Long Range on Central Locking not working
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Joined: Oct 2006
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Long Range on Central Locking not working
I'm having a problem with the long range use of my central locking key.
I have a 2003 E220 CDi with the three button key (locking, unlocking and boot release). Everything had been running great. The range from which I could use the key was great, I could unlock from inside the house with the car parked up to 50 feet away.
Now the key only works with the short range IR signal with the key held at IR receiver in the driver's door handle. All the functions of the remote are still there (locking, boot, windows etc) but I have to operate the key from no more than 2 feet away.
I have had some work done to the car including the fitting of two sunvisor screens, playstation and DVB Digital TV player into the car. However, everything worked for a good few weeks after. Though I had noticed that on the dome lighting in the rear, only the map lights work. The courtesy lights and ambience lighing do not. However, I do not know if this is coincidental.
Please help.
I have a 2003 E220 CDi with the three button key (locking, unlocking and boot release). Everything had been running great. The range from which I could use the key was great, I could unlock from inside the house with the car parked up to 50 feet away.
Now the key only works with the short range IR signal with the key held at IR receiver in the driver's door handle. All the functions of the remote are still there (locking, boot, windows etc) but I have to operate the key from no more than 2 feet away.
I have had some work done to the car including the fitting of two sunvisor screens, playstation and DVB Digital TV player into the car. However, everything worked for a good few weeks after. Though I had noticed that on the dome lighting in the rear, only the map lights work. The courtesy lights and ambience lighing do not. However, I do not know if this is coincidental.
Please help.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: West Virginia
2001 E320 RWD - Brilliant Silver/Ash: 100,000+
This looks like a good question, or questions, for the techs on here. But in the mean time, try replacing the batteries in your key. I got a pair at the local WalMart for about $6.00. For what this is worth, I don't think my Smart Key was ever effective from as far away as 50 feet.
Thread Starter
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ive tried changing the batteries in both my key and the spare. Still no luck, im pretty sure its not a problem relating to the key.
Sorry... the 50 feet range on the key is probably a slight exaggeration.
Sorry... the 50 feet range on the key is probably a slight exaggeration.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 5
From: West Virginia
2001 E320 RWD - Brilliant Silver/Ash: 100,000+
If you changed the batteries, then you trouble-shot the problem as well as I could without asking for some help!
No apology necessary, but your mention of distance now has me wondering just how far away these do work (or are supposed to). I don't know what MB claims in the owner's manual, and I have never precisely measured mine.
No apology necessary, but your mention of distance now has me wondering just how far away these do work (or are supposed to). I don't know what MB claims in the owner's manual, and I have never precisely measured mine.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
What's a sun visor screen and where is it fitted? If new batteries in both keys don't work then it must be the RF receiver. If it worked following all the work on the car then you can pretty much rule that out....but, is it easy to remove the screens to check it?
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hey,
iv always been big on ICE in cars. The screens are aftermarket sunvisors with 7inch LCDs.
Ive searched through the forums for weeks now, and am building up a picture of where the problems may be. So far I know that the receiver for the long range radio signal is in the rear view mirror, somewhere. Can anyone confirm this and describe its mechanisms? Also can anyone tell me where I might replace the fuses as this seems to be the logical thing to do now. I know where the fusebox is, I just need a diagram/description as to which ones to change.
many thanks
iv always been big on ICE in cars. The screens are aftermarket sunvisors with 7inch LCDs.
Ive searched through the forums for weeks now, and am building up a picture of where the problems may be. So far I know that the receiver for the long range radio signal is in the rear view mirror, somewhere. Can anyone confirm this and describe its mechanisms? Also can anyone tell me where I might replace the fuses as this seems to be the logical thing to do now. I know where the fusebox is, I just need a diagram/description as to which ones to change.
many thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,260
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Its quite possible that the install of the equipment may be the cause. Perhaps the new cables are interfering or the antenna itself was moved or damaged. Believe that much of the cabling is behind the headliner as are the wires for the rear lamps. If they bundled the new cables with the stuff that was already there thats where I would start looking.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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did you have the windows tinted. sounds like there is a problem with the antenna in the rear glass. some times when they put rear window tint they cut the metel striping in the glass or they use the wrong kind of tint. some of the cheeper tints out there have somthing in them. i think it is metel content or somthing but if this is what you did have that looked at. if you didnt have the rear window tinted i would take it to the dealer. we replace those rear window antenna's quite offten.
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