Key Fob Issues

[Carlmyman]

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.

Make that 15 starts at different times without a glitch!

 

[Carlmyman]

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

Hey Jasmine, thanks for the offer. I think i got the problem solved. Replaced the cheap led cargo/brake lights with the originals & all seems fine. 32 vehicle starts @ 15 different times and not a glitch. Appreciate your offer & will stop back if I have any more questions.

 

[Deriggs007]

My truck is standard and the remote start is hit or miss. Locking is semi-hit or miss.

Sometimes the remote start has to be done within like 50ft which then makes it practically useless.

 

[RamCares]

Hey Jasmine, thanks for the offer. I think i got the problem solved. Replaced the cheap led cargo/brake lights with the originals & all seems fine. 8 vehicle starts @ 3 different times and not a glitch. Appreciate your offer & will stop back if I have any more questions.

Perfect, Carlmyman. Thanks for circling back. In the future, if a question or concern arises, don't hesitate to send me a direct message.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[NewRAmOwner]

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?

 

[Swerv75]

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 :
View attachment 26712


Cheapo eBay bulbs:

Do you have part number for the astar ones

 

[raven_DT]

My tailgate will sometime fail to unlock with the fob. I have to lock then unlock to get the tailgate to unlock. 50/50 proposition...

 

[MoparSavage]

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.

Just got backed into my driveway and my key fob wouldn't work for our 2 week old 2021 Ram Limited. Key fob was not detected and had to use the key to enter the drivers door which set off the alarm. At the same time my Key Fob for our 2015 Charger wouldn't work either other than the door would unlock with the Fob in my hand. After reading thru all the comments here... I shut off my fluorescent garage lights and all by Key Fobs worked just fine. Thanks for all the comments here!

 

[Spinax]

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?

I had a similar experience. Shut off, locked normally. Went away for about 30min. Doors wouldn't unlock by hand or fob. Unlocked using emergency key. Would not start, got"key fob not detected". After about an hour called for tow. Two hrs later tow showed up. Decided to try again and everything worked. A week later and still kicking!

 

[rodny23]

I had a similar experience. Shut off, locked normally. Went away for about 30min. Doors wouldn't unlock by hand or fob. Unlocked using emergency key. Would not start, got"key fob not detected". After about an hour called for tow. Two hrs later tow showed up. Decided to try again and everything worked. A week later and still kicking!

Same issue here with a three weeks old Ram 1500 Laramine, went to unlock the truck in the morning and the knob dint work. Doors wouldn't unlock by hand or fob, used the key to unlock the door and the alarm went ON. had to disconnect the battery as it was 6:00 in the morning! went to work in another car and truck is still at home useless!. great start to a new truck only 600 miles. this is the second time it does leave me at home. first time it opened the doors but after starting the engine it will auto shut off in a few seconds. No error messages, no diagnostic.

I'm starting to be disappointed in this purchase. If truck keep failing, going to drop this to a dealer and get somethin that is actually reliable. can have a piece of equipment at home that every time I'm going to use there is a 20% chance it will not work.