The fobs for my aftermarket Code Alarm on my 09, remote entry/start work from more than 100 feet, every time all the time. I was walking the dog one time and could hear the horn & see the lights flash like 8 houses down the street when I hit the button. That is more than 400 feet clear line of sight.

Just before I sold the 07 Adventure (no sunroof) in 2019, the OEM fobs worked from maybe a car length, maybe. Some times I damn near had to hold the fob against the window.

IMHO not worth the time or hassle trying to resurrect the lousy OEM fobs for these things.

So, NMH3, any update?

 

CodeAlarm States>"1,500 ft. of Operating Range"

 

I agree with Doc. Instead of messing around with the O.E.M. consider an aftermarket. I had a Clifford remote start installed 16 years ago and it starts, locks, unlocks and a few other options easily from a block away.

 

In my case, I couldn't care less about the key fob. I just did this LS6, 6L90E, Dana 300, and Dana 44 conversion, so far I've managed to integrate the ABS, Stability/Traction control, and every other control I can think of, and got the lights off in the dash. But the TPMS keeps lighting up, put multiple sensors in tires, but can't get them to program.....assuming it is due to the antenna poor reception.

Unfortunatly when I got frustrated with it, I took it to my buddies tire store where they installed the Autel brand sensor that they use. They couldn't get the new sensors to program either...... BCM just wouldn't recognize them. They didn't want to charge me for the sensors that didn't work, so they took them back out. Now I have no sensors in the wheels, so I'm trying to get the fob to work, "because everything I've read says they use the same antenna" before I address the TPMS sensors again.

 

Yeah. So I disconnected the battery and put it on charge (it was fully charged but doesn’t hurt to let my NOCO top it off), removed the BCM, CRC’d the connectors on both harness and BCM-side, inspected the board, gently squeezed the inner and outer electrical sweepers on the antenna side connector of the BCM antenna, and changed the remote battery.

That did improve the reception range from right beside the driver door to right at the front bumper, but I haven’t driven long enough since to know if the SERV TPM message is gonna come back. I don’t have high hopes though since the door remote doesn’t work at the back bumper, so I doubt the TPMS sensors will either.

BCM circuit board was clean, connectors were clean. No corrosion, crusties or evidence of water damage. Solder joints are clean, no solder cracks, no distressed components or damaged traces. Looks brand new. My 09 also has a flexible flap covering the BCM from above - presumably to protect it from water. Maybe this was GM’s fix to reduce warranty claims for leaking sun roofs. Lol.

Before all this started range was 30-40ft. Then it suddenly changed over just a few days. When I get more ambitious and the weather is warmer I’ll pull up the center console and carpet and look for corrosion on the ground stud there. That’s where the BCM is grounded and with the past sunroof leaks and wet carpet perhaps that stud has corroded and isn’t giving a good ground any more. I’m also wondering if this is ambient temperature related. My problem got worse as the weather got colder.

If all else fails I’ll try Hummers suggestion of disconnecting the BCM antenna and see if that makes the TPM light go away. If it does, then a 3rd party remote will be in my future. 😀

 

You can't simply disconnect antenna with trouble codes stored. Clear ALL P-B-C codes first.
Look here>>>>> Poor or No RKE Range

 

Don't really feel like breaking down the tires again. Just ordered a TPMS eliminator module, I'll let you know how that goes when it comes in.

 

Yep, makes sense. The active TPM codes weren't showing after my connector cleaning procedure, but I also disconnected the battery so that would have cleared the current codes. I've taken your advice though and cleared the historical codes tonight.

I don't think my issue is RF interference. The problem is not location dependent, and there are no new accessories installed. I have some things that have been on the truck for years, like LED headlights, but everything not from the factory is on switched power (except the trailer brake controller that the PO installed). I don't have anything plugged into the OBD port, or the accessory power plugs, or hardwired to an always-on power source, and I don't have toll transponders or anything else of that nature. So I really don't think its an RF thing. Perhaps something in my aftermarket radio is going on the fritz and creating interference - the wiring diagram shows the radio does get always-on power though, so I can look into that some more if my issue is not resolved.

Having said that, this afternoon the remote started working like before again with about 80' range to lock/unlock. I am thinking this might be ambient temperature related. When the TPM and remote performance problems first appeared the temp outside was in the 20's, but today it warmed up to just under 60 degs and then it started working like old times again! I don't think my CRC cleaning is what resolved it since immediately after doing that I had only a minor improvement in performance. I'll report back if my problem comes back with cold temps.

 

WHere'd you get that?

 

Ebay, coming out of Romania. I'd let me try it out and see if it works before ordering. I will post my success or flameout