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Keyless entry receiver failure. Is this hapenning to you?

posted by  Vladimir on  Wed Dec 26 13:52 CST 2001
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last visit: Sun Oct 5 18:40 CST 2014
[RELATED]

Hi, dear bricksters and happy holidays!

I just came back from the dealer today. They replaced the keyless entry receiver in my S70 after I complained about a greatly diminished operating range (they first tried giving me new fobs, but that didn't help). The new receiver did the trick and I got the same range I remember when the car was new. The funny thing was that the old receiver did not STOP working, it just started to work VERY poorly. For example, to get it to respond I had to aim the keyfob directly into one of the windows of the car. If I had the keyfob below the glass line the system would not respond even from a point-blank range. Right now it matters not how I hold the fob or how high it is, as long as I am near the car it works, which is the desired behavior.

So, now my big question is: HOW and WHY did the old receiver go "bad"? The part is located directly above the instrument cluster (the dash needed to come off for access) and is out of harm's way. Is it heat? That spot would get pretty hot in the summers. If so, I imagine the problem will re-occur with some regularity.

So, if anyone out there is suffering from the same symptom of keyless entry system going lame for no good reason, pipe in, maybe we have another one of those Volvo design "features" here with ill-selected location of the receiver. The job of replacing it is not that huge, but tedious and I can't imagine that little black box being cheap (mine was done under warranty, so I do not know how much the thing cost, but I was there and do know it took the tech WAY over an hour to complete the job). So, maybe some modification is in order or some pressure on Volvo (kind of like about the AC evaps) to eliminate this particular design feature.

Cheers everyone.







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    Keyless entry receiver failure. Is this hapenning to you?

    posted by  bryan goldberg on  Wed Dec 26 14:09 CST 2001
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    last visit: Wed Jun 26 12:41 CST 2013
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    Hi Vladimir,

    Happy holidays! I was afraid that you were going to tell us that the receiver needed to be replaced.

    I'd be interested to know if this is another of those design or supplier issues. My car is out of warranty, so any repair would be on my dime.

    Interestingly, I added wire to the antenna several months ago. It worked better than new for a while but then went back to having a range of less than two feet.

    Can you tell me why placing your hand over the transmitter or sticking it under your chin increases its range.







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      Keyless entry receiver failure. Is this hapenning to you? S70 1998

      posted by  Vladimir on  Thu Dec 27 04:26 CST 2001
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      last visit: Sun Oct 5 18:40 CST 2014
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      Bryan, I knew it must be the receiver after thej new fobs didn't improve performance. I can tell you the part number (when I get my paperwork by mail from the dealer) and you can try and see how much it costs at volvoparts.com or something. It may be worth doing yourself. Not a complicated job, just tedious (lots of screws!). My question is why do these things go bad with age? It is just a piece of electronic equipment, right?

      When you say you added a wire to the antena, do you mean on the receiver? What model car is yours?

      On the S70 it is an annoying problem since there is only one key cylinder - on the driver's side and opening the car from the passenger side can only be accomplished by a remote. When I am parked on the right side of the street, I really want to be able to open the car from the passenger side to let my 5 year old in without having to step onto the road.

      Good luck and lut us know what you decide to do.







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        Keyless entry receiver failure. Is this hapenning to you? S70 1998

        posted by  bryan goldberg on  Thu Dec 27 04:58 CST 2001
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        last visit: Wed Jun 26 12:41 CST 2013
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        Vladimir,

        Yup, I added @20 feet of fine guage insulated wire to the antenna as others have suggested. I then stretched the wire along the top of the firewall and secured it under the weatherstrip.

        For a while I was getting like 50+ foot range. But it seems over time the receiver "compensated" and now I'm back to a few feet.

        As Bryan H. suggests, it seems to be very sensitive to interference from other sources.

        Mine is a '98 S70 GLT w/Grand Touring & Cold Weather packages.

        Bryan








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          Keyless entry receiver failure. Is this hapenning to you? S70 1998

          posted by  Vladimir on  Thu Dec 27 05:42 CST 2001
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          Bryan, it seems like the receiver goes sour with time doesn't it? This is strange! As far as interference, I understand that, but what I don't understand is how a piece of electronic equipment can change its operational characteristics over time. Is this a programmed "We need your money" feature by Volvo?

          Cheers.
          --
          Vladimir. 1998 S70. Base, 5-speed manual.








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      Keyless entry receiver failure. Is this hapenning to you?

      posted by  Bryan H. on  Thu Dec 27 01:57 CST 2001
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      Yeah my transmitter pretty much sucks. The range, on a good day, is maybe ten feet but usually much shorter then that. I too, often have to raise the transmitter above the window line, and I usually have pretty good luck at that point.

      One thing that I’ve noticed is the Volvo transmitters are VERY susceptible to outside interference, i.e. other car remotes, radio/TV/cell towers, plus a whole slue of other “stronger” transmissions. I was battling with some guy in a BMW the other day to try and get our cars locked. On occasion (maybe three times) I have had to use the key when the interference is too strong.

      I seem to remember other people on the board have lengthen the receiver’s antenna with some success but has anyone attempted to add a signal booster/amplified antenna to the receiver.

      I would imagine that chin technique employed by many allows the transmitter to use your body as an antenna.







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        Keyless entry receiver failure. Is this hapenning to you?

        posted by  Vladimir on  Thu Dec 27 05:07 CST 2001
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        last visit: Sun Oct 5 18:40 CST 2014
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        Bryan, I can almost guarantee you that your transmitters are ok. The problem is most likely in the receiver. For some reason these things go sour after a while. I can't imagine why, but I had a problem where gradually the range has gotten to be unacceptable. I would be ok with 10 feet if it really worked at 10 feet, but in my situation it had to be point blank and into the glass, otherwise no go. I got new transmitter from Volvo (my car is still under warranty) and no real change occurred (before complaining to the dealer I tried changing batteries in the remote with no results). Finally, I talked the dealer into replacing the receiver and bingo! The thing works like a champ from at least 100 feet away and it doesn't matter if you hold the remote to the chin or shove it up your ear (I didn't really try that). Basically on my approach to the car I push the button on the remote in my pocket and the car responds. This is what I am looking for and this is the way it worked when new. IT seems with time these things diminish in performance for some reason and I would like to figure out why. If it is heat as I suspect, then maybe the receiver needs to be relocated elsewhere eve at the expense of some range (I really do not need 100 feet, I actually would prefer a somewhat shorter range to prevent accidental transmission).

        This is why I am trying to tap into collective wisdom on this board.

        Good luck.
        --
        Vladimir. 1998 S70. Base, 5-speed manual.







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