what to look for when a keyless stops

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=110092
Printed Date: July 07, 2025 at 11:48 AM

Topic: what to look for when a keyless stops

Posted By: aggresivedriver
Subject: what to look for when a keyless stops
Date Posted: December 27, 2008 at 6:42 PM

I've only done one keyless entry at my shop, about 6 months ago, and I havent done anymore or any remote starts/alarms. I have the customer with the keyless entry i installed coming back tommorow because he said it is not working anymore. Just wanted to know what are the first things to look for when checking to see why a keyless entry is not functioning anymore... Fuses, wires going to the brain, anything else I should look for?? Any help would be great!

Replies:

Posted By: SKratch
Date Posted: December 27, 2008 at 6:49 PM

Well, what kind of vehicle is it??

Simple troubleshooting should apply, power lock switch ont the door and etc.....Then dig into your keyless unit.... but first make sure your transmitter is getting a signal to the vehicle.
Lights flash when U hit the remote??
Relays click?
If yes, you wanna start with making sure your product has power going in....check connection to the ignition (or power source) then your fuse in line...then check power at the unit.
Staying in this mindframe, check your doorlock outputs going out to any relays or modules you may have...then at those relays, then at the connection to the car.
If you have not found the problem by then, we'll look further.

Posted By: calijtee1
Date Posted: December 28, 2008 at 12:04 AM

must be a ford. lol what type of vechicle is it ?

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installers do it best. we got the magic hands!

Posted By: aggresivedriver
Date Posted: December 28, 2008 at 1:27 AM

haha, unfortunately it is NOT a ford lol, it is a 2008 Kia Sorento. The only reason I did it is cause the guy at the shop who does keyless/alarm/remote was on vacation and it needed to get done, i was proud it worked but now it sucks it came back haha. 8 hours and than ill see whats goin on with it, customer didn't tell me much, just that it wasnt working anymore. I'm assuming if lights/horn arent doing anything it seems like its a power issue. Like i said, it was my first one, so my connections may not have been great. Ill let ya know how it turns out or if he needs to come back to the guy who does our remote stuff lol.

Posted By: Mike M2
Date Posted: December 28, 2008 at 7:27 AM

6 month old install? The probelm will be with the remotes. Check the b atteries FIRST....

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Mike M2
Tech Manager
CS Dealer Services

Posted By: aggresivedriver
Date Posted: December 28, 2008 at 2:08 PM

I was VERRRY surprised at what the real problem was posted_image , and it only took about 1hour to take apart, fix, and put back together.. heres the story.

1. Took dash apart and got box down.. Looked at in-line fuses, checked out fine.

2. Got my DMM and checked Constant 12v first AFTER the fuse, wire was fine...

3. Than I tried Switched 12v, and I dunno why, but i decided to move my ground to the ground that I used for the brain.. Put the car in ACC. and as soon as I touched it with the DMM lead, small spark... Hmmmm... Than I heard the relays click..

4. Looked at meter, it was getting 12v. And sure enough I tried the remote, and lock and unlock now worked.. Took the ground DMM lead off, and now nothing.

5. So to sum up, the ground was a bad ground. It was a painted surface. Moved the ground to a BARE chasis metal with a big bolt and now everything works fine.

I STILLLLLL have NO IDEA why it took MONTHS for this to stop working, or why it didnt just work half the time or something like that. Youd think with a bad ground, it would work like half the time right? posted_image Anyways thanks for all the help guys, I def learned a good lesson though haha!