PKE and Courtesy lights problem

[John Robinson]

My PKE started to have to be closer and closer to the car to work so I got a new battery for the remote unit. Still had to swipe the remote about 3 inches below the door handle and about 3 inches away from the car to get the door to unlock. Took the car and remote to another battery store they tested the battery I bought yesterday as good. We put one of their batteries in the remote and nothing changed. He tested the remote strength and said the remote was weak on signal. I got home did a search on PKE and tried to reprogram the remote no luck. The car still locks the doors and blows the horn when I walk about 5 feet away from it. It used to do this at about 20 feet. I also have no courtesy lights when the PKE does unlock the door. I have checked the door plungers, fuses, and also turned the lights on with the switch on the dash so I know the lights work just not with the PKE.;help;help

 

[jmccloud]

PKE lack of sensitivity

My '95 suffers the same fate as your Corvette. I've tried new batteries and had no success finding the 'original' type with the thin lip about the perimeter that fits the clip in the fob. The PKE works, just not at long distance.
One thing I have noticed; if my cell phone is in the Corvette and is charging, the fob doesn't open the locks.
On the subject of lights, is there a difference whether it's daylight or dark? I always park in the garage and the lights come on as the doors unlock. But I recall a thread that mentioned that the lights only come on if the sensor in the DIC is in the dark. I'll have to watch the lights when parked outside during the day time.
If you find a solution, please post it.
Good luck.

 

[jmccloud]

Courtesy Lights

Today I observed the courtesy lights while parked in the bright sun. They did NOT illuminate after shutting off the key and opening the door. Tried it again later with my finger on the DIC light sensor and they illuminated.
Looks like "it knows when they're needed."

 

[John Robinson]

Today I observed the courtesy lights while parked in the bright sun. They did NOT illuminate after shutting off the key and opening the door. Tried it again later with my finger on the DIC light sensor and they illuminated.
Looks like "it knows when they're needed."

I just hate it when the car is smarter than me Now if I could figure out the PKE Gremlin:ugh

 

[twiget]

Do you have a spare remote? It sounds like you have found the culprit, a weak signal. Try using a different remote. If that works, then you've found the problem.

Good Luck

Jason

 

[Robertwav1]

Do you have a spare remote? It sounds like you have found the culprit, a weak signal. Try using a different remote. If that works, then you've found the problem.

Good Luck

Jason

I agree with this. I have two and one of them has a much shorter range then the other. Batteries are good in both. I use the one that works better of course. Also they tell you not to have two remotes in the vicinity of the car at the same time in case you should purchase another.

 

[John Robinson]

I do not have a spare so the search is on to find one. EBay has some but I am hoping to find someone that may have had a PKE car that they had two remotes for. Sometimes when you sell a car you forget about the extra keys and remotes you have and they start a collection in a drawer. Lets face it I am a tightwad I hate to spend money on parts that I can only guess are the problem. I was run through that game at the cost of an ECM that I did not need.

 

[Robertwav1]

Amen to that! Maybe you try one out from another car to make sure that's what your problem is. I only bought an extra when I first got the car in fear of losing the original. You're being thrifty, not tight. Good Luck!

 

[8kgold69]

1996 Convertible programing the remote for PKE

I have a 1996 convertible. When I bought the car the remote was missing. I bought a remote and tried to program it, but not much luck. After reading the owners manual and performing all the required steps I cannot get the PKE light to come on in the DIC as instructed. It said to press the TRIP ODO twice and in 5 seconds press and hold the FUEL button. The radio is off and the remote is more than 10 feet away. Does the doors have to be closed? Locked or unlocked? I have the original window sticker and it shows the car is equipped with the PKE feature.
:WIt's driving me crazy. Can anyone help?

Thanks

 

[fedcop90vette]

Don't laugh, but if you have a remote with a weak signal, hold the remote close to your chin and press the unlock button...usually works...really not pulling your leg........

 

[John Robinson]

. It said to press the TRIP ODO twice and in 5 seconds press and hold the FUEL button. Thanks

The fuel button referred to in the manual is the Fuel Info button.

 

[8kgold69]

Hey John

Thanks for the reply. I tried the proceedure as instructed in the owners manual, but still cannot the PKE light to come after pressing and holding the the fuel info button as instructed. What about the doors, do they have to be closed? The instruction in the owners manual does not state anything about the doors being open or closed. Do I need to pull any fuses and reset the system?

Thanks
Barry

 

[LT4man]

John, is your battery the one without the lip? If not, you might have to go to Chevy for the correct battery. Sometimes the dealer does not even have the correct one. The battery needs to be flat around the circumference. Otherwise it will not fit correctly in the fob.

SAVE THE

 

[John Robinson]

Hey John

Thanks for the reply. I tried the proceedure as instructed in the owners manual, but still cannot the PKE light to come after pressing and holding the the fuel info button as instructed. What about the doors, do they have to be closed? The instruction in the owners manual does not state anything about the doors being open or closed. Do I need to pull any fuses and reset the system?

Thanks
Barry

Go to this site it has a lot of info on this subject http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/printthread.php?t=65176

 

[John Robinson]

John, is your battery the one without the lip? If not, you might have to go to Chevy for the correct battery. Sometimes the dealer does not even have the correct one. The battery needs to be flat around the circumference. Otherwise it will not fit correctly in the fob.

SAVE THE

I asked for a DL 2450 but they gave me a 2450 that was not flat on the sides. I was beginning to wonder if this was the problelm. I will look for the correct battery and see if it fixes the problem.

 

[LT4man]

I asked for a DL 2450 but they gave me a 2450 that was not flat on the sides. I was beginning to wonder if this was the problelm. I will look for the correct battery and see if it fixes the problem.

I would try Chevy first. Then the department stores. The correct battery is NOT easy to find.

SAVE THE

 

[John Robinson]

Just got back from getting the correct DL2450 battery but the PKE is the samead

 

[8kgold69]

OK

I will try to explain the problem the best I can. When trying to program the remote for my 1996 convertible I follow the owners manual directions and get as far as pressing and holding the fuel info button. The fob is more than 10 feet away, the radio is OFF, no cell phone. I start by inserting the key into ignition and turn it on, press the trip ODO button twice and within 5 seconds I press and hold the fuel info button. I wait and wait and wait, but no PKE light comes on in the lower left hand corner of the DIC. How long do you have to hold the fuel info button for the PKE light to come on? Does the doors have to be open or closed? Is there a trick to get the Passive Key Entry light to come on in the DIC? I'm doing exactly what the book advises. Before I worry about the remote I need the light to come on in the DIC. Any ideas why the PKE light is not coming on?

 

[John Robinson]

OK

I will try to explain the problem the best I can. When trying to program the remote for my 1996 convertible I follow the owners manual directions and get as far as pressing and holding the fuel info button. The fob is more than 10 feet away, the radio is OFF, no cell phone. I start by inserting the key into ignition and turn it on, press the trip ODO button twice and within 5 seconds I press and hold the fuel info button. I wait and wait and wait, but no PKE light comes on in the lower left hand corner of the DIC. How long do you have to hold the fuel info button for the PKE light to come on? Does the doors have to be open or closed? Is there a trick to get the Passive Key Entry light to come on in the DIC? I'm doing exactly what the book advises. Before I worry about the remote I need the light to come on in the DIC. Any ideas why the PKE light is not coming on?

The fob in my opinion should be at least 30 feet away.

Open or closed does not make any difference on my car.

Have you read the sections (in my manual pages 48 & 49) that cover Turning the Passive Keyless Entry System off, Enabling the Passive Keyless Entry System

 

[8kgold69]

I did read that section, but I think you have to have the original remote to do that and I don't have the original remote. Is there another way around turning it on without the original remote?

Thanks