Key Fob Issues

[Bdhays63]

I’ve had my new Ram about 3 weeks now. Was kind of surprised to be problem free after reading some of the posts on here.

Until tonight. I got out of my truck to run in a store and I noticed the truck wasn’t locking with the fob. As I walked closer to the truck it still wouldn’t lock. Finally when I got back to the drivers window it locked. When I came back to the truck it wouldn’t unlock until I was back to the drivers window. I got in the truck and when trying to start the truck the display said, “Key Fob not detected”. It finally started when I put the fob in my hand and pressed the start button. Before I went home I stopped in a big parking lot and tried the whole sequence again and had no issue. No issue once I got home either.

Anybody else have this issue yet? Bad key fob battery? Outside interference?

 

[VaderRebel]

Could be a bit of both. When I park close to the chain link fence on one of my jobsites, the fob is useless beyond 5 feet. Yet at home it will remote start from my basement office. There have been members with more serious issues and the RF hub was found to be the issue in those cases.

 

[Bdhays63]

Could be a bit of both. When I park close to the chain link fence on one of my jobsites, the fob is useless beyond 5 feet. Yet at home it will remote start from my basement office. There have been members with more serious issues and the RF hub was found to be the issue in those cases.

Interesting. I was at a small plaza the kind where you park at the side walk and are about 8-10 feet from the plate glass windows of the business. I was wondering if it was a security system for one of the suites. I’ve had a few keyless cars before, 2 Honda’s and a Nissan, and never once had an issue. I’ll have to ask the dealer about it if it happens again. I definitely don’t think this should be normal operation. I’ll have to dive into some other threads. Couldnt find anything when searching.

 

[tdwilli1]

Interesting. I was at a small plaza the kind where you park at the side walk and are about 8-10 feet from the plate glass windows of the business. I was wondering if it was a security system for one of the suites. I’ve had a few keyless cars before, 2 Honda’s and a Nissan, and never once had an issue. I’ll have to ask the dealer about it if it happens again. I definitely don’t think this should be normal operation. I’ll have to dive into some other threads. Couldnt find anything when searching.

I'm having the same issue. It's not every time but enough that it's bothersome. Was also thinking maybe a bad battery.

 

[Ramit392]

A little off subject but if my over head lights are on in the garage my auto garage door will not work in the truck! get out of truck turn lights off it will allow garage door to open! If some one left garage lights on ,when I arrive in drive way hit button to open garage door forget it! LOL.

 

[Edwards]

A little off subject but if my over head lights are on in the garage my auto garage door will not work in the truck! get out of truck turn lights off it will allow garage door to open! If some one left garage lights on ,when I arrive in drive way hit button to open garage door forget it! LOL.

Are they fluorescent? Maybe change out the ballast if they are or put a choke on the leads to/from it?

 

[Lawdog]

A little off subject but if my over head lights are on in the garage my auto garage door will not work in the truck! get out of truck turn lights off it will allow garage door to open! If some one left garage lights on ,when I arrive in drive way hit button to open garage door forget it! LOL.

Just bought a new LED lightbulb at Home Depot. marketed by Genie Garage Door Openers. Says special bulb as normal LED bulbs can interfere with openers.............

Key Phobos I've noticed my cell phone in the same pocket as phob will block signal at the door.

 

[Ramit392]

Are they fluorescent? Maybe change out the ballast if they are or put a choke on the leads to/from it?

They are brand new led 15 ft light fixtures installed 9 of them three months ago and replaced the 5 eight foot old fluorescent light fixtures. Love my LED lights its day light in my 28 x 32 garage, but Ram door opener hates them! LOL

 

[Ramit392]

Just bought a new LED lightbulb at Home Depot. marketed by Genie Garage Door Openers. Says special bulb as normal LED bulbs can interfere with openers.............

Key Phobos I've noticed my cell phone in the same pocket as phob will block signal at the door.

Nice to know...never knew the cell phones would mess with the fobs!

 

[Edwards]

They are brand new led 15 ft light fixtures installed 9 of them three months ago and replaced the 5 eight foot old fluorescent light fixtures. Love my LED lights its day light in my 28 x 32 garage, but Ram door opener hates them! LOL

Thanks - that's something new to watch out for.

 

[Ramit392]

Thanks - that's something new to watch out for.

Your welcome

 

[Luckymfd1]

I'm having this key fob problem also, I have not noticed a pattern. Has anyone found the cause yet.

 

[RamCares]

I'm having this key fob problem also, I have not noticed a pattern. Has anyone found the cause yet.

Hello Luckymfd1,

We're sorry to hear you're experiencing this. Are you thinking you'd like to visit your Ram dealer about this? We're available via direct message and would be happy to help with that process if needed.

jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Carlmyman]

Hello Luckymfd1,

We're sorry to hear you're experiencing this. Are you thinking you'd like to visit your Ram dealer about this? We're available via direct message and would be happy to help with that process if needed.

jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

I'm also getting key fob not detected and cannot start my truck with the fob in my pocket most of the time. Recently had truck in for service & mentioned it to them. They found nothing at that point. I can remote start it from a distance away inside my house so I do not believe it to be the batteries in the fob. May have to bring it in for a look over at the dealer.

 

[Edwards]

I'm also getting key fob not detected and cannot start my truck with the fob in my pocket most of the time. Recently had truck in for service & mentioned it to them. They found nothing at that point. I can remote start it from a distance away inside my house so I do not believe it to be the batteries in the fob. May have to bring it in for a look over at the dealer.

The fobs run on two different frequencies, one long range for remote start (so that works for you) and one near field. That's the fob presence detect that allows the doors to unlock via touch and the in-truck start. That's the one causing you trouble. It could be one of three things: fob issue (battery, transmit of freq, etc.), antennas in the truck picking up the near field signal, or interference.
You will get further, faster with the dealer if you can narrow things down before you take it in. You've already narrowed it down to the near field frequency.

Does your other fob do the same thing? If yes, then it's probably not your primary fob.
Does it do this everywhere? If yes, then it's probably not local interference.

You can google about the electronics tinkerer who created a blinking light in his house when the doorbell rang. It blocked fob starts in an entire neighborhood for some time before experts were called in to figure it out.

 

[Carlmyman]

The fobs run on two different frequencies, one long range for remote start (so that works for you) and one near field. That's the fob presence detect that allows the doors to unlock via touch and the in-truck start. That's the one causing you trouble. It could be one of three things: fob issue (battery, transmit of freq, etc.), antennas in the truck picking up the near field signal, or interference.
You will get further, faster with the dealer if you can narrow things down before you take it in. You've already narrowed it down to the near field frequency.

Does your other fob do the same thing? If yes, then it's probably not your primary fob.
Does it do this everywhere? If yes, then it's probably not local interference.

You can google about the electronics tinkerer who created a blinking light in his house when the doorbell rang. It blocked fob starts in an entire neighborhood for some time before experts were called in to figure it out.

I saw another post where someone, sorry can't remember who, said the 3rd brake light/cargo lights (if you replaced stock bulbs with LED) could be the culprit. I just put the stock ones back in & started the truck 3 times with the fob in my pocket with no problem. I'll follow up in a week or so to verify, but this did seem to work for now. The bulbs were the cheap complete set from eBay for around $15. thanks for your quick reply & I hope this is the fix!
Carl

 

[Carlmyman]

I'm having this key fob problem also, I have not noticed a pattern. Has anyone found the cause yet.

I saw another post where someone, sorry can't remember who, said the 3rd brake light/cargo lights (if you replaced stock bulbs with LED) could be the culprit. I just put the stock ones back in & started the truck 3 times with the fob in my pocket with no problem. I'll follow up in a week or so to verify, but this did seem to work for now. The bulbs were the cheap complete set from eBay for around $15. thanks for your quick reply & I hope this is the fix!
Carl

 

[Carlmyman]

I'm having this key fob problem also, I have not noticed a pattern. Has anyone found the cause yet.

I saw another post where someone, sorry can't remember who, said the 3rd brake light/cargo lights (if you replaced stock bulbs with LED) could be the culprit. I just put the stock ones back in & started the truck dozens of times with the fob in my pocket with no problem. I'll follow up in a week or so to verify, but this did seem to work for now. The bulbs were the cheap complete set from eBay for around $15. thanks for your quick reply & I hope this is the fix! Update: Have replaced the stock cargo lights with the JDM ASTAR LED lights ($14.99 on Amazon) with no problems. Also have the same bulbs to put in backup lights when I have time.
Carl

JDM ASTAR LED Bulbs :



Cheapo eBay bulbs:

 

[RamCares]

I'm also getting key fob not detected and cannot start my truck with the fob in my pocket most of the time. Recently had truck in for service & mentioned it to them. They found nothing at that point. I can remote start it from a distance away inside my house so I do not believe it to be the batteries in the fob. May have to bring it in for a look over at the dealer.

I am sorry to hear you're experiencing this as well, Carlmyman. If you end up going into the dealer, let me know. As I mentioned to other forum members, I am available via direct message and would be happy to help.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Edwards]

I saw another post where someone, sorry can't remember who, said the 3rd brake light/cargo lights (if you replaced stock bulbs with LED) could be the culprit. I just put the stock ones back in & started the truck 3 times with the fob in my pocket with no problem. I'll follow up in a week or so to verify, but this did seem to work for now. The bulbs were the cheap complete set from eBay for around $15. thanks for your quick reply & I hope this is the fix!
Carl
View attachment 25382

Hmm, now that you bring this up, I did have the very occasional door didn't want to lock or unlock via touch when I had the crappy Amazon 4 for $8 cargo and 3rd brake LEDs. Now that I've replaced them with Diode Dynamics I just realized I've had no such issues again.