Key Fob distance diminishing quickly? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

mexiken · 01-13-2013, 10:55 PM

Some background: I've had the car less than a year, and it's got just shy of 15K miles on it.

I just noticed on my key fob that the distance it's able to lock/unlock the car has diminished GREATLY. I used to be able to hit it from about 200-300 feet away. The other day, I tried hitting it from about 6 cars down (I'd say about 100-150 feet) and it wouldn't work. I had to get to about 50 feet away for it to work. The only caveat being that there were cars in between Sofia and I, but I also remember last year bragging that I could find my car in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium using the panic button and I was FAR from the car (close to 300 feet I'd say). In October, I went to an amusement park and remember that it didn't work all that close either, but didn't think much of it until this recent time, where I was about 3 cars away before it locked.

I don't know what I should do, and to be truthful, I'm kind of embarassed to mention it to the dealer, but it just doesn't work like it used to. Just wanted to see if anyone out there had any similar issues with their key fob.

joeybsyc · 01-13-2013, 11:26 PM

Maybe put a new battery in it?

mexiken · 01-13-2013, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeybsyc

Maybe put a new battery in it?

I figured it might be that obviously, but is it normal for the battery to start dying within 10 months ????

pocketcthulhu · 01-13-2013, 11:57 PM

hold it up to your jaw and hit unlock I'm not kidding your body can boost the signal I laughed so hard the first time I tried it, oh yea and replace your battery.

CHMSC · 01-14-2013, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pocketcthulhu

hold it up to your jaw and hit unlock I'm not kidding your body can boost the signal I laughed so hard the first time I tried it, oh yea and replace your battery.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Baldman · 01-14-2013, 12:19 PM

Have you tried the other Key Fob? Does it do the same thing? If it does take to the dealer, if it doesn't change the battery.

christianmotox · 01-14-2013, 12:22 PM

Do you have a Scosche kit installed?

Ive had my camaro for almost 3 years and i haven't noticed the signal diminish, but i usually unlock/lock the car when im within 10 feet or so.

Mr. iNCREDIBLE · 01-14-2013, 12:27 PM

I've had the same issue, I replaced my batteries in both fobs, issue is still there.

Only had my car 5 months, and bought new.

I have noticed it seems to be area related, at work I am around the L.A. County Train Yard, and the L.A. County Fire Dept. MIS and 911 dispatch center, both are within 1/2 mile and there is a ton of radio antenna and cell repeater towers over here.

At home I have no issue, works from a few hundred feet away.

At some shopping centers same issue, others not so much.

Didn't have the issue at the dealer when I mentioned it to them, was able to remote start the car in the service isle from the far end of the new car lot, probably 400 feet away.

mr_honez · 01-14-2013, 12:37 PM

Might be radio interference from the area you are in. Around my house in the country I have really good range, around work in Austin not nearly as good. My wife's Equinox does have much better range than my Camaro does though, for grins and giggles I started it while I was in the mall and we were parked on the end of the lot. Surprised that it was running when we got there.

01-13-2013, 10:55 PM	#1
mexiken Drives: Sofia: 2012 Chevy Camaro 2SS LS3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 409 View My Garage	Key Fob distance diminishing quickly? Some background: I've had the car less than a year, and it's got just shy of 15K miles on it. I just noticed on my key fob that the distance it's able to lock/unlock the car has diminished GREATLY. I used to be able to hit it from about 200-300 feet away. The other day, I tried hitting it from about 6 cars down (I'd say about 100-150 feet) and it wouldn't work. I had to get to about 50 feet away for it to work. The only caveat being that there were cars in between Sofia and I, but I also remember last year bragging that I could find my car in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium using the panic button and I was FAR from the car (close to 300 feet I'd say). In October, I went to an amusement park and remember that it didn't work all that close either, but didn't think much of it until this recent time, where I was about 3 cars away before it locked. I don't know what I should do, and to be truthful, I'm kind of embarassed to mention it to the dealer, but it just doesn't work like it used to. Just wanted to see if anyone out there had any similar issues with their key fob. __________________ Interior: 2-tone gray interior, Blue Dome and trunk lights, L.A. Dodgers floor mats (to come: footwell lighting) Exterior: Sunroof, custom painted gray stripes, vinyl Bowtie emblem decals, Holographic Transformer decals, white license plate LED lights Sounds: Stock highs, Alpine MRX-M100 amp mated to a 12" JL Audio W3 in a ****** Stealth enclosure Engine/Performance**: Hurst Short Throw Shifter, Rx Catch Can painted IBM, (to come: JacFab CAI, muffler delete/Flowmasters)

01-13-2013, 11:26 PM	#2
joeybsyc Drives: 2010 Aqua Blue Metallic 2SS Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PA Posts: 2,010 View My Garage	Maybe put a new battery in it? __________________

01-13-2013, 11:57 PM	#4
pocketcthulhu Drives: 2014 2ss/RS 5th gen Camaro #2 Join Date: May 2012 Location: arkansas Posts: 496 View My Garage	hold it up to your jaw and hit unlock I'm not kidding your body can boost the signal I laughed so hard the first time I tried it, oh yea and replace your battery. __________________

01-14-2013, 12:19 PM	#6
Baldman EMERALD COAST CAMAROS Drives: None Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Cridersvile, OHIO Posts: 2,973	Have you tried the other Key Fob? Does it do the same thing? If it does take to the dealer, if it doesn't change the battery. __________________

01-14-2013, 12:22 PM	#7
christianmotox Drives: ( . )( . ) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,827	Do you have a Scosche kit installed? Ive had my camaro for almost 3 years and i haven't noticed the signal diminish, but i usually unlock/lock the car when im within 10 feet or so. __________________

01-14-2013, 12:27 PM	#8
Mr. iNCREDIBLE Drives: 2012 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: SoCal Baby... Posts: 2,530	I've had the same issue, I replaced my batteries in both fobs, issue is still there. Only had my car 5 months, and bought new. I have noticed it seems to be area related, at work I am around the L.A. County Train Yard, and the L.A. County Fire Dept. MIS and 911 dispatch center, both are within 1/2 mile and there is a ton of radio antenna and cell repeater towers over here. At home I have no issue, works from a few hundred feet away. At some shopping centers same issue, others not so much. Didn't have the issue at the dealer when I mentioned it to them, was able to remote start the car in the service isle from the far end of the new car lot, probably 400 feet away. __________________ *I'm only responsible for what I say, not for what you fail to understand.*

01-14-2013, 12:37 PM	#9
mr_honez Wifey Lover Drives: 2013 Crystal Red 2LT/RS Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bastrop, Texas Posts: 1,540 View My Garage	Might be radio interference from the area you are in. Around my house in the country I have really good range, around work in Austin not nearly as good. My wife's Equinox does have much better range than my Camaro does though, for grins and giggles I started it while I was in the mall and we were parked on the end of the lot. Surprised that it was running when we got there. __________________