[Guest]

Most of the time when I go to un/lock the doors/hatch of my Insight with the remote transmitter, I have to be no more than 6-10 feet away. It seems like I should be able to unlock things at a greater distance. When I press the transmitter buttons to un/lock, I usually point it at the windows - and I have the end with the little red light pointing toward the car

- Is my transmitter battery dying?

- Where should I point the transmitter when pressing it?

- Where is the receiver on the car that picks up the transmitter signal?

Any information/suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

[Tim Maddux]

Change your battery. It's a standard battery that you should be able to find at the grocery store or pharmacy store (like Sav-On or Rite-Aid in the USA). With a fresh battery the transmitter is not directional and works from about 50 feet away.

 

[Foxpaw]

Hmmm, my transmitter is the same way, has been since I've got it. I just thought that it was a short-ranged unit, but I'll try changing the battery too.

 

[Scott]

Mine is good for at least 50' and I still on the original battery. I would also try changing the battery to see if it helps.

 

[Willie Williford]

Just tried my remote and it worked at 100 ft. (Line of sight on vehicle.)

 

[Madeline]

Mine is the same as yours, e-male. I think it was better when I got the car in February, but for the last few months at least it's been very short range.

My theory is that it's getting poked a lot in my pocket and the battery wore down quick. I mean, I dunno about the Insight keys... They're kinda bulky. (But then, I'm coming from an '83 Volvo, where there was only a single flat key.) Is there some sort of keychain arrangement that makes it more comfortable to walk around/sit/stand with the keys in the front pocket of your jeans?

 

[kelinger]

Agreed... even with new battery

Mine's the same way but I've even tried a new battery. Bought two at the Home Depot and popped it in while walking back to the car. Still had to be right at the door before it would unlock for me.

Yet if you bump the panic two football fields away, it seems to always work!

 

[TomV]

I roughly doubled the range of my keychain remote.

The keychain remote comes with one CR2025 battery, 3 volts. At Radio Shack I bought a couple of CR2016 batteries and put them together to replace the original. That doubled the voltage to 6 volts. I was afraid it might fry something, but no apparent problem. Batteries have lasted over a year so far, so I'm past my jitters. It's nice to actually be able to use the remote to find the car in the parking lot. I'm not very good at estimating distances, but previous range was roughly 30 ft., now about 60.

The "2025" means that the battery is 20 mm. wide by 2.5 mm. thick. The "2016" batteries are the same width, but only 1.6 mm. thick. Two of them stacked together are 3.2 mm., which is a tight squeeze for the little remote, but I managed to get them in there.

I had to grind down the back of the cover a little, protect the lower battery edge with tape, bend the side contacts so that they would hit the upper battery only, and the edges of the cover stick out a little when the unit is closed. Other than that, it was easy.

I must have a lot of time on my hands to do a project like that. :roll: I wish somebody made "boosters" for keychain transmitters.

 

[PhilipS]

Easy to improve the range of any key fob.

You are about 75% water. Some of you may also contain other fluids, too. That’s okay. For this demonstration we’ll just say water. Water is a pretty good conductor.

Hold the remote up under your chin (bone) and open your mouth a little like a hot model. Try the remote.
Or open your hand flat and level, fingers spread out, then hold the remote to your palm. Try the remote.

These techniques work great in parking lots.