As an ex electronics man, I've seen so many reports on this problem on here. Some of the responses have been quite amusing.
I think I've cracked the problem, by suffering the same problem myself, on a 2005 Ford Focus.
For a 3 volt button cell to provide the power for the electronics, the current used must be negligable, and therein the problem.
Having had similar problems, with otherwise fully functioning systems in electronics, the problem was found to be relays, even with gold plated contacts, they couldn't pass very low currents when they had been in operation for a little time. The gold tarnishes JUSSST enough, that the voltage is inadequte to force very low currents through the tarnish.(12v through 1 contact in the case of the relays, so what chance does a 3 volt button cell have through 6 (Positive and negative), serial battery contacts in your remote.).
My remote? Ever decreasing range, to near enough not working at all. New battery.......no difference.
Opened the key, and the battery is one half, has the battery itself, connections to the battery, and then FROM other end of the battery connections, to gold plated pads on the PCB in the other half of the key.
I've cleaned the battery faces, the contacts TO the battery, the contact FROM the battery to the gold pads on the PCB, and the gold pads ON the PCB.
WARNING !!!!
Do not clean the gold plated pads on the PCB with anything abrasive!!!!!!
Bit of tissue soaked in alcohol should do it. Do the same with the other contacts too, as abrasive tools will cause damage.
My central locking? Back to, AS NEW, and no money spent.
Reminder:
LOW CIRCUIT VOLTAGE /CURRENT will not flow through tarnished battery connectors. Cleaning is the ONLY answer.
I think I've cracked the problem, by suffering the same problem myself, on a 2005 Ford Focus.
For a 3 volt button cell to provide the power for the electronics, the current used must be negligable, and therein the problem.
Having had similar problems, with otherwise fully functioning systems in electronics, the problem was found to be relays, even with gold plated contacts, they couldn't pass very low currents when they had been in operation for a little time. The gold tarnishes JUSSST enough, that the voltage is inadequte to force very low currents through the tarnish.(12v through 1 contact in the case of the relays, so what chance does a 3 volt button cell have through 6 (Positive and negative), serial battery contacts in your remote.).
My remote? Ever decreasing range, to near enough not working at all. New battery.......no difference.
Opened the key, and the battery is one half, has the battery itself, connections to the battery, and then FROM other end of the battery connections, to gold plated pads on the PCB in the other half of the key.
I've cleaned the battery faces, the contacts TO the battery, the contact FROM the battery to the gold pads on the PCB, and the gold pads ON the PCB.
WARNING !!!!
Do not clean the gold plated pads on the PCB with anything abrasive!!!!!!
Bit of tissue soaked in alcohol should do it. Do the same with the other contacts too, as abrasive tools will cause damage.
My central locking? Back to, AS NEW, and no money spent.
Reminder:
LOW CIRCUIT VOLTAGE /CURRENT will not flow through tarnished battery connectors. Cleaning is the ONLY answer.
