What range should my key remote have ?

[greenacc]

My keys are getting old and the range seems to be getting shorter. With one of my keys i need to be standing right beside the car to open it.
On this topic, are the replacement keys from Mister minit OK or should i get a genuine one from Holden ?

[sweefu]

hey mate, mine seems to be the same as you, if its a direct clear line i might get a few metres at best

[greenacc]

I guess 14 years out of a little battery aint so bad ey.

[hako]

I've used Mister Minit keys for the past 4 years and found them OK. Current keys are 2 years old and range is about 5 metres. The rubber covering the buttons does not last as long as the original ones however.

[greenacc]

What does mister minit charge ? and any idea what genuine costs ...

[clubby_you]

new keys are about 80 bucks i think not sure tho cause i work for holden and dont pay retail ..
my key is pretty new gen gey and i can use it up to about 20m away

[sweefu]

mr mint wanted 90 from memory to do me a new key for my vs

[hako]

Mister Minit can sell you just the programmed keyhead for either $70 or $80 if the key is OK. About $20 more for the whole key. That's in Toowoomba.

[greenacc]

cool i'll give holden a call and check what they want. if its half reasonable i want to go genuine. I've heard talk that the mister minit ones are not safe and makes your car easier to steal ? could be a load of crap too.

[hako]

Mister Minit ones have the GMH logo on the back which means they are genuine and the same as from Holden I'd imagine.

[ScoHar]

hold it to the side of your temple and look at your car, that'l get you more range, if you don't believe me just try it.

[adzy_5l]

yeah mrmint are around 90 bucks i got one for my old vt had no problems at all with it

[Ozzie]

The darker the tint the less the range. The more metalic inside the tint the less the range.
The more armorall on top of the reciever the less the range.

Can also be a combination of all 3.

Its not so much the battery itself, it either works or it doesnt.

Youll get better range from the front of the car then from the back or sides.

[greenacc]

OK, silly question time - where is the receiver ? on the dash ?

[TVR-190]

put the key up against your head and you get extra range out of it.

**I will not be held responsible for any brain tumours or cancer resulting from doing this**


i do it a bit however, and am still alive

[hako]

OK, silly question time - where is the receiver ? on the dash ?

Dunno...but I'd guess it's simply the BCM/remote key receiver itself. I know that with a virtually dead key battery I needed to get right near the drivers door before it unlocked. Maybe it uses the wiring as an aerial just like your radio will receive a signal even with the aerial retracted.

[greenacc]

there's a round black thing under the bonnet at the top of the drivers side gaurd. would that be it or am i missing a rubber stopper on the other side lol. ?

[<RaBBiT>]

can't the battery's be replaced?

[Haydz]

Vr batteries can be replaced.

apparently vs batteried when removed lose their memory

[PanthaVS]

OK, silly question time - where is the receiver ? on the dash ?

The BCM is the reciever. its located above your right knee when sitting in the drivers seat. (Under the dash)

[<RaBBiT>]

bugger that sucks lol

[bloodylegend]

i never had remote locking in my car. then one day i got a new key but the central locking still didnt work. and then thekey place said the car probably doesnt have remote central locking

[Ozzie]

Mines behind the windscreen between the vent trims on the dash

[stocky]

Vr batteries can be replaced.

apparently vs batteried when removed lose their memory

is that definate? might need to replace the battery in mine. any idea what battery they use?

Mines behind the windscreen between the vent trims on the dash

on a VN-VS thats where the sun temp sensor thing is

[hako]

is that definate? might need to replace the battery in mine. any idea what battery they use?

You can crack open the VS keyhead - Jaycar sell batteries to fit and have tags attached to the battery which must be soldered in like the original. The VS remote will not lose it's memory with the battery removed as long as you replace it within a few days.
There is a "How to" I think in that section.