Remote sensor location

[blacknight]

By pressing the buttons on the car keys you can lock, unlock and open the boot. But sometimes this doesnt always happen. The batteries inside the car keys are new (less than 6mths), is the sensor not able to pick up the signal from the key? This is a real hassle when I need to get the door open when it is raining heavily and then auto lock from a distance.

What factors will affect the lock and unlock function? The car battery is new by the way.

[accentstencil]

I hope someone can answer your question because same same thing is happening with mine, new remote and all.

[pablo]

Coincedently, last week some bloke here rang the local talk back radio station telling his story of how his cars remote sometimes will not work, had the vehicle checked, nothing wrong. He was told that in some areas, a strong signal from another source will "jamb" the weaker remote signal.
Then other listeners rang telling of the same happenings with their cars (various makes).
Next day, the station did some research and inteviewed an electronics specialist and he came on air and confirmed that there are certain devices around transmitting radio waves that will cause the remote signal to jamb or to sometimes fail. Mobile phone towers etc were mentioned, but he did not pinpoint anything in particular. Never experienced this phenomena myself yet.

Pablo

[LightningVP]

that would also explain why people have their doors lock/unlock without even pressing a button...

[blacknight]

Coincedently, last week some bloke here rang the local talk back radio station telling his story of how his cars remote sometimes will not work, had the vehicle checked, nothing wrong. He was told that in some areas, a strong signal from another source will "jamb" the weaker remote signal.
Then other listeners rang telling of the same happenings with their cars (various makes).
Next day, the station did some research and inteviewed an electronics specialist and he came on air and confirmed that there are certain devices around transmitting radio waves that will cause the remote signal to jamb or to sometimes fail. Mobile phone towers etc were mentioned, but he did not pinpoint anything in particular. Never experienced this phenomena myself yet.

Pablo

I'm guessing this never fails when i am in the basement garage since the signal is bouncing off other cars and such. but even under similar circumstances, like the home garage the car does not want to lock. I dont think the key's remote signal is limited as i had 'tested' it by parking it in a field and i can activate the autolock up to a distance of 10 meters. Its just weird when i need to shut the car from a distance and get the car open to load up the groceries. The theory about the phone transmitting tower is interesting, but then again i'm carrying a walkie talkie + 2 cell phones on me. Maybe its just conflicting signals???

How about upgrading to aftermarket alarms like Clifford or Viper?

[accentstencil]

I know what you mean, one minute I can use the remote from 20 metres away and it will work fine and the next minute it won't work even when I'm standing next to the car.

[sxc_sound]

My remote is the same also, I have read on the internet that the holden remotes have a shutdown time of 20 seconds if the signal doesnt reach its destination, for example if you press the button and it doesnt work, sometimes the remote wont work for the next 20 seconds while it "resets" itself. I dont know to true this is, but would make sense as to why my remote doesnt work sometimes

[blacknight]

I'll be looking at the clifford alarm (minus the annoying sirens) and a viper alarm. I just want the car to autolock and unlock from a distance. I'm not so concerned about being too far away from the car since i can see the car while its parked and i'm seldom leaving her alone while i do the groceries.

What isnt so cool is when you are struggling to open the car manually by inserting the key into the lock with an armful of groceries and its raining heavily. Let's say the takeaway for that night's dinner, I didnt order any soup...