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MG MGF Technical - key fob temperamental

Hi all,

I bought my 1997 MGF from a dealer in May this year. From the start the key fob has been temperamental and I find it difficult to disable the immobiliser. As the buttons were very worn I got the Lucas key fob repair kit and it all worked nicely for a few weeks. About a month ago I got stranded in the city for 2 hours trying to disable the immobiliser and called the RAA who came out,could not get it going and told me it had basically died. They organised a tow but before the truck arrived I managed to start it - no idea how now - I tried everything and think maybe hit both buttons on the fob when it was in the ignition. I have been in contact with a mechanic here who is waiting on the actual plate beneath the fob to arrive from England. The part has yet to arrive but he says he can reprogram it as I don't have the EKA codes. Also a second hand ECU was fitted a couple of years ago so I doubt the original one would work. The other day I had to lock the car and used the key rather than the fob but found that even with doing this it was very reluctant to immobilise (although it eventually did). I now have no confidence that I won't be stranded again if I lock it. Any tips at all as to what to try?
A Steventon

Are you parking the car in or around the same places normally.

Quite often other RF in the air caused by other transmitters can make the keyfob a little reluctant to operate.

Have you extended the keyfob aerial to its fullest extent ?

This is a small yellow wire you will find popping out of the loom that can be found by removing the triangular facia on the right of the passenger footwell.

After removing this look up at the loom and you will see a small yellow wire not connected to anything and quite often in a little coil or loop. Try extending this wire fully and tape it to something to keep it that way. This will increase the range of the keyfob transmitter by a fair bit..

And last of all try the chin test ?

Now this sounds bizarre i know but it really works, press the keyfob up under your chin pointing up and try it now.

This never fails for me... you can search the archives for the technical reasons why this makes any difference but it really really works...

Hope this helps

Stu
MGOT
http://www.mgs-on-track.com/

Stu Dickens

A Steventon,

The Rover FOBS have 2 small micro swithes in them. One under the left button and one under the right. The refurbish kit only changes the rubber press buttons not the switches which are soldered onto the circuit board. it is most likely that the left switch is not working properly. With a bit of micro surgury and a steady hand and a magnifying glass, these can be dismantled and cleaned. The switch is held together on the corners by small clips. What also happens is that the small plastic post breaks. This small post is part of the switch which gets pushed upon by the rubber buttons which have the lock and unlock pics on them. Take the FOB apart and see if the small plastic knobs are still intact. If they are and you are brave, take it apart and clean the contacts with metho or iso propyl alcohol.

Cheers.
Branko
Branko

If I understand correctly, it's not so much the remote unlocking that's the problem but the immobiliser? From memory, this is switched off by proximity of the fob to the ignition barrel - i.e. if you take the remote fob off the key and try to start the car with the key on it's own it won't work. Check that you don't have anything else on the keyring other than the fob and the ignition key (extra keys or keyrings can block the immobiliser signal). Other obvious things are to try the other fob if you have one, and to change the battery!

Cheers,
Tim
T Jenner

Thanks I will try these suggestions asap. Branko I think what you have suggested is a goer. I took the fob apart when I couldn't get it to immobilise and pressing the orange rubber left button did nothing. I think the contact is where the problem lies so I will have a go at cleaning it, wish me luck!
A Steventon

Success! Thanks for the replies, I did as you suggested Branko and levered the switch off, there aren't any clips though - it looks like I have broken a very light solder on 2 corners but can get that re-done easily enough. It fits back down ok. I cleaned it off with meths as it was a bit 'treacly' under the button and as I suspected it was affecting the contact. I also took the facia off Stu and located the yellow wire, it was folded over and taped off almost like a clamp at the very end. So I have extended it and tucked it back under the facia. I thought it all wasn't going to work for a minute or two as nothing happened, I re-synched the fob via key unlock and that also did nothing but I then got behind the wheel, put the key in the ignition, zapped the fob a few times and hey presto the sweet sound of 'ka-chunk' and the flash of the indicator lights on the dash. I zapped it on and off a few times and also tested the range (much improved with the wire extended) so I think it's sorted. Many thanks as even my brother-in-law had remarked that I seemed to be falling out of love with the F a little over the past few weeks...
A Steventon

Good News!!,

there is nothing like a quick cheap fix and a DIY at that!

Cheers,
Branko
Branko

This thread was discussed between 29/07/2008 and 31/07/2008

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