key remote problem
 

Hi, I've just bought my first 75 a CDTi tourer and I'm delighted with it. Please to join such a helpful forum as well. One immediate problem I have is that my remote keys don't work. The lights on both keys operate when the buttons are pressed, so I guess the key batteries are okay but they don't remotely operate the doors. I've looked on the forums but can't see any advice directly dealing with this, although apologises if advice on this has been posted up before and I can't see it. I guess I'm looking at a garage reprogramming job am I? Do many places still undertake this work?

Thanks.

Sounds daft, but try a free test first. Hold the metal bit of the key on your tongue when you press the button, this gives the best chance AFAIK for the thing to work if it's going to.

Firstly, welcome to the forums :welcome: and thanks for your kind words of gratitude :)

Secondly, I would be tempted to change the batteries in the keys anyway as regardless of the little LED on the fob they may have insufficient power to reach the car. Range and sensitivity of the remote locking is quite variable depending on from where you stand to the car, how far away and even silly things like what you ate for breakfast (well, maybe not that silly).

I presume the keys start the car okay?

If new batteries don't work out then it may be time to take the keys and car to a T4-equipped garage to see if they can reprogram the car to the keys.

I'm sure people will be along with further suggestions too :)

EDIT: Drat, beaten to it by baxlin :getmecoat: :D

The keys may need re-synchronising, press either button four times in quick succession, on the fourth press the doors should lock, or unlock.

This is very interesting as I had the very same problem for the 1st time this morning. I could not open the car doors with either key this morning whilst the car was on the drive, but openned with key in lock.
When I drove to work I tried again and it was working perfectly as before, before coming home this evening the car could be unlocked with remote from a fair distance, but strangely will not lock with either key once back at home again and parked on the drive.
How strange is that, I am lost for words, could it be some kind of jamming is taking place?. Both batteries appear to be OK.!!!

Overhead power lines nearby have been known to cause problems with remote controls, could be that or something similar.

No, no, no, there must be something more sinister at work here, some form of radio interference, not overhead cables,I don;t live out in the sticks.!

Its somebody close to you thats got a powerfull radio signal it happens at my mates when i go there.

I agree with Brian, check to see if there are any Radio Hams close to you, look for their ariels, some will just be poles with an antena wire running from it.

And wireless doorbells...................