5 Reasons Why a Keyless Remote Does Not Work

Video tutorial on the five different reasons as to why your keyless entry or key fob doesn’t work. This video is based on the reasons as to why the key fob or keyless entry doesn’t work completely as in operating the lock, unlock, panic, trunk and door features all together. If only one button doesn’t work or your vehicle doesn’t start, well that can be relating to another issue.

Tools/Supplies Needed:
-keyless entry remote
-battery
-screwdriver
-socket set and ratchet
-multimeter
-soldering iron
-solder
-radio frequency tester

Procedure:
Issue #1:
-the battery in the remote has failed
-if the remote was working previous and you found the range of the remote was gradually becoming less until it finally quit, then the battery was wearing out
-battery replacement is usually fairly straight forward and there is no need to pay a dealer for battery replacement
-purchase a replacement battery from a store where stock tends to move quicker
-ensure the metal retaining clips which hold the battery into place do have some tension, otherwise there maybe a contact issue and the remote isn’t receiving any power

Issue #2:
-the remote needs to be reprogrammed to the vehicle
-some dealers will claim that this can only be done by them, but this is false for a majority of vehicles as long as you have one working remote
-a working remote is needed amongst most vehicles to access the programming sequence for adding another remote
-only a handful of vehicles can have a remote programmed by operation of the key, accessing some pairing switch under the dash, etc.
-procedures will vary between vehicles

Issue #3:
-the fuse has blown for the control circuit or module of the keyless entry system
-refer to your owner’s manual for the corresponding fuse, locate the fuse box, and then test the fuse
-use a test light while the fuse is in place or remove the fuse completely to do a continuity test using a multimeter
-do not visually inspect the fuse as this isn’t a reliable method

Issue #4:
-either the antenna, wiring, or faulty module may fail
-depending how the design of your vehicles system, you may have a separate antenna which can fail, any wiring may become faulty, connections can corrode or in a rare situation the module can fail completely
-diagnostic procedures will vary between vehicles but you can refer to a vehicle specific repair manual or there might be common fault areas known to your vehicle which can be found through online sources such as car forums

Issue #5:
-the remote can fail completely
-sometimes you can pull apart the remote and inspect the circuit board for any cracked solder joints
-if you find a cracked solder joint, they can be re-solder
-other times an electrical component may have failed and in order to determine that beyond testing each component on it’s own, use a radio frequency tester
-this is a speciality tool which determines if the keyless entry is sending out a signal when a button is activated
-you can purchase these tool yourself, although they can be expensive or a mechanic, electronics’s technician, or locksmith maybe able to do this for you

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© 4DIYers 2013
All Rights Reserved
No part of this video or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author.

[caseycarnes]

This worked great!! Took me all of 2 minutes to do and saved me the money and hassle of getting a new one.

[cynthiajohnson]

Hey there. So I've tried all of the basic reprogramming and ect. The key fob works it makes a chirp when I hit the lock button but it wont unlock or lock my car

[Dibi]

I recently changed my battery with in the last 6 months, and my light on my fob won't light up when I press unlock. Is it normal that these batteries die with in 6 months? Do you suggest new batteries?

[tbjylud]

Every once in a while, I've noticed that using the key fob on our aftermarket car alarm doesn't disable it and the alarm goes off. The alarm light on the dash will still be blinking armed even after unlock was pressed on the aftermarket key fob to disable the alarm. The car didn't have a factory alarm system on it at all beforehand and the aftermarket alarm system was installed at a professional place. It rarely has this issue. Other times, in a certain large parking lot of a specific business up the street, it doesn't respond to unlock/disarm commands at all for a while and finally does. Just some kind of interference?

[msweet]

Just bought a 2013 Sienna came already with one remote. I have tried the programming steps for additional remote multiple times and it's not working. Is it because I already have a working remote? In your video I beleive you may have mentioned such a problem and wasn't sure. Please advise.

[mobileasaurus]

My aftermarket, clifford, fob has a spring antenna inside. It has come loose. I'm not sure what it needs to be connected to. Do you have a video to reccomend for this issue? Thanks.

[floydherrera]

Thank you, I have a 2004 Nissan frontier that when I try to program keyless entry won't connect. I think every step connects but the last one and thats to see if remote works.any suggestions.

[dianehawkins]

My Lincoln’s remote stopped workin so I replaced the battery. That didn’t works so I have been through the reprogramming procedure many times both with my original key fobs and with some replacements. The car cycles correctly, but the fobs will not program. Any suggestions?

[Volvo_kay]

This video was a life saver! Thank you

[shujangp]

Hi I can unlock the car, open trunk, but lock is not working from Honda Accord 2006 keyless entry fob. both of the foob is doing the same. please suggest

[Mrfort]

vw. golf cabriolet 2012: replaced battery, fob lights but not work ? spare one works ok ?any suggestions please?

[totaltwit]

What about these Sealey VS921 that check for a signal? Are these any good? They seem quite inexpensive.

[smoke]

Hello, me and my father recently bough 2 keyless remotes and I tried a method for my car to program it and it just doesn't work. My car is a 1999 Honda accord any help would be nice. If it doesn't work im just going to go to a dealer.

[martywt]

Last year nearly all car fobs in a local carpark near me would not work . After intense investigations it turned out the issue was a local ham radio operator transmitting on 433 mhz using many watts which blocked 99% of fobs when he was transmitting to most car remote frequencies of European, Japanese + Korean cars which is reason fobs only worked temporary.
Worth trying spare fob,
Not sure if this is the same in the united states .

[MrDr]

I have a 323ci and the unlock and trunk buttons work fine but i cant lock it using the key fob i have to maually do it . any ideas on that?

[CMRinehart]

What about faulty actuators? My remote doors work using the fob but trunk stopped opening. Even the remote button inside car doesn't open trunk.

[pcrate]

I have a problems with my Suzuki aerio 2003, the keyless stop working.. any help?

[cloudrhezii]

I have a 1996 v6 mustang . I bought 2 key fobs to reprogram. There is a clip in the trunk to short out when key is on to go into train mode but when I short the clip out nothing happens. Do you have any ideas ? I have yet to check the fuse but will here soon

[davidnaugler]

Hi, I own a 2004 Chrysler PT with wireless remote; it can unlock the doors or sound the alarm. I don't use it, rather I keep in a drawer if I need it. Lately as I drive around the door locks are activated at random. I think this is because wireless remotes have become popular and the airwaves have become filled with remote key codes. How can I deactivate this feature? Thanks.

[johnhlockwood]

I'm stumped. I have a 2004 Explorer - keypad works, FOB doesn't. R&R battery in the FOB, no change. I eliminated it being the FOB by being able to program the FOB to my Ranger... FOB stopped working a couple days ago but worked fine until then. Does one fuse control both? Does whatever the controller is have a FOB side and a Keypad side?