94 B'ville Keyless Entry problem

The keyless entry system on my 94 Bonneville is not working right. Sometimes it works normally and sometimes when I press a button on one of my 2 remotes nothing happens. If I rap the remote against my hand, sometimes it will work but not always. I've put new batteries in both remotes and still inconsistent operation.

Can anyone tell me where in my car the receiver unit might be as I may just replace the system with an aftermarket unit and it would be a lot easier if I knew where the receiver was. I am just thinking that maybe the receiver might be going bad OR is there a relay in the circuit somewhere that might be sticking open and not closing when I push the buttons???

Also I know that there are 3 wire door lock systems and 4 wire. Does anyone know what mine would be. I don't have a service manual so I don't even know where the reciver is. I called the local Pontiac dealership. They'll diagnose it for $75.00!!! I'd rather do it myself.

Thanks,

Mike

I had the same problem with my 1996 Pontiac Bonneville. Take your remotes and pop the back off of them. Resolder the clip that holds the battery to the circuit board. There are 2 solder joints and it is easy to do. Use real thin solder, (I went to radio shack). A cheap $5.00 soldering iron works fine. I have not had a problem since resoldering my keypads. I hope this helps.

Mark

Mark,

Thanks for that idea. My battery contacts felt secure on the circuit board but I resoldered them just the same.

We'll see if that helps.

Thanks,

Mike

The reciever is incorporated into a Body Contol Module. It is located at the passenger side kick panel. The Module is attached to a bracket and has two connectors on one end and one connector on the other end. These modules are programmable and it may need to be reprogrammed. If both of your transmitters are acting the same it is probably not the transmitters. About the only thing you are going to be able to do yourself is to check the wires and make sure none are burnt, corroded or loose. Check your connections at the module, these tend to get dirty over time and may just be loose. Good Luck.

Thanks for info on where the receiver is. I took the previous poster's advice and resoldered the battery contacts. If that fails, I'll look at the connectors you speak of and clean some connections to see if that helped.

The way it was acting intermittently made me think it might be a sticky relay but I have no idea where such a relay might be so I could replace it. Could this be it and do you know where the relay would be?

Thanks,

There are two relays. A five way and a six way.

The five way is a micro relay and will be black with the numbers 7866 stamped on it.

The six way is a standard relay and may be stamped with a four or eight digit code. 12065122 or just 5122.

Sorry I have no idea where they would be though. These could be under the dash with the fuses, or they could be under the hood inside of a electrical junction box and relay center. I don't know of any way to test them though.

Hope this helps.