keyless remote dead

[timmocahill]

Hi, I brought my 99 Venture to the dealer to find out why the service light was on. Had to do with gas tank evaporator (another subject). After I got the car home, the keyless remote will not work for power door nor locks. Both remotes worked before bringing it in to dealer - now nothing. They tell me I have to replace the transceiver in the car for a couple hundred bucks and it's just a coincidence that it died in their shop.

1. Has anyone had the transceiver die on them at all - for any reason?
2. Is there any place I can get the internal parts from to replace the unit (should I trust these guys?!?)?

Any other comments/advice would be appreciated...
Thanks - Tim

[GregA]

Tim,

They may have disconnected to battery and the transceiver "forgot" the codes from your remotes.

I would try reprogramming the remotes before replacing the transceiver. I believe there are instructions somewhere here in the forumn. If you have your owners manual, the instructions may be in there too.

Take Care,

Greg A.

PS. If you can't find the programming instructions, let me know. I can post the instructions I used for my 2001.

[timmocahill]

Greg,

Thanks for the quick post! I know they tried to reprogram the remotes - they did that while I was there yesterday. Do you know it there a way to reprogram the transceiver?

Thanks,
Tim

[GregA]

Tim,

I don't know about the transceiver.

My understanding is that when you press the correct key combination on the remote, it transmits its serial number to the tranceiver and then the transceiver "accepts" it as a legal remote for that vehicle.

I used this method for a couple of remotes I got from ebay.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Have YOU tried the reprogramming procedure?

Take care,

Greg A.

PS. Could the control lines to the transceiver come loose?

[timmocahill]

Greg, I think you make a good, subtle point... I should check on all this stuff myself before taking their word on it. Another item that I have whirling in the back of my mind is that I'm not presuming that there are going to be a lot of people writing to tell me that their transceiver died on its own, out of the blue.

Thanks, Tim

[GregA]

Tim,

My question would be: "What was done during the previous repair that might have caused this problem?" You didn't give any details to what happened there.

I had some work done on my Venture a few months back where the dealer had disconnected the speed sensor and did not get it reconnected properly (it was loose and not properly secured). This caused all kinds of problems (hard shifting, Check Engine light, Speedometer not working).

When I IMMEDIATELY reported the problem to them, they discovered the problem and fixed it at no charge. This made me feel that they were honest (but they charge a higher labor rate than other shops).

The same dealer broke the air filter housing during another repair. I discovered that while still at the shop and I CHECKED under the hood before I left. It wasn't that I didn't trust them, I just wanted to see the results of the work. Good thing I looked!

The folks at the shop are human - and all humans make mistakes. "Honesty" is when they take responsibility for them.

Again, if you want the remote programming procedure (that I used), I can post it.

Take care,

Greg A.

[timmocahill]

Greg, they told me they connected a device to the car to read the code that was causing the Service light to stay on. Period. They say they did nothing else. The only way they could do any test to verify the problem which caused the light (gas tank evaporator system?) required a 3/4 or less filled gas tank - mine was full.

It's the reason I was asking folks to tell me if they've had this sort of unit simply fail on them. The car is a 1999 and has 61,000 Pennsylvania miles. I had the transmission replaced a few months ago at the same dealer (after the original error codes were misdiagnosed as an emissions anomaly).

All I know is in my business (18 years of computer networking), "the last person who touched it, broke it" is correct 99 out of 100 times. Rarely is it ever intentional - it's just how it goes when there are so many things connected together, relying on each other, and one of them gets dinged the wrong way at the wrong time. It's why I'm reacting so well to this situation... even if it was as lame as an unusual static charge that traveled into the car when they hooked up their computer, I'd be shocked if there isn't some correlation between the problem and them. To me, concluding that it was definitely nothing they did (the 1 out of the 100 exception) after an hour of head-scratching doesn't cut it. If I was able to charge clients the same way as they're trying to charge me, I'd be rich enough to buy a new van every year!

That said, I have to admit that it has been two weeks since I had the car in there. So I'm sure they're assuming I'm lying about the whole situation in an attempt to get a free repair. I guess it's "shame on me" for giving people a reason to rationalize cutting corners... all I know is I don't get that luxury in my work - unless I want to lose clients.

Thanks, Tim

[wely]

Hello Grag,

I have the same issue for my remote ley less entry, could you please post or send me the proc to reprograme it?

Thanks
Wely

[lesterl]

1. pull the BCM PGM fuse from fuse panel.
2. cycle the key to ACC/OFF/ACC within 1 second (1 ding will sound when in Program mode.)
3. press and hold both LOCK/ UNLOCK buttons on transmitter for 15 seconds, 7 seconds in it will ding, keep holding for full 15 seconds.
4. program other transmitters untill they are all programmed in.
5. turn igntion off.
6. reinstall BCM PGM fuse.
7. test.

Could also check out the last IMPORTANT! post at the top of the subject list.