Keyless entry no workie?
 

This is weird.

I took delivery of my RX-8 about 20 hours ago. The keyless entry remotes worked fine yesterday. I could unlock and lock the doors, as well as open the trunk from at least 100' away using either remote. No problems.

But I wake up this morning, and now I can only get either remote to work on a very sporadic basis. Both remotes basically unlocked the doors once today, after pushing the button a dozen times, and that was it. Neither will work at all now, even when standing next to the car.

Could it just be old batteries?

I didn't see any threads reporting remote problems.

thats weird because the same thing happened to me yesterday...i've had my car since NOV. and the remote has worked fine until last night...now im using my spare one

Hmm, well, if your spare remote works, I'd guess the battery in your master remote is fading perhaps?

Wouldn't ya know it: I figured oh well, I'll just HAVE to DRIVE down to Radio Shack and pick up some new batteries (darn!).

So I go to unlock the car, and the darn remotes work fine now. Tried both of 'em a dozen times, and they're fine. Ya gotta understand, an hour ago neither one would work at all.

Oh well, people do tend to call this car "quirky." Thus begins my adventure, lol...

Some times there is some RF interference which makes things go crazy. When I used to fly radio control airplanes with friends my alarm on my old honda would go crazy and we looked it up and it ran in the same freq.'s as the remote control planes. It was weird till we figured it out.

Hmm, yea, I was wondering if maybe my cell phone was interfering. I tried turning it off, but the remote still didn't work - though perhaps it was already seriously confused by the phone.

It's sporadic: it worked last night, didn't work this morning, worked fine again this afternoon, then didn't work at all again tonight (just now).

Oh well, I was half-hoping everyone would say "There's a tech service bulletin for that common problem!" But I guess it's just me.

I'll put some fresh batteries in I guess, just in case.

It's not your cell phone at all.
Generally speaking, low power devices like keyless remotes transmit at low frequencies compared to phones and networking devices. Remote control planes and cars are on 27.1 MHz (Industrial band) and 75MHz. Your keyless is probably on a similar frequency range but most likely it's on 13.5MHz or 27.1MHz whereas a digital cordless phone is going to be 900MHz, 2.4GHz or 5.1 GHz.

Cellular phones are 1.8GHz and 1.9GHz with some older analogs still in the 800 and 900 MHz ranges.

Hi all!!

I have the same problem.

My dealership pinpointed the problem. The alarm module was burned because of moisture. The module is sitting besides one of the cooling ducts of the A/C. The cold and hot changes made it get moist and burned the board.

They removed the board and they sent pics to Mazda about it a few weeks ago.

This is the 3rd car in Puerto Rico with the problem.

They will replace the module. It is under the glove compartment on the left side.

I will keep you posted of the progress. Next, week, I will post pics of the burned board.

Everett

I had same problem - it was the battery. I thought my rolling code key had gotten lost somehow, but once I put a new battery in, it started working.

Start with the simple stuff, I guess...

Yup... just put in new batteries. Worked fine when going to get batteries, worked fine when came home. An hour later, I took out the trash and figured I'd test it again - didn't work. Came back inside, stood in bedroom window and tried again - worked fine.

It's a car gone insane, lol...

Looks like Everett might be onto something :)

Hi Guys!!

Tommorow, I will meet my friend @ Mazda. I will take pictures of the damaged module so you guys can see it.

Also, I will verify the so commented new 5/21 PCM calibration.

I will keep you posted.

Thanks,

Everett

mine works fine, but for a bit today the lights didnt blink. thought i noticed it friday but i was at an angle from the car and it was sunny so i just figured i couldnt see it. well today it flat out didnt blink at all- tried it several times- but then came back and appears to be working just fine now?

Everett...

GREAT post and thanks for the heads up. These are the kind of issues that NEED dissemination. Gives us all something to watch out for.

Keep us posted.....THANKS AGAIN! :)

Final Update
 

Hey guys:

Ok, here is the deal.

This is the location of the module. As you can see, as the arrow shows, it is standing besides a cooling line from the AC.
http://www.speedgroup.org/rx8/MVC-017S.JPG


This is the Keyless Entry System Module itself
http://www.speedgroup.org/rx8/MVC-014S.JPG

This is the mudule's board with the two areas burned.If you notice the cover is showing a greenish color where the humidity made it burn.
http://www.speedgroup.org/rx8/MVC-021S.JPG

This is the module from my car, and mine is the 3rd one in Puerto Rico with this problem.

Regarding the new M Flash, YES, there is one. I confirmed it this morning with my friend @ Mazda. He verified his WDS Tool and the latest release it had was B31_3. He downloaded the latest, released on May 21st Version B31_5. I will get my car flashed today and will give you any updates.

Best regards,

Everett

Everett, thanks for the informative posts. BTW, I like the photo in your signature, but I have to ask... is the RX8 in the lead or about to get lapped by the STI and EVO? :D

Hi guys!!

Update!!

My dealershiip replaced the Keyless Entry Module.

Alarm 100% Functionall

Did the A/C module recall - Cooling like a champ in 98 degrees temperatures.

Did the M Flash 31_5 flash. No difference from the previos M Flash 31_2 I had done one month ago. There are no differences in this small update, other than some minor buf fixes. No change in power, nor MPG.

Regards,

Everett

That's great! Congrats!

Any idea how long it took to do the fix? Did they fix it in one day?

Thanks for the great info. That should certainly help my dealer diagnose the problem quicker.

I also just discovered that the air bag recall was never performed though, so first things first (and I apparently have a pre-L flash)...

11 year bump:)


has anyone ever figured out the fantom doors sometimes unlock and sometimes not, but you can hear the click under the glove box?

I've never figured it out, but mine acts weird too. It really only works well with a very fresh battery. Otherwise, the system reacts slowly sometimes or not at all. There is also some kind of cell phone interference. If my fob and phone are in the same pocket, the keyless entry NEVER works.

Over 10 years old so I don't expect a response. But do you have a picture of the unit, I'm trying to buy a replacement and there seems to be 2-3 modules that make up the system

Did everett's post ever get sticked? This was extremely helpful!

Reviving old threads if anyone figured this problem out or saw a thread about it please post i can hear the clicking under the glove box my button on the inside doesnt work for either door but again hear the clicking if i click the keyless entry you hear it click under the glove box but still nothing i dont understand whats wrong now i manually have to close and lock each door to make sure i dont get robbed but when i lock the doors from the outside using the key the head lights still flash as if its like hey dummy i still work but only when i want