Dave Crellin

Two quick questions:

Even with fresh new batteries both the key fob and the switchblade remotes only work within about 3 ft of the car. They have for the 2yrs of my ownership, so nothing new, but finally I'm tired of it. Does anyone else have this limited range?

Secondly, when the drive block kicks in (eg the car is left unlocked for a few mins) and I turn the ignition key, the engine turns over. IT never fires but does turn over. According to the manual when the drive block is active the engine shouldn't even turn. Does anyone share this one?

Any ideas?

PWC

It seems to depend on the direction of approach. The engine should not turnover as far as I am aware as the immobilizer prevents this. In my case, the car is near dead without deactiviating the immobilizer. Check the threads though as there is a ton of stuff on this as I recall.

waybrig

Mine also seems to have a very limited range, also with fresh batteries.

Without de-activating the immobilizer I get nothing, no turn over, nothing.

Mark in Baltimore

My range is limited, and my key fob has to be pressed before the engine will turn over.

Chipset

I too get no turn over on mine. In addition to this, the range is very limited. Annoying..

ESL

The range is intentionally limited so crooks can't scan for the electronic signal, or so I've been told. As a way to increase the range, use your body as an antenna. If you hold the key fob against your skull and point your finger of the other hand at the car while pressing the button, you can increase the range about 20 feet. You look ridiculous but you do increase your range!

ca993twin

ESL,

The question I must ask... how many experiments and contortions did you go through trying to increase your remote range? That would have made a pretty amusing video. My immoblizer works from about 8 feet, and the car will not turn over if immobolized.

STLPCA

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by ca993twin:
<strong>The question I must ask... how many experiments and contortions did you go through trying to increase your remote range? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Steve
I'm surprised you didn't know this old trick ('Thou not nearly as old as you or me). I've used it since my first car w/a remote. I think the range is dependent on the amount of metal content of one's head. I seem to get pretty good range from mine. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Dave
If your immobilzer dash light is on & your engine turns over - something's wrong.

Terry Adams

Range 35 feet, and have spent too long staring at what's cooking in the µwave oven to want to experiment further. I have the interior motion sensor; don't know if that improves the range.

Dave Crellin

So I'm not alone in having the short range key fob, but will try the skull-antenna trick when it's nice and private.

So if the engine turns when the immobilizer is set, should I be looking at a control unit of some form? It's not a problem, and I am rare in actually liking the immobilizer and the way it works, but if the engine shouldn't even turn over, I want it fixed.

williet1342

What a hoot. Myself and a friend read this thread at the office and immediately tried the key fob to the head trick on his mercedes. It worked. We couldn't stop laughing. Both of us agreed that we would show our wives tonight, just to confirm what they already were thinking. WE'VE LOST IT.

Even if it doesn't work on my p-car, I may occassionally do it to keep everyone wondering.
<img border="0" alt="[icon107]" title="" src="graemlins/icon107.gif" />

Regards to all. Stu

Tech-Law

It also works if you grab yourself Michael Jackson style and then give a little kick toward the car with your right leg... this is somewhat more difficult to successfully pull off in certain social situations.

S3

Mine has good range and the engine does not turn over.