1300CC

Hey guys, took the eight in for the fuel pump recall. While it was in, I asked the Service Advisor if he could have the tech connect it to IDS and enable the automatic locking feature that the 06+ GT's have when you shut the car off and exit, close the door, it beeps to signify the key has left the car, then when you walk away and it no longer senses the key, it auto locks.

Granted this is the dealership, so I'm not expecting the best.

They came back and said the feature was already on, and that there was some issue with the system (their words, paraphrasing a bit, but pretty much what was told to me.) They informed me they replaced the battery in my transponder, and that the keyless system wasn't working. I've had no real issue with it working normally, except when the battery was low, or I bought a cheap off brand CR2025 battery. I got in the car to leave, and I had to take it out of my wallet before the key would be recognized by the car. I'm chalking this one up to the battery they used probably being low or cheap, because that's the only other time I've had it not want to recognize the key and unlock the ignition to turn the **** & start the car (my cell phone was not in the same pocket, I've read that TSB.)

I do have Versatune and a custom tune flashed to the PCM, however, I don't think it would effect the car in this manner, as the dealer told me the feature was already on. I'm just looking to see if maybe there's any input from anyone else who has had this done or active on their RX-8 before, in case there's something I'm just not thinking of. My guess so far is:

I. The dealer didn't connect it to IDS at all
II.They didn't know exactly what I was talking about, and possibly looked at the wrong feature and thought it was already on
III. There's actually a problem with the keyless entry & start.

I'm not inclined to think there's a problem, because generally if one of the antennas fail, the whole system goes down. I can still start the car with the **** and lock the car with the button on the door handle. However, I do know the antenna that is prone to giving problems is the one under the bumper. Going to look into that and see if it needs cleaning. I had a previous 06 GT that behaved the same way this one is now until the dealer turned the feature on, in that case it worked just like the auto lock feature should. The current RX-8 is just acting like its not turned on (despite what the dealer says.)

Anyone have any thoughts?

40th8Jake

Yeah man my key fob is tricky sometimes as well. Try taking the battery out and putting it back in. That usually works for me. I don’t trust the car or any car to lock itself anyways but I’m paranoid

1300CC

I've noticed its (the transponder) susceptible to low quality batteries, or maybe they have just been on the shelf too long. The only time I've had issues is when I used a cheap battery, and the battery the dealer supposedly put in. Today I had to take the transponder out of my pocket before it would open the door with this new battery they put in the transponder. Before, with my old battery, that wasn't the case until months later (I believe the one in it before was an energizer.)

I spoke to VersaTune (good customer service as always) and they informed me it shouldn't have any issues with the dealer connecting the car to IDS because they are interfacing with the BCM in this case (which I figured, but I wanted to ask anyway. Better safe than sorry.)

If I had to guess, the dealer probably just didn't know what was going on, because the system works perfectly fine otherwise. I wish I had access to IDS so I could look at it personally, But I don't have the VCM-II even if I did.