Key fob battery gonna die soon?

[blueice89]

Curious for those that use the manual key fob do you notice you have to stand pretty close to the car? I wonder if proximity to unlock is a sign of the battery life of the fob? Thoughts? Lately I need to be pretty close only few steps away 2-4

 

[borski]

Curious for those that use the manual key fob do you notice you have to stand pretty close to the car? I wonder if proximity to unlock is a sign of the battery life of the fob? Thoughts? Lately I need to be pretty close only few steps away 2-4

There’s a really trivial way to check: replace the battery and see if you can use it at a further distance.

 

[blueice89]

There’s a really trivial way to check: replace the battery and see if you can use it at a further distance.

I am feeling lazy lol

 

[blueice89]

Small vent my old ice car very low tech just the manual remote I could he lost in Disney land and find my car like miles of cars

 

[blueice89]

So this could be an area for improvement

 

[blueice89]

Or at least give us geo lock awareness

 

[segbrk]

Or at least give us geo lock awareness

Not sure what that means, but you can look at the car's location (and honk it remotely) on your phone?

 

[borski]

I am feeling lazy lol

Cool. So am I. Sounds like we’ll never resolve the mystery.

 

[borski]

Not sure what that means, but you can look at the car's location (and honk it remotely) on your phone?

I have done exactly this to “he lost in Disney land and find my car like miles of cars”

 

[koflo]

Not sure what that means, but you can look at the car's location (and honk it remotely) on your phone?

Idk if this was the context but for instance MSP has geographic unlock where you can essentially say don’t lock if your home or work or I guess any location. And for the record, I would love that too. That’s what I believe he meant.

 

[blueice89]

Wanted to report back:
Experiment results say that battery life is directly relevant to distance of the unlock. On the old battery of about 6m-1yr I got about 5ft distance unlock.
Swapped battery with freshly wiped with rub alcohol generic brand 2132 CR and the unlock distance went to 25-30 ft.
Great improvement.
SO I guess that will be a sign, unlock distance decreasing.
Experiment success.

 

[WTC]

Yes I have also noticed I need to be closer than before. The battery also seems to be lasting longer, knock wood. Before I only got about a month. This time I'm at 7 weeks and counting, without any performance drop. They must have updated something.

 

[Steve181]

1 - Where is the antenna to receive the keyfob push button BLE transmit?

2 - Is this the same antenna used for the passive unlock feature?

3- I know that the NFC antenna for the key card and fob swipe is in the B pillar. Please correct if I have assumed this incorrectly.

4 - Has anyone ever fully opened a keyfob (not just the battery door)?

Thanks

 

[borski]

4 - Has anyone ever fully opened a keyfob (not just the battery door)?

@segbrk ^

 

[Lucken]

4 - Has anyone ever fully opened a keyfob (not just the battery door)?

Thanks

If you do, It will void your warranty on the car and your toaster oven.

 

[borski]

If you do, It will void your warranty on the car and your toaster oven.

(He’s kidding, stop DMing me… jesus lol)

 

[Steve181]

I have been thinking about this - see the drawing below.

- If there is access to the switch contacts in the keyfob, then the upper path could be used with a cheap RF remote control to parallel that vague switch, including doing precise timing of the bursts.

- If that is not available, then the lower path could be used with a spare android phone (recent enought to run the Lucid Ap) emulate the keyfob via the phone AP.

I know its a Rube Goldberg, and that it decreses security, but it might work. Other thoughts are welcome..

 

[Bobby]

1 - Where is the antenna to receive the keyfob push button BLE transmit?

2 - Is this the same antenna used for the passive unlock feature?

3- I know that the NFC antenna for the key card and fob swipe is in the B pillar. Please correct if I have assumed this incorrectly.

4 - Has anyone ever fully opened a keyfob (not just the battery door)?

Thanks

1. Ceiling center and apparently also driver door.
2. Yes. Fob literally is the passive unlock feature. Also mobile key.
3. Yes
4. Yes.

 

[borski]

1. Ceiling center and apparently also driver door.
2. Yes. Fob literally is the passive unlock feature. Also mobile key.
3. Yes
4. Yes.

There are also other security nodes around the car. You can find rear security nodes for sale on ebay. I have absolutely no idea where they are though, or if some are turned off, or who knows.