Keyless Remote sensitivity
 

Is there a way to turn up the sensitivity on the remote sensor in the car? Is there an antennae somewhere inside? Also, the batteries on my remote seem to drain pretty quickly. I'm using Radio Shack. Are there better ones out there? Thanks.

Re: Keyless Remote sensitivity
 

I put a new GP27A battery I bought from "Batteries Plus" in the remote I bought from another member, about two years ago. It's still tickin'.

You can't "pump up" the remotes sensitivity, but, you could possibly extend the little wire antenna (I think Doug Mohr did this). If you have a 92/93, the antenna's on the unit behind the glove box. If you have a 94 or newer, it's beneath the rear parcel shelf, and accessible from the trunk, on the passenger's side. Just splice some more wire onto the antenna and run it into the fender well, or somewhere.

If you carry the remote in your pocket, it's possible that there's enough pressure on the button(s) to activate the remote, which would drain the batteries pretty quickly. I've had my doors unlock while I was approaching the car with my keys still in my pocket. I gotta lay off those Twinkies. Try looser trousers, or keep the remote in your purse. ;)

The '92 owner's manual says you get better performance from the remote if you hold the remote with the keys hanging down. On mine, the metal of the key ring actually contacts a small metal strip inside the casing - my theory is that letting the keys hang down is supposed to turn the ring and keys into an antenna and boosts the signal. However, given what I really know about radio signals, I could be all wet.

I also have the Batteries Plus batteries, which are still working great after 4 whole weeks. Not exactly a rigorous test.

I removed the alarm module and replaced the antenna with one exactly twice as long, then re-installed. It seems to help a little, but not a whole lot.

I use the Radio Shack brand GP27 and I can go for about two years on a battery.

Doug

First, we now know that there is something good to come from the "Loose Fit" craze.

Secondly, not only does the metal of the key ring touch a small metal strip, there's a small black wire that goes to the circuit board that is (or should be) attached to that strip. You might check to see is that wire is still soldered to the metal strip.

Another trick many of us have tried (and have looked like fools doing it, but it works), is, with the keys dangling, touch the butt end of the remote to your chin. It actually extends the range of the remote. I know, I know, but you should have seen about five of us, standing in the parking lot of the Morgantown Holiday Inn, at Reading II, walking across the parking lot with keys dangling from our chins. :) So, the method has been tried, tested and proven. :D:D:D

I tried getting the large battery which replaced the 8 small batteries from Radio Shack but was told that it had been discontinued (~ 2 months ago). Is there another source for the large one or are you all buying the small ones?

My wife just bought the GP27A's from a Radio Shack two weeks ago, with no mention of them being discontinued. She bought two, two-packs, as a matter of fact. Again, "Batteries Plus" has the GP27A's also. These are a single (about the size of a AA - but shorter) battery, not the "stack of buttons" that come with the unit.

Randy, thanks very much. I guess I was dealing with a battery "expert" that knew as much as some of the other "experts" we run into. Luckily, instead of buying 16 (two remotes) watch batteries @ $3/each, I bought 36 of them on Ebay for $6.

Matt

My grandpa's definition of an "Expert" (did I mention that I thought my grandpa was cool :)) "An "ex" is a has-been, and a "spurt" is a drip under pressure. Why in the world would anybody wanna call themselves an 'ex-spurt'?"