Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

[Silver 99 Camaro]

I have the factory keyless entry and alarm, and for the last few months both of my remotes have hardly worked. I changed the batteries, resynchronized them, and still to unlock the car, lock it, or pop the hatch I have to stand right next to the car and push the buttons 5-20 times! Eventually it'll work after all of those pushes.

So, since it's both remotes, what is the problem? Is it the remotes, or the something with the car like the BCM? It's really annoying, especially when it's raining. Has anybody had a similar problem and been able to fix it? Please let me know.

[hockeyman]

Re: Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

Take the remote apart and clean the contact points with a rag & rubbing alcohol. They become dirty over time and lose their continuity.
Once you get the remote apart, remove the small computer board that exposes the black contacts of the rubber buttons (the other side). It is those black round contacts that you want to clean.

Happens to mine all the time.

[Silver 99 Camaro]

Re: Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

I'll give that a try tonight with both and see what happens.

[flyfrito_SS]

Re: Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

Ya, when mine stopped working, I just took it apart, cleaned it, put it back together, and it worked like new.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

I've had to do that to mine before and I think it needs it again. A little rubbing with some fine grit sandpaper or steel wool works well for cleaning those contacts.

[Silver 99 Camaro]

Re: Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

I cleaned them both. The lesser used one works like brand new now, but the other one still takes a lot of pushes. It was really dirty, there was actually chunks of black deposit on the unlock contact. I think that one is just totally shot....but hey, at least one works well now. Thanks guys.

[Silver 99 Camaro]

Re: Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

Well, after cleaning the remote it worked better for a few days now it's doing the same thing again. It's still better, but I am having to push the unlock button several times to open the car, and the hatch release button hardly works at all. Is there a possilbility it's not the remotes and it's the BCM? Does anyone have another idea?

[hockeyman]

Re: Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

Well, after cleaning the remote it worked better for a few days now it's doing the same thing again. It's still better, but I am having to push the unlock button several times to open the car, and the hatch release button hardly works at all. Is there a possilbility it's not the remotes and it's the BCM? Does anyone have another idea?

I had to keep cleaning mine too. I finally got fed-up of taking it apart and just bought another one on ebay. After a while, the contacts (that you cleaned) become worn and work poorly. Cleaning is just a temporary option, but you'll have to replace the remote soon.

[Silver 99 Camaro]

Re: Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

That's what's weird. The remote I used for years should be bad and it is, but the other one just sat unused until recently. The practically new one doesn't work very well either. I suppose if it helped when I cleaned it that it isn't the car and probably the remote, so getting a new one looks like the best option. Thanks.

[josh98bird]

Re: Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

how much was yours on ebay, and was it easy to make it work?

[hockeyman]

Re: Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

I believe it was about $28 shipped and it came with the programming instructions. It took less than a minute to do and it was very easy. The programming instructions for my 96 camaro are also located HERE.

[slow6]

Re: Remote Keyless Entry--Hardly Works

its easy to program it