[Mwood]

hey guys

the only button that works on my key fob is the red panic button. the lock and unlock buttons rarely work and the rear hatch button does nothing.

The van will enter programming mode when I hold door unlock and turn on and off twice but the original fob will not re-program no matter how long i hold the lock and unlock buttons on the fob

i bought a new set of fobs on ebay and neither will program in programming mode.

given that the original fob works intermittently and no fobs will program could this be a bad RKE?

also, I tried to enter reprogramming mode using the OBD2 port by jumping pins G and A but the G and A pins are empty in the connector.. is this because the van is an '00?

any help is appreciated
Mitch

 

[Mwood]

I opened the dash and there is no RKE which means it must be part of the BCM?

I checked the PN on the BCM and it is 16257125

 

[Stroverlander]

When mine did that on the original fobs, the circuit boards had to be re-soldered.

 

[Mwood]

When mine did that on the original fobs, the circuit boards had to be re-soldered.

thanks for the info. does your model have the RKE incorporated into the BCM?

by the way i can confirm my van has au0 and au3 options

 

[Stroverlander]

Not sure about the reprogramming as I never had to, only the intermittent issues that the soldering fixed.

 

[Mwood]

Not sure about the reprogramming as I never had to, only the intermittent issues that the soldering fixed.

are you referring to the abs module?

 

[Stroverlander]

No, the key fob. The solder connections were broken on the battery holder so wasn't always making contact. Probably not your issue on the new fobs but may be on your old one.

 

[Mwood]

I have a theory that the van isnt entering program mode because the front door lock solenoids do not properly lock and unlock the doors. maybe if the BCM isnt getting a signal that the doors fully locked and unlock when the program mode initializes it doesnt actually enter programming mode... ok its more of a prayer.

I will post the results after I replace the front lock solenoids, havent had time to mess with the front doors as Im really busy with the rest of the build.

@Stroverlander thanks for the info does your key fob open the rear liftgate? I need to really read your excellent build thread on expeditionportal I just havent had time. I already copied your polyurethane engine mount install.

Mitch

 

[AstroWill]

I have a theory that the van isnt entering program mode because the front door lock solenoids do not properly lock and unlock the doors. maybe if the BCM isnt getting a signal that the doors fully locked and unlock when the program mode initializes it doesnt actually enter programming mode... ok its more of a prayer.

That would have nothing to do with it, there is no feedback from the lock actuators.

the lock and unlock buttons rarely work

The van will enter programming mode when I hold door unlock and turn on and off twice but the original fob will not re-program no matter how long i hold the lock and unlock buttons on the fob

If the van enters programming mode, then you know that works. You already stated that the lock and unlock buttons rarely work on your remote/keyfob, hence the reason why you would be unlikely to be able to program it. Have you cleaned it?

It's also important that you get the exact keyfobs that are required, as there were different ones for different receivers, so might want to double check that on your new keyfob/remote.

 

[Mwood]

It's also important that you get the exact keyfobs that are required, as there were different ones for different receivers, so might want to double check that on your new keyfob/remote.

i cleaned the old one and put a fresh battery in it. i will look into the keyfobs, maybe there are specific ones for vehicles that have the rke functions in the bcm or something. I bought the generic ebay fobs for astros 98-01. mine is an '00

 

[AstroWill]

for vehicles that have the rke functions in the bcm

There is still a receiver/module for EVERY RKE system, even if it communicates to the BCM for the lock functions. They keyfob/remote still has to match the receiver/module, on some vehicles you have to match the number on the remote, not sure if ours gets that specific but it might be worth checking the model numbers on yours. It's also possible that they sent the wrong ones, which then of course wouldn't program.

Often they have testers at your LAPS that will light up with a signal, that is one way to see if your current/new remotes are working. In the case of your original, working reliably after cleaning the contacts. If they aren't making connection at the same time, for the entire process of holding both buttons then it's not going to program.

 

[Mwood]

There is still a receiver/module for EVERY RKE system, even if it communicates to the BCM for the lock functions. They keyfob/remote still has to match the receiver/module, on some vehicles you have to match the number on the remote, not sure if ours gets that specific but it might be worth checking the model numbers on yours. It's also possible that they sent the wrong ones, which then of course wouldn't program.

Often they have testers at your LAPS that will light up with a signal, that is one way to see if your current/new remotes are working. In the case of your original, working reliably after cleaning the contacts. If they aren't making connection at the same time, for the entire process of holding both buttons then it's not going to program.

I looked for the receiver for awhile and couldnt find it, not in any of the usual spots behind the dash (next to the cluster, behind the ign/hvac controls etc) somebody wrote somewhere on here that some years have it incorporated into the bcm. if that isnt true then i still need to find it. it would be good to take a look at it and see if anything is obviously wrong with it.