Hello everyone - please be nice to a poor CL guy looking for some tech advice. I posted this in the CL sections (both) but apparently no one has ever had this problem. I hope someone here can help me. Thanks in advance!

Here is the problem:

My keyless entry quit working after I shipped my car back from overseas. I had the unit that operates the keyless entry replaced and keyless entry works again - but the range stinks!

Before I had the unit replaced, my keyless entry was good for at least 100 yards - maybe more. Now it's good for maybe 20 feet. I have also noticed that I have to pause between unlock/lock commands. Before I could hit: unlock-unlock and all the doors would unlock. Now it's: unlock-one potato-two potato-unlock to get the same result. Same with the lock/beep double push. I have also noticed that the key fob can be "masked" or blocked by the car. For instance - standing by the trunk with the key fob at waist level - the trunk won't pop. I have to lift it up and point it through the rear window. This did not happen before I replaced that control unit.

I have tinted my windows with metallic tint since the replacement, but this was a problem even before the tint went on. I looked at the old part, and there doesn't appear to be any switch or gain control (no switches of any kind) on the unit itself.

Has anyone else had a similar problem after replacing the keyless entry control unit? Is there any way to boost the signal of the keyfob or, alternatively, to adjust the sensativity of the receiver in the car?

Yes, I know you can touch the keyfob to your chin to extend the range. I don't know why it works, but it does. It just makes me look like a retard. (more than usual!)

 

That sounds pretty crazy...can't say I've ever heard of the problem. I'm assuming when you are more than 20 feet from the car, there are no obstructions between you and the car. Line of sight makes a big difference for me when I try to use my key fob. Good luck with that though.

 

could it be a weak battery? Try replacing it......if not it only cost you a buck or two....

Sorry I couldn't be of more help....

 

Guys, he has a CL which is not a TL so we shouldn't even be talking to him

Just kidding, I'm not 100% sure that this follows through in Acura's but on my old Corolla it had a sensitivity adjustment knob on the keyless entry/alarm unit under the passenger seat. I dunno if one exist for our Acura's though.

 

Some of my best friends are TL drivers!

I actually have the old (broken) keyless alarm unit - the stealership gave it back to me after the work was done. I looked at the darn thing and didn't see any knob or dip-switch or anything on it.

Right now, I'm operating under 2 theories.

1) The new unit was wired incorrectly (maybe it requires a resistor in-series or something.) Or perhaps it was installed in a sloppy way behind the dash in such a way that it's field of view is now (partially) blocked or there is interference from the metal structure under the dash.

2) The FCC ID for '02 and later CLs (dunno on the TL) actually changed slightly. The '02 keyfobs are different (and prettier) and have a different code. Although an '01 fob will work with an '02 (and vice versa) maybe they installed a newer ('02 and later) sending unit - and the difference in code is reducing the range. Unfortunately the way to test this theory is to buy an '02 fob ($80 new, $30 eBay) and see if it works better. Hmmm...

Maybe I'll just take it back and gripe about it. I think the dealers warrantee their work for 12 months. Thanks for the help guys!

 

Ummm, what? I have never heard of that before... lol. I read it and just imagined everyone in the world when they went to unlock their car pressed it on their chin and it made me laugh. Thanks for the chuckle.

 

i was just going to say hold it to your nose to make the range go farther, haha. it works too, nothing like using your body as a big ass antenna

 

So you're saying if I am near something like a light/power pole then I should press it up against it and it would give me further range?

 

I don't know if it really works or not either. I couldn't imagine that your head would transmit an RF frequency further but maybe it works.

 

try it... you'll see

 

haha, put it next to a radio tower. send out a signal so strong it goes across the spectrum and puts everybody's car in a 50 mile radius in panic

 

Can you climb in your car from 20 feet? Let alone a 100?

 

^^I agree, but there have been times when I walked away from my car in a hurry, or just plain old forgot if I locked the doors. So it sucks if I have to walk back to the car to get in range for the doors to lock.

 

Hey Vipertrunk ...my TL-p 02 use to has a wonderful range too but 6 months ago the
keyless entry unit fall to 20 feets range .... so I set and try the unit to open my mom's garage and the range was fine !!????\
It turns out that my garage door opener cause the problem .......
Maybe you should do the same test .....

 

I'm having similar issues on my 3G, so I'm watching this.
Having the longer range is nice with the window roll-down feature.

 

That is so true. It is also nice when you forget to lock or cant remember if you locked it. Sorry for my sarcastic comment earlier.

 

I did't take it as sarcastic...its legitmate.