Car- keys remote doesn't work in my driveway but does everywhere else!!??

[Jeff543]

Car- keys remote doesn't work in my driveway but does everywhere else!!?? When i've been out driving and i pull in to my driveway i can lock it via remote but when i go out in morning i can't get the doors open by remote. I don't get it. Any ideas why?

 

[RandomGrinch]

Hi,

I don't know if this could be the cause, but is your keyfob left in a cold place overnight?
The batteries may be on their way out; after a bit of warming up in the car and your pocket, they may work a bit better?
How old is the car / fob battery?
You could change the battery and see if it makes a difference.

...and holding the fob to your head when you press the button, can increase the range of the signal...although you do end up looking silly!

 

[Tigercubrider]

There used to be a fair number of reports on this in the past?
I suspect that the possible cause could be that someone close has a Wi-Fi device or other electronic device operating on a similar frequency that happens to block the car’s system

 

[Jeff543]

Hi,

I don't know if this could be the cause, but is your keyfob left in a cold place overnight?
The batteries may be on their way out; after a bit of warming up in the car and your pocket, they may work a bit better?
How old is the car / fob battery?
You could change the battery and see if it makes a difference.

...and holding the fob to your head when you press the button, can increase the range of the signal...although you do end up looking silly!

But it never happened before and I keep the keys in the same place even during sub zero Winter temperatures so no as Tigercurbrider said i think it's a neighbour's powerful wifi inteference.

 

[RandomGrinch]

But it never happened before and I keep the keys in the same place even during sub zero Winter temperatures so no as Tigercurbrider said i think it's a neighbour's powerful wifi inteference.

Ok, could well be interference then.
...In that case definitely try holding the fob to your head and let us know what happens!

 

[Mottie]

There used to be a fair number of reports on this in the past?
I suspect that the possible cause could be that someone close has a Wi-Fi device or other electronic device operating on a similar frequency that happens to block the car’s system

I've been somewhere before on a motorbike with a mate on his bike and in the same location several times and on each time, both our remote alarms wouldn't work. We put it down to interference.

 

[flameport]

Property nearby has a crappy wireless doorbell with the button jammed in.

 

[ericmark]

I remember a call from a radio ham to ask us all to stop using a repeater as every time we used it his car locked, and he could not get away from the repeater site.

There have also been reports of ABS brakes failing due to radio use, I know my Vauxhall Agila said in hand book that mobile phones should not be used in the car, which seemed a little silly as the Vauxhall Agila did not have ABS brakes, likely same instructions for all Vauxhall cars.

And going for a walk with the dog and talking on local repeater security lights seemed to be having a fit. Have also set of car alarms, and in the main only using 5 watt.

 

[bernardgreen]

A few years ago jammers were maliciously used to prevent cars in station car parks being locked by the owner's fob. This left many cars unlocked and at the mercy of criminals.

 

[Jeff543]

For the first time in all this, miles away from home, I couldn't lock the car remotely. I concluded that it must therefore be the dying battery in the key-fob. If you're in the UK you could go to Timpson as they sell and fit new batteries but you need to know which battery your keys use.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

But it never happened before and I keep the keys in the same place even during sub zero Winter temperatures so no as Tigercurbrider said i think it's a neighbour's powerful wifi inteference.

Unlikely, they use very different frequencies.

 

[Jeff543]

Ok, could well be interference then.
...In that case definitely try holding the fob to your head and let us know what happens!

Yesterday for the first time in all this, miles away from home, I couldn't lock the car remotely. I concluded that it must therefore be the dying battery in the key-fob. If you're in the UK you could go to Timpson as they sell and fit new batteries but you need to know which battery your keys use

 

[Jeff543]

There used to be a fair number of reports on this in the past?
I suspect that the possible cause could be that someone close has a Wi-Fi device or other electronic device operating on a similar frequency that happens to block the car’s system

Yesterday for the first time in all this, miles away from home, I couldn't lock the car remotely. I concluded that it must therefore be the dying battery in the key-fob. If you're in the UK you could go to Timpson as they sell and fit new batteries but you need to know which battery your keys use

 

[Jeff543]

A few years ago jammers were maliciously used to prevent cars in station car parks being locked by the owner's fob. This left many cars unlocked and at the mercy of criminals.

Yesterday for the first time in all this, miles away from home, I couldn't lock the car remotely. I concluded that it must therefore be the dying battery in the key-fob. If you're in the UK you could go to Timpson as they sell and fit new batteries but you need to know which battery your keys use

 

[Peter.N.]

Don't have a radio ham locally? The operating frequency falls in the 70cm band, unlikely they would be operating all the time but just a thought.