Igintion/ Key help!
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Igintion/ Key help!
Hello everyone, the past two days i have been been having trouble with my key, or the ignition dont know what the problem is. Car is a w210 99 with the infrared ignition.
Lately every time i try to use the main key, sometimes it does not work. It doesn't unlock the steering wheel and doesn't allow me to start the car. I put it in and i pull it out constantly. Out of about 10 times it works maybe like 3 times out of the 10. Sometimes i keep the key in there for like 5 seconds and then it releases the lock and the i am able to start the car.
The second key i have is the valet key. It seems to definitely work a lot better than the main key. 9 out of 10 times it works back to back each time i put it in and out real fast. The one time that it doesnt work may be when i switch from the main key to try the valet key fast. Im thinking it was trying to read the main key but while i switched it to the valet key it doesnt respond right away? I guess because i am putting it and out too fast?
But over all it seems like its working a lot better than the main key.
Yesterday i cleaned the infrared ignition with a q tip with some cleaning solution. The main key looks beat up a bit and is the original key that has been used constantly for 10 years now. My question is it a problem with the key or does it sound like a failing ignition. It seems like there is trouble reading the key.
I just need some advice, opinions. I dont want to buy a new key unless that is what i need.
Thanks in advance.
Lately every time i try to use the main key, sometimes it does not work. It doesn't unlock the steering wheel and doesn't allow me to start the car. I put it in and i pull it out constantly. Out of about 10 times it works maybe like 3 times out of the 10. Sometimes i keep the key in there for like 5 seconds and then it releases the lock and the i am able to start the car.
The second key i have is the valet key. It seems to definitely work a lot better than the main key. 9 out of 10 times it works back to back each time i put it in and out real fast. The one time that it doesnt work may be when i switch from the main key to try the valet key fast. Im thinking it was trying to read the main key but while i switched it to the valet key it doesnt respond right away? I guess because i am putting it and out too fast?
But over all it seems like its working a lot better than the main key.
Yesterday i cleaned the infrared ignition with a q tip with some cleaning solution. The main key looks beat up a bit and is the original key that has been used constantly for 10 years now. My question is it a problem with the key or does it sound like a failing ignition. It seems like there is trouble reading the key.
I just need some advice, opinions. I dont want to buy a new key unless that is what i need.
Thanks in advance.
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Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Earth
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The electronic key fob does not start the car through infra-red. Infra red is the back up for the locking system and summer open feature. The key actually has a tiny transponder chip in it that is powered up, not by the batteries in the key, but by the antenna coil that is built into the EIS or electronic ignition switch. It does this through inductive electricity. So if you have one key that is not working correctly and the other is, it is most likely a key fob issue. We see it all of the time in the dealer with older keys. Bad news is, if you have the key fob that is black and plastic, you will have to buy a new key fob and blade. The key part number subs up to the chrome style body key fob that you see on the new cars. The blade has to be replaced only because the old blade key will not transfer to the new key fob. Hope this helps.
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Thanks a lot guys. Just a quick update. My valet key has been working successfully. My main key just got worse. It no longer unlocks the car via wireless remote. when i press the unlock button its a dim red flashing indicator light as if the battery is dead. When i press the lock button the flashing red indicator light is flashes bright red. This thing just fell apart in 2 days. So i think i will come to a conclusion that the key is dead! Crazy how out of nowhere it just died. I didn't drop is recently.
