Remote Key

[jizay]

My remote key doesnt seem to be working properly. It used to work perfectly, but now it only works intermittently. And usually when it does work, only the lock function works. The unlock function almost never works, but sometimes the lock function works. There are some rare instances when the unlock does work, but even if the lock works I usully have to press and hold the button as I walk up to the car.

Any ideas? Seems odd for it to be a dead battery (or capacitor) in the keychain since it works sometimes. And the times it does work do not coincide when I've been driving the vehicle. It's a third vehicle, so sometimes it doesnt get driven for a few days. I have left the key in the ignition for extended periods of time to try to get the key to charge but this doesnt seem to affect whether the key works or not. There is never a problem with the key unlocking manually and starting the car.

Thanks for the help.

[UncleBob]

do you have a second remote? if so, and it works, we can narrow the problem down to the first key.
how about interference from a local radio transmitter? i had this problem at a friends house. no problems anywhere else. do your problems have any pattern to them depending on where you're parked?
i'm not too sure that the key charges when the car isn't running.
could the contacts on the key be dirty? some electrical contact cleaner might solve the problem.
those are just a few ideas.

[jizay]

I dont have a second remote, but the location does not seem to make a difference. The key used to work fine everywhere, but now its intermittent, regardless of location. I'll try to clean the key, but it doesnt really look that dirty.

As far as the key charging, I left the key in the ignition with the ignition on to the position before starting the vehicle. So the electronics were on, but didnt have the car running. I thought this would charge the key if it were dead. It is my only key so even if the car doesnt get driven for a week or so, thats about as long as the key goes without being in the ignition.

[RichiRich]

I've been in your shoes with the key situation. Tried cleaning and all. Bottom line. Time to get a new key. When you do there are excellent directions in the forum on exactly how to program the key. The new key is not cheap.....$200 bucks or so........programming it was the easy part. You will need the old key (the one you have now) and the new key.

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/e...ob-bmw-x5.html

Good luck!

RR

[MrTsX5]

Just wondering if you had any luck with your key problem?

I have a simular problem, even went and brought a new key and it still didn't work. The dealer tried pairing it with the car and couldn't get it to work either.

He said he will need the car in to check the on board computer that the key pair's with but he couldn't tell me how long they would need the car to carry out there checks. At £130 per hour, i decided to give it a miss for the time being!

[BrianX54.4is]

The battery may be faulty. Although the key is not designed to be opened - it is possible to open it and replace the battery. You can get one (Panasonic VL2020 3v) for a few quid. Here's a post with pics on how to do it (requires some soldering). Definitely worth a go before splashing out on a replacement key.

[MrTsX5]

I brought a brand new key and that didn't work either.

[FAT_X5]

Hey what about the blanks that they sell on ebay? Will those work? How do you get those cut, anyway.?

[jizay]

No luck yet. Actually, sometimes the key works and sometimes it doesn't. It seems to work randomly to unlock the vehicle, but never works to lock it. I really didnt want to buy an uncut key, or a cut key from the dealer and have them do they work for ridiculous amounts of cash, to find out that it still didnt work so I've been waiting on a real solution. havent found one yet. maybe i'll try the batter replace. I thought I read somewhere that there isnt a battery, that its more like a slow discharge capacitor that is charged every time the key is put into the ignition. I think i'll try the batter replace though.

[jizay]

I used a razor blade and cut the key apart. I ordered a new rechargeable battery just in case, but found that the current battery was pushing ~3.2 volts. I found that one of the battery terminals that connect to the circuit board had broken off. I melted the solder and put a small dab of solder on the terminal that had broken off. I pushed the broken part back onto the board while keeping the existing solder on the board hot. The terminal seemed to hold and I put the key back together. I did have to reprogram but you can do that whether you have a working key or not.....this comes from the 'Reprogram Key' post on the front page of this forum.

Alternate procedure if above doesn't work or if you do not have a working remote:


1. turn key to position 1 five times very quickly

2. remove key

3. Hold unlock button then press lock button 3 times, release unlock button.

4. If you have another key do the same button pressing within 30 seconds

5 turn on igntion to finalize