Coupe FOB issue

Discussion in 'Hyundai Coupe / Tiburon' started by PM, Dec 23, 2005.

  1. PM

    PM Guest

    Hi all

    I am new to this group but I have a burning issue that I am hoping to
    get some feedback on - and I apologise if it is old news to you all and
    would appreciate a pointer to the thread if it is indeed already done
    and dusted on this group.

    I have recently purchased a Hyundai Coupe V6 (about 4 months ago) and
    it was only one year old in November 2005. Since then I have had at
    least 5 occassions where the FOB just goes out of sync with the car and
    have had to call the RAC out to get me back on the road again. I took
    the car in as it is still under the warranty and the service center
    claims that this model does have this problem and I just have to keep
    taking it in to the service center to get new FOBs as there is nothing
    further they can do about it.

    I do not have the luxury of taking my car in every week or two weeks
    when this happens and this is exceptionally frustrating for me as each
    time I approach my car I don't know if it will open or not and I did
    not pay for a faulty product.

    What I want to know is if anyone else has this problem and how you
    dealt with it and what I could potentially do about it.

    Thanks in advance

    Perusha
     
    PM, Dec 23, 2005
    #1
  2. PM

    BillyGoat Guest

    Friends of Bill?
    whose RAC?
     
    BillyGoat, Dec 23, 2005
    #2
  3. PM

    hyundaitech Guest

    I'm not sure what you mean by FOB.
     
    hyundaitech, Dec 23, 2005
    #3
  4. PM

    kaboom Guest

    **Maybe the key fob is screwing up and they have to call the Royal
    Auto Club :)

    just a guess

    kaboomie
     
    kaboom, Dec 23, 2005
    #4
  5. PM

    PM Guest

    Sorry - I guess terminologies vary

    FOB is what Hyundai uses in the UK to refer to the remote control
    device they give you with the car for the alarm system. I guess you
    guys call it something else.

    RAC is like Automobile Association - you get free RAC cover here with
    the car for a few years.

    I am in Edinburgh for Christmas and the remote has just died on me
    again. This time it seems that the batteries have been drained as this
    is a new remote. Just called the RAC out to get me back on the road.

    I take it this is not a common problem with the Coupes?
     
    PM, Dec 28, 2005
    #5
  6. PM

    hyundaitech Guest

    The caps fooled me. I thought maybe FOB was some acronym I didn't know.
    We usually call them remotes (or transmitters) in the U.S. (Stupid
    Americans. Can't speak real English and won't learn other languages.)

    Anyway, this isn't a terribly common problem as far as I know. If you
    were told it was out of sync, then I suspect the person speaking to you
    didn't know the actual problem.

    The characteristics of your fob(s) are programmed into the body control
    module of your car. If your key fobs were functioning, but stopped, then
    there are numerous reasons why this could happen:

    1. Dead battery in key fob. If you have an LED, it typically won't
    light. In most cases, I've been able to conclusively check the battery
    no-load with a voltmeter. It should be about 3v.

    2. A problem with the fob itself causing the BCM to not recognize it.

    3. A problem with the BCM causing it to either not recognize the fob or
    to not take proper action upon receiving proper signal from the fob.

    4. Any other problem which would result in the BCM sending signal to
    allow vehicle operation, but that signal not reaching the proper modules
    and devices (engine control module, door locks, etc.)

    Saying they're out of sync leads me to believe the repair facility simply
    reprogrammed the fobs into the BCM. If there is a continually occurring
    problem which reprogramming solves, I suspect you have a problem in the
    BCM. There should be no external action which would cause the BCM to lose
    it's memory of the fobs.
     
    hyundaitech, Dec 28, 2005
    #6
  7. PM

    Reckerfox Guest

    The FOB is the keyless remote that is used instead of the key. RAC
    may mean Rent A Car which in some parts of New England is a car rental
    agency. At Nissan we use RAC a lot.
     
    Reckerfox, Dec 30, 2005
    #7
  8. As Hyundaitech pointed out, it's "fob", as in "key fob", not "FOB",
    which makes it look like an acronym. "RAC" is an acronym.
     
    Brian Nystrom, Dec 30, 2005
    #8
  9. PM

    PM Guest

    Hi there

    Sorry for the long delay and thanks for the information!
    Yes, I am afraid when I heard the term fob from Hyundai I assumed that
    it must be 'FOB' and I capitalised it for a reason I cannot explain -
    apologies for that.

    Thanks for the info. I will try to piece together what has been
    happening for the past four months to try to establish a pattern that I
    can hopefully present to the Hyundai service center when I take the car
    in again on Thursday. I am going to be an annoying person who just
    learnt what a BCM is but wants it checked anyway : )

    The brief history I am going to give them is as follows:
    The first time the RAC came out to help me I could not unlock the car
    with the key fob. They thought it might have something to do with my
    working near Heathrow airport - there is constant air traffic. So they
    showed me how to 'fudge' the remote - holding down two buttons until
    the flickering stopped and then clicking another button. After this
    procedure the remote seemed to work again, until the next time.
    This happened twice at work so I assumed it must be the proximity to
    the airport but then it happened outside my house and since then just
    about anywhere - no airplane needed.

    One particularly cold morning the remote just seemed totally dead. So I
    changed the batteries and then needed to use the fudge again to get the
    car open. Did not work that time and once again the RAC people came out
    and after several attempts we managed to get the car open (fudge
    finally kicked in).

    Since then I have taken the car into the service center in preparation
    for the drive up to Edinburgh. They said that they changed the
    batteries in one of the fobs and replaced the other fob. Both worked
    when I left there but within 3 days the old fob developed a sticky
    button and I had to remove the batteries (green light came on and I
    just could not shut it down). That killed any comfort feeling and I
    could not get a booking at the service center that close to Christmas.

    The second fob failed in Edinburgh just before we were meant to drive
    down. We called RAC out again and the guy really battled to get the car
    opened but the fudge finally worked after about half an hour of trying.
    Both fobs are now dead - both seem to have problems which is strange.

    I like the car a lot but this is seriously stressing me out and I
    really hope I have some good news on Thursday.
     
    PM, Jan 2, 2006
    #9
  10. PM

    hyundaitech Guest

    It sounds as if your fobs may be different than those in the U.S. Do you
    have a key lock, or must you unlock by transmitter only?

    As far as interference, it's quite possible. The radio frequencies these
    systems operate on in the U.S. are actually allocated to military. If
    we're particularly near a military installation, car remotes, garage door
    openers, and many items don't work intermittently. In fact, many radio
    transmissions, if strong enough, can cause interference.

    Your remotes may be rolling-code type. I don't believe Hyundai uses those
    in the U.S., but other manufacturers do. It is possible in that case for
    the transmitter to become unsynchronized with the receiver in the car.
    The fudge method you describe sounds like the typical method for
    resynchronization of rolling code transmitters.

    It sounds to me like the repair facility there is on the right track. If
    replacing the transmitter or transmitter battery solves the issue, then I
    suspect the issue was present and clear at the time of servicing. If you
    indeed have the rolling code type transmitters, then that would
    significantly reduce the probability of a BCM error causing
    unsynchronization. In fact, I believe the synchronization is not retained
    in BCM if battery power is disconnected (presuming your system to be
    similar to others of the rolling code type I've seen).
     
    hyundaitech, Jan 3, 2006
    #10
  11. PM

    PM Guest

    The remote disables the alarm and unlocks the doors. Using just the key
    I can unlock the doors but not enable the alarm.
    I read up briefly on this rolling code type alarm and it sounds like a
    great idea in theory. The problem with the fudge is the remotes don't
    seem to be up to the job. The buttons stick and they seem to drain the
    batteries remarkably fast (althought I guess what could be happening is
    the button is depressed in my coat pocket, sticks and then runs down
    the batteries that way).

    If this is a rolling code type of remote I am guessing that the device
    in the remote that syncs the codes with the matching device attached to
    the car is not easy to change? I guess what I need to know is what
    options do I have? Am I just doomed never to use my alarm system again
    (overly dramatic, maybe : )
     
    PM, Jan 4, 2006
    #11
  12. PM

    hyundaitech Guest

    If this car is similar to those in the U.S., you may be able to disarm the
    alarm using an alternative method as follows:

    1. Open the door with the key. In the U.S., the alarm will sound.
    2. Get in the vehicle. Turn the key to the "start" position and release
    to the "on" position (just like you would if you had actually started the
    vehicle).
    3. Wait 30 seconds. The alarm will stop sounding before then, but you
    must wait 30 seconds.
    4. After 30 seconds, try again to start the vehicle. It should start.

    Also, if you don't lock the vehicle with the remote, the security system
    will not arm.
     
    hyundaitech, Jan 4, 2006
    #12
  13. PM

    PM Guest

    I am ecstatic!! This morning I took my car in for the routine fob
    replacement and while I was there I asked about replacing the alarm
    system. A very helpful man said he would look into it and minutes later
    they contacted me to say they would be able to do it!!

    I picked up the coupe this evening with two totally different new fobs
    and they work and the range has dramatically increased (it now rivals
    my husbands Smart). Stress testing still needs to be conducted
    (although I must have tried it about 10 times already today) but they
    have restored my faith and I am feeling hugely grateful to the center
    that helped me. I will be writing to them to say as much.

    And thank you for all the information and for taking the time to
    explain things to me. It is much appreciated.

    And for completeness: On your suggestion above one of the guys from the
    RAC tried it and what happens is that the car starts but then the alarm
    sounds and then stops after so many seconds and continues in this
    fashion. I am not sure if you could drive the car as presumably the
    immobiliser is disabled by the key but the alarm kept sounding.
     
    PM, Jan 5, 2006
    #13
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