Key fob botton stop working

[Sugardaddy2885]

So I was just stuck outside my car for about 5 minutes today because the unlock button on my key fob was not working! I pressed it repeatedly probably 20 times before it finally unlocked. I'll have to call the dealer tomorrow to see if its covered under warranty. Anyone else have any issues with theirs yet?

 

[RichieRocket]

So I was just stuck outside my car for about 5 minutes today because the unlock button on my key fob was not working! I pressed it repeatedly probably 20 times before it finally unlocked. I'll have to call the dealer tomorrow to see if its covered under warranty. Anyone else have any issues with theirs yet?

Sugardaddy2885, yeah that has happened to me. I walked out of my mom's house one night, hit the button, nothing, car was dark..so I hit the button a few more times, nothing. So I unlocked the driver door with the key, it started fine, and drove away, it has worked fine since then. Maybe it needed a reset for some reason?

You do realize you can just use the key to unlock the door?

 

[Sugardaddy2885]

lol I was just frustrated because I had groceries in both hands. I went from okay that's strange to.. Why the hell isn't this working! I didn't know if this car's alarm worked like that and didn't want to look like an idiot with an alarm going off :sadbanana:

 

[SooperSonic]

Lulz, I haven't personally had this problem, but I can picture myself repeatedly smacking the button to make it work instead of using the key.

 

[wingman]

I had to explain to my dumb $hit boss what a key fob was!

 

[SteveSonic]

Same thing happened once a few weeks ago. The second fob didn't work, either. Unlocking with the key didn't set off the alarm, and both fobs have behaved correctly since then.

 

[TIEfighter]

Hasn't happened to me yet, but I only have about 500 miles on my car right now.

 

[quakmaster]

Sugardaddy2885, yeah that has happened to me. I walked out of my mom's house one night, hit the button, nothing, car was dark..so I hit the button a few more times, nothing. So I unlocked the driver door with the key, it started fine, and drove away, it has worked fine since then. Maybe it needed a reset for some reason?

You do realize you can just use the key to unlock the door?

True you can always use the key, but the problem I had with my trailblazer with using the key instead of the remote, the car alarm would kick in after 5 secs.
Dont know if this happens on the sonic or not

 

[AndrewGS]

Sugardaddy2885, yeah that has happened to me. I walked out of my mom's house one night, hit the button, nothing, car was dark..so I hit the button a few more times, nothing. So I unlocked the driver door with the key, it started fine, and drove away, it has worked fine since then. Maybe it needed a reset for some reason?

You do realize you can just use the key to unlock the door?

I had this happen at work last week. I thought my car's battery had died because I knew the remote worked well. I stuck the key in, tuned it and the locks cycled and the lights came on. Remote has worked fine since.

 

[BigOrangeCountry]

Key fobs are covered under warranty. I had one replaced because the springloaded button stopped working to release the key. Take it to the dealer.

 

[HADES20]

Maybe a short in the wire

 

[Leverus]

This happened to me today. I went to sit in my car on my break and the unlock button didn't unlock the doors, and hitting the lock button while the doors were locked didn't flash the lights like it is set to do.

Like the others here, I used the key to open the door and it's working fine now. It's the only time it's happened in the 5000 miles I've driven, some random electrical glitch I guess.

 

[Papasonic]

Here is something I found on TechLink

Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter Inoperative
February 1, 2012
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter (key fob) (Fig. 8) on some 2012 Sonic models may not respond to any button presses, including the Lock, Unlock, Trunk Release, Panic Alarm, or Remote Start buttons. Once the mechanical key is used to unlock the driver’s door and the door is opened, the transmitter functionality returns.

Do not replace or reprogram the RKE transmitter. Update the Body Control Module (BCM) software on the vehicle using the latest calibration. Be sure to check that the correct calibration is being used. Different files are available for North American vehicles and non-North American vehicles.

- Thanks to Bryan Brunner

 

[Leverus]

Thanks. Since it's not bothersome to me (unless it starts happening all the time now) I'll wait until I need to bring my Sonic in for something before I try and get the dealer to look at it.

 

[Papasonic]

I had this happen to my Sonic for the first and only time just last week. Opening with the key did indeed resolve the problem.

 

[cineloh]

This has happened to me multiple times.. This is how I deal with it..


Chevy Sonic... Please let meeee innnn! I want to drive you! - YouTube

 

[Papasonic]

This has happened to me multiple times.. This is how I deal with it..


Chevy Sonic... Please let meeee innnn! I want to drive you! - YouTube

Yes, that is how it's done; but if this happens at all, the BCM needs an update which involves a trip back to your dealer.

 

[cineloh]

Yes, that is how it's done; but if this happens at all, the BCM needs an update which involves a trip back to your dealer.

Yeah, I am taking in once again.. Last time they had contacted engineers and switched out a wire.. I have had other issues though.. My car shut off for no reason in the middle of an intersection for example.. I've asked them about the BCM before.. This time I will make them listen.

 

[Papasonic]

Yeah, I am taking in once again.. Last time they had contacted engineers and switched out a wire.. I have had other issues though.. My car shut off for no reason in the middle of an intersection for example.. I've asked them about the BCM before.. This time I will make them listen.

Yes, the bulletin that describes the fix for the keyfob is on TechLink. Details are at the bottom of the page on the link below.

Search Results sonic rke transmitter

 

[1967stella]

i have noly had this problem once, and it corrected its self after like the 3rd press. One of my biggest gripes however is the range of the keyfob. On other cars i have taken apart the remote and extended the antenna wire inside of it, and also extended the antenna on the cars "alarm / keyless entry brain". on the other cars the brain was buried deep in the dash and i extended the antenna to run along the bottom of the windshield and it worked for about 5x the distance. I have tried to locate a specific keyless module on the sonic, but cant. I don't know if it is all run through the BCM or if there is indeed a separate module just for this. If anyone can point me in the right direction for that, I would definitely post a write up on how to extend the range of the keyfob.