Weird Keyfob Range After Driving and Parking

[geonerdist]

I have had a strange issue start started in the last 1 or 2 weeks and I wanted to reach out to see if any one has had a similar experience or any ideas.

After I have been driving, park, turn off the truck and go to lock it with the keyfob after getting out, I have to get right up close to the truck for it to lock. It has done this at several places so it doesn't seem to be some sort of localized interference. I do have some electronics such as a dashcam, ham radio and a couple lights on an sPOD. At first I thought it was keyfob battery but then noticed it's both of my keyfobs, I still changed both batteries and the issue still exists. My next troubleshooting step is to turn off the circuit breaker to my aftermarket electronics to make sure it's not something there.

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[Goriders]

I don’t have many complaints about my truck. But the key fobs are pretty much useless due to range.

Especially if you want to use the remote start from the fob. The range is brutal.

 

[Miqie]

Can’t you just lock it by touching the door handle?

 

[Goriders]

Yes. But the remote start from the fob is the worst I have seen of all of the vehicles I have had.

- Range might be 25 feet
- If you are in range it probably works 25% of the time
- Not 2 way so no way to tell if it started.

 

[sabinjo]

One of the first things I noticed about my new truck was how horrible the range is on the key fobs. Worse than any vehicle I've ever owned. I thought it was just me or the area I was in. Even tried the under the chin trick many times but that doesn't even help.

Same thing, only about 20-25ft range which is a joke, especially when you want to use the fob for remote start. I could remote start my Gladiator from my office in work 3 floors up across the parking lot that has to be 50yds.

 

[Dansflhti]

I agree,the range is very weak. But it's just enough for me.

 

[Goriders]

I use the app for remote start. Think you get a ten year free trial. If I still have the truck after 10 years I’ll probably have to install a proper aftermarket 2-way remote start with a decent range.

 

[nyydynasty]

I have had a strange issue start started in the last 1 or 2 weeks and I wanted to reach out to see if any one has had a similar experience or any ideas.

After I have been driving, park, turn off the truck and go to lock it with the keyfob after getting out, I have to get right up close to the truck for it to lock. It has done this at several places so it doesn't seem to be some sort of localized interference. I do have some electronics such as a dashcam, ham radio and a couple lights on an sPOD. At first I thought it was keyfob battery but then noticed it's both of my keyfobs, I still changed both batteries and the issue still exists. My next troubleshooting step is to turn off the circuit breaker to my aftermarket electronics to make sure it's not something there.

i have not personally experienced this issue however, I will say that (along with others in this thread), the key fob is not great. I've experienced other issues related to what you're explaining:

• after turning off the truck, the dash will immediately display "cannot detect key" and I'm still in the truck with the key in my pocket.
• need to stand so close to the truck that I look like I'm one with the door, in order to lock or unlock via the door handle
• mobile app just plain sucks
• turning on the truck (either via mobile app or key fob), occasionally need to touch the key fob or my phone (whichever one I'm using) to the push button to get it to detect.
• I'll be well within the range to lock/unlock the truck with the key fob but to remote start it, I need to get closer or try it multiple times for it to work. I use the mobile app to remote start the truck, now, just for sanity purposes.

 

[sabinjo]

i have not personally experienced this issue however, I will say that (along with others in this thread), the key fob is not great. I've experienced other issues related to what you're explaining:

• after turning off the truck, the dash will immediately display "cannot detect key" and I'm still in the truck with the key in my pocket.
• need to stand so close to the truck that I look like I'm one with the door, in order to lock or unlock via the door handle
• mobile app just plain sucks
• turning on the truck (either via mobile app or key fob), occasionally need to touch the key fob or my phone (whichever one I'm using) to the push button to get it to detect.
• I'll be well within the range to lock/unlock the truck with the key fob but to remote start it, I need to get closer or try it multiple times for it to work. I use the mobile app to remote start the truck, now, just for sanity purposes.

I've also had the key not detected issue when I'm sitting in the truck.......meanwhile I have the fob, card key in my wallet and the app on my phone, so technically 3 keys in the truck.

I also get a strange message sometimes that a new key has been registered, which I saw originally when I set up the digital key. I keep getting that message every once in a while as if it's newly setup and recognized, which it isn't.

I too now only use the mobile app to remote start. Besides the range, it sometimes takes a few tries to get the sequence and timing right for the remote start to work with the fob.

 

[geonerdist]

I agree the range on the key fob is terrible. Trying to remote start the truck using it is impossible.

However I figured out my problem. I had a Garmin Dashcam 57 in the back window, between the window and the middle seat head rest. They are set to remain on for ten minutes after turning the truck off. I disabled that and now I can lock my truck without any issues after parking.

just tossing this out there for the record

 

[Mtn.Ta_CO_man]

I have had a different fob issue. I parked and went for a hike, when I got back I got the "no key detected" message. Holding the fob up to the start worked to get home but the fob was completely dead, two weeks old. I was going to take it to the dealer and have them replace the battery and make sure that was the only issue since it was all only two weeks old. Figured I would swap out the batteries with the second fob just to have an idea what I might be "facing" at the dealer but after putting the batteries back in, everything worked completely normal on both fobs. ?!?! Still working fine but cautiously moving forward.

Have not tried using at any distance though, probably this week...

 

[Suzay]

I’ve read that the dash cam specifically after market ones may be the culprit. I haven’t unplugged it to verify if the range on the fob works or not because I used the dongar pro to record 4 hours after vehicle is turned off.

 

[Suzay]

I can confirm. That while you have any accessories that are continuously on or always on while truck is off specifically my dash cam with the dongar pro, the key fob will not recognize lock or unlock. I turned my dongar to the “ignition” mode which (as soon as truck is on it’s on, as soon as truck is off it is off) and my range is back to normal. Who’d a thought.
EDIT: Aftermarket accessories is what I am referring to.

 

[Kielly]

The lag I'm getting when I lock with the door handle is absolutely absurd. Most times out of not lately I'll press the door handle, start walking away, sigh because it didn't lock, and as I turn around to walk up to the truck again it locks.

Just a crazy delay that shouldn't exist.

 

[Baltimore]

I have none of these issues with the factory fobs and OEM dash cam. Just saying, details matter when claiming something "isn't working" or "is crap".

Kudos to OP for troubleshooting and posting results.

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