E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

Key fob issues?

Old Oct 17, 2004 | 03:47 PM
  #1  
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Key fob issues?

Tried to open doors with key fob. No luck...so used spare which has full battery...still nowt happening.......

So used manaul key. allarm went off so started car and it stopped.

Now i can't set alarm or open doors remotely......can't be the remote..since both don't work....must be car electronics...any ideas of a workaround

Last edited by adam3; Oct 17, 2004 at 03:50 PM.
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Old Oct 18, 2004 | 03:02 PM
  #2  
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Call your dealer service dept. When I had a battery replaced in my old '01 E320 the service guy had to reprogram EVERYTHING! Windows, roof, radio, key fob in / out, you name it. They may have the magic sequence it takes. LOL
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Old Oct 18, 2004 | 03:45 PM
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Thanks benz,

Just tried it again today...seems it only works when I am 1 foot away from drivers door and ONLY when pointing to the door handle which is used to close all 4 windows. Seems strange this started yesterday when i drove home form work i used the remote to open the doors from 50 yards then when i got home i park the car and set alarm. Later on in the evening try to park in garage and the car will not disarm alarm or open doors...used manual key to get in and set off alarm. Once in and parked the car would close/set alarm. Well today its does but only from a FOOT away from drivers door.

Quite liked being able to set alarm/ open doors from all that distance....not sure what it is.
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Old Oct 18, 2004 | 04:20 PM
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It might be that the radio frequency receiver is not working anymore and the infrared one on the door handle is the only one that works.
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Old Oct 18, 2004 | 04:57 PM
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I know in GM cars the remotes use "rolling codes" so if you try to use the remote fromm too far away from the car ther car & the remote gets lost (rolls to the next code, but the car doesn't) & the car doesnt know which code is going to be sent next. It works when you use the IR because the IR is unlocking the car not the radio waves. I suspect they key & the car are no longer in sync with the rolling codes. I only know how to re synch the remotes with the car on GM products, not on MB. Bring all your keys to the dealer to resynch. Its usually a very simple 2 second thing & is done in front of you.

(On GM products you sit in the car & hold down lock & unlock buttons on the key fob simultaneously untill the doors either lock or unlock. On an MB it has some other function when u do that... I think it reprograms the door locks to only inlock the drivers door instead of all the doors & vice versa.)

Only aftermarket alarm fey fobs are designed to be used far from the car. Most auto manufacturer remotes work best within 1 car length from the car... on a good day 3 car lengths... no matter what they say.
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Old Oct 18, 2004 | 05:30 PM
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Thanks guys for the tips on the way the key fobs work.
I'm just trying to figure out why the spare key was also out of synch with the car. The other point is I have on a number of occasions opened doors from a distance...without problems but recently only when the car has not been driven for a while. If the car was out of synch then it did lock the doors once on arrival at home from 5 yards but did not unlock when i tried to park into garage.

Seems the receiver may be out of synch......not sure...will take to dealer soon...reluctant since once they mess about with it they create other issues.
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Old Oct 18, 2004 | 06:28 PM
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Its the CAR thats out of synch with each of the remotes. (on GM cars) The remotes have to send the code the car is expecting.
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Old Oct 19, 2004 | 11:17 AM
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I had trouble with one of my keys. The remote lock/unlock buttons on the key would work intermittently. I told the service advisor about this, and he told me sometimes a little metal tab inside the key that supplies current doesn't make good contact. I bent the metal tab a little more towards the circuit board so it would make better contact and the key works fine now. This is unlikely to explain why both keys do not work intermittently, but it may be worth a try.

Also, why is it called a key FOB? Does anyone know what FOB stands for if anything at all?

William
2003 E 320
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Old Oct 19, 2004 | 11:34 AM
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Originally Posted by X72
Also, why is it called a key FOB? Does anyone know what FOB stands for if anything at all?
William
2003 E 320
1. A small pocket at the front waistline of a man's trousers or in the front of a vest, used especially to hold a watch.
2.
1. A short chain or ribbon attached to a pocket watch and worn hanging in front of the vest or waist.
2. An ornament or seal attached to such a chain or ribbon.
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Old Oct 19, 2004 | 11:40 AM
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Thanks BudC! I didn't think of the obvious and look up fob in the dictionary. Thanks for doing that for me.
William
2003 E 320
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Old Oct 19, 2004 | 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by X72
Thanks BudC! I didn't think of the obvious and look up fob in the dictionary. Thanks for doing that for me.
William
2003 E 320
I normally wouldn't have done it but I've been using this great browser (Mozilla Foxfire) and it's got a drop down list of things like Google, dictionary, eBay, Amazon, etc.

BTW, it also has a plug-in that lets you spell check posts to forums like this.
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Old Oct 19, 2004 | 12:15 PM
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Doesn't MB call it a Smart Key?
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Old Oct 19, 2004 | 12:23 PM
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In the w 211's case it ISN'T a key fob at all. It IS the key. Its just not metal with jaged teeth, but it is the key nonetheless.
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Old Oct 19, 2004 | 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Barry45RPM
In the w 211's case it ISN'T a key fob at all. It IS the key. Its just not metal with jaged teeth, but it is the key nonetheless.
Right! A key fob is a non-functional ornament. A Smart Key is a functional instrument used to open and close locks (among other things).
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