mrfitz

Ok guys. This is my first "how to". I got pretty tired of my keyless entry remote working and not working intermittently, so I opened it up and fixed it.

Tools needed: Small flathead screwdriver, needle nose pliers, soldering iron, and solder.


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First, use a small flathead screwdriver to open the remote. There is a spot right by the key ring where you are supposed to do it.




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Second, remove the battery and identify the 3 posts that are soldered to the circuit board. These are the points that need to be re-soldered. The factory solder is brittle and breaks, which is not good for conductivity.



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Also note the solder points on the backside for two of the posts.



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Re-solder all three of these points and you should be good to go. (I think its 60/40 rosin core solder)



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I used needle nose pliers to hold the batter bracket to the circuit board while I soldered. a clamp or small vice will work nicely too. Also, you can lightly scuff the "waffle" looking traces for the bottom "negative" side of the battery. Do it lightly though, because you don't want to break the traces.

Black SS/SC 06

iTrader: (6)

Approved.

outtamymind

good how to. but if the car is still under warranty they get them replaced for free.

koch1ar

nice! had the dealer do it once for me

trey ss

im not under warrenty... and have a sodder kit i might try this... its gettin old having 2 use my key then the alarm going off

ipwncivics

^until then manually lock the doors

TommyP

iTrader: (2)

that's what I did, it's actually how I found my tc. Good how to though if you don't have any warrenty.

mrfitz

Oh I have a warranty. They did give me a new one. The solder was still brittle on the new one too.

occsdude

iTrader: (1)

happened to me, took it to the dealer gave me a new one. but my friend had the same problem and did the same thing to fix it

Nighthawk243

I suggest covering the parts you're not working on with tape. I accidently melted one of the transistors off toward the top when a cat bumped me and caused solder to drop onto the wrong part of the board.

69Chevy

Mine's torn apart now just for this reason. I went through 3 or 4 of them under warranty. So very common for the newer ones to break (I'm a GM Parts Guy), the older style transmitters worked perfectly fine then they had to go and change them.

mrfitz

Or throw the cat in the dishwasher until you're finished......... jk.

Make sure your soldering iron is hot enough... You shouldn't have to keep heat on the circuit board for too long... thats when you start melting things. And definitely use a soldering pen, and not a gun....

OneCOLDBIZL272

iTrader: (2)

this works for some. most of the people having this issue thou isn't due to the solder points them self alone, its the rubber pad them self, so re soldering them isn't going to be a fix for all. over time and constint pushing of the buttons, the back contact points start to form to the circuit board. simple fix is to change the rubber button pad. i know 100's of people that have, had the problem of there fobs not working, and i told them to do that and problem solved. nice write up thou.

SSchargedSS

yup
happened to me i did the same thing.

If you take it apart and take the pad and position another button besides the lock button, over the part of the circuit board where the lock button is and press down, it probably will work real well then its the rubber.

trey ss

i had the board out and tryed just touching wear the buttons click down and it didnt really do any thing.. then i licked my finger and kinda rubed it while pushing the battery connect against the board and it will lock and unlock.. like a couple times.. then it wont do anything... i guess i just needa try sodderin it

DFZ24

iTrader: (5)

when taking pictures really up close use macro mode or macro feature in the camera, it will help for up close pictures.

and i need to do this, when i changed my batteries, one of the iron pieces broke off

jlong3382

subscribed

mrfitz

Used the camera on my phone, all I had.

kevinj4891

i had the same issue with my lock button not working all the time. took it apart and did the same re-welds you showed. still having the same issue. i'm wondering if the battery is dying or if there's another problem. for now, i just press the lock button on the door twice when i get out.

btw. the unlock button seems to work fine everytime, but the distance to unlock seems to be droppin, again, may be battery related

any suggestions on where to get the rubber? thickness, size, etc i believe i have that issue

OneCOLDBIZL272

iTrader: (2)

just buy a new fob of ebay and use the rubber pad out of that and you got a spare fob then too for parts if needed.

Preowner

Ever since I've had the car it took atleast 5 button presses to get it to respond. Replaced the battery, but still the same issue. I've done this type of fix on fobs for friends when the clip came off completely. Guess I never thought of resoldering it on mine because the solder joints didn't look bad when I had it open before. I opened it up today and sure enough one side had pulled up. Remelted each joint and added more solder for reinforcement.

Just ran out and tried it. Works every press now.. thanks

neumannl001

thanks for the DIY info mrfitz!!!!!!!

RoelSS

iTrader: (3)

Clean the contacts on the circuit board and the contact pads. I just did this on mine and now it works perfect again. I guess with time and moisture the contacts start to turn hazy instead of looking nice and shiny.

savior85s

My Question is, what if i dont want to deal with the saldering but im thinking of buying replacements on the internet. the local dealer ship quoted the part costing $75.00 and labor for programing $55.00. so far on the internet i've been seeing prices ranging from $25.00-$50.00. i asked the parts salesman from the dealer what risk am i taking if i buy them on the net. he said, "customers have pruchased them from vendors other than the dealer and many were unable to be programed". a reputable vendor wont give me those problems.... or will they. are there any vendors for remotes that are in good standing? also, let it be noted that the dealership asked for the last 8 numbers of the VIN to quote an exact price and the net sites dont. whats the deal with that?

SSlobalt

Soldering is fun. I had to do this the first month I had my car. I'm an Electronics Technician, so this was in my wheelhouse.