Remote locking - works everywhere except my carport

[Peter Norman]

I purchased this 2009 VE berlina 1 month ago. I cannot lock/unlock the car remotely when it is in my carport. Remote locking seems to work everywhere else. Anyone had this problem and solved it? Cheers, Peter

[Voodoo_SV6]

Do you have a mobile phone tower close by? They can interfere. More noticeable when the battery in the remote is not brand new

[Peter Norman]

No phone tower nearby, but I suspect it's RF interference from somewhere. My next test at home to to turn off all power at my house at the main switch. If the remote locking then works then it's something in my house. If still not working maybe a neighbour's house. Interestingly, when I took this problem to Ferntree Gully Holden they said that sometimes remotes don't work under their vehicle service parking area (steel roof) ... but they drive into the open and works OK. Mine works sometimes, but mostly not. Cheers, Peter

[TinSnips]

That's a bizarre one... I'd blame the CIA. Get yourself a foil hat!

As above, check the battery - there's a car park near me that has a thousand mobile towers and the remote will only work there if the battery is in pretty good shape.

[HUX 90]

Do you have any IR sensors for any outdoor lights in or near your carport? that could be causing interference

[excopss]

Mate ... Just get a new battery in the remote and you should find it works . Its easy to install your self . And only a couple of dollars for the battery .

[mint]

Mate ... Just get a new battery in the remote and you should find it works . Its easy to install your self . And only a couple of dollars for the battery .

He says it only happens in his carport.

That suggests it is interference related.

Not much you can do apart from remove what is causing the desense.

[HoldenOnn]

It does sound like interference from your house or surrounding neighbourhood area. We had an issue for quite a while and we had trouble with locking/unlocking cars remotely, our remote automatic gate wouldn't open, our wireless outdoor temp unit wouldn't send info to indoor display, and certain tv stations had intereference, remote roller doors were not responding to remote.

This happened to quite a few houses in our street (around 5 or 6). We took info to telecommunications ombudsman or something like that. We had to fill a sheet out and get all neighbours to sign and then they would send out technician.

After putting up with this for a couple weeks and nearly ready to send form in, the interference stopped one day. Everybodies tv, gates, roller doors, wireless temp displays starting working instantly.

We were told it could have been alot of things. One that was mentioned was that a masthead amplifier on somebodies house may have malfunctioned and could be sending out interference. Alot of other things were mentioned but can't remember as was well over a year ago now.

[Peter Norman]

Thanks to all who responded. It seems the problem was our RF doorbell button at our house front door. The button was jammed in the depressed position, therefore constantly transmitting RF to the chime unit. But the battery in the chime unit had gone flat, so it was not chiming. So I replaced the battery in the receiving chime unit, and the battery in the transmitting button unit for good measure, unjammed the button, and now Bob's my uncle. If I have any further problems I will disconnect our TV mast head ampifier and driveway illumination movement sensors. Thanks all for the advice ... I particularly liked the foil hat suggestion, so I've purchased an aluminium pith helmet and have joined the CIA. Cheers, Peter Norman