first.

One other thing, these fobs can be interfered with. I couldn't open the trunk recently and had to hold the fob to the button to start. This coincided with something odd that happens to me and my neighbors occasionally - our garage door openers don't work (at least not from outside the garage).

Do you leave your key fob anywhere near the car overnight after you park? When the fob is in range of the car it continually communicates, which drains the battery. Motorcycles with fobs have the same problem if you leave the key near the bike at night.

This issue drains not the remote battery but the car battery, Due to the control modules all staying awake and not going to sleep.

nope, I don't keep my keys in my car over night or anything. I couldn't get to the dealership due to the snow storm in the PNW, but I hope I can find out what's going on soon. Thank you for all your input!

Does the FOB blink red when you push a button even out of range? I see no red light when I push on any button on the FOB. Do you guys see any red light when you push on the FOB unlock/lock, trunk buttons out of range?

I'm clicking my lock button on the fob right now and it blinks red. My car is about 5 miles away. Your fob battery is probably dead. Maybe it was in a pocket with a button constantly getting held down? Did it ever get wet?

good to know, thank you for the test. Mine looks like its dead, and the spare must of died sometime along the way. My car was delivered June 2012, so it lasted longer than expected I suppose!

This fucking storm is kicking our asses, will try to go to the dealer on Monday.

I've had 2 headlights go out at once. Anything is possible...

This has already happened twice since I got the car around Aug. 2012. Both remote batteries died about the same time. It appears that the remote sends out a signal all the time, which eventually drains the battery whether you use it or not. I now keep two extra batteries in the glove box and keep the battery out of the second remote. Kinda sucks that the batteries don't even last a year.

a few issues i have seen is interference with cell phones.

also the wheel will lock just like normal turn key ignitions. give the wheel a yank and try starting again.

the fob must be within a few feet of the door/trunk to open. sometimes if i'm leaning in to open the door for someone it wont open until i scoot a little closer.

the stupidest thing i ever did was i could not figure out why my car wouldn't lock. it was because i was travelling and took my spare key with me which was inside the car. so, make sure you only have 1 key inside the car. derp.

if it persists, see the dealer

LOLZ@this topic

This is actually written in the manual which states that the remotes are constantly "on" and that batteries need to be replaced, regardless of use, approximately every 1.5 years.

When will you know when the key need to be changed. In my case the fog key opens the door but when it comes to starting my Suzuki swift, it doesn't start.

I am having the same problem as you. Was the light in the Fob coming on every time you press the unlock or lock? In my case it does. The unlocking of the doors work fine but the problem is that the Fob isnt being recognized by the car when it comes to starting the suzuki swift.