Mercedes Car remote?

Question

What could be wrong with the car remote fob if it only works at a certain distance? You have to be right up on the car for the car to get the signal...I've changed the batteries and the remote still doesn't give a signal distance away from the car. Its the 98 smart key with the little red light at the top!

Answer 1

While I agree with the above post regarding the cleaning of the battery contacts and blowing out the inside of the fob ( dust does get in there ), do not get a used key fob.  Those fobs are hard coded when new and cannot be recoded to another car.  If you need another key, a new key from a Benz dealer is your only option.

Answer 2

Believe it or not, that is a safety feature! We have a 2000 E320, and it is the same way. We asked the Mercedes-Benz service people about it, and they said it was supposed to be like that. It is so that you don't accidentally unlock the car from a distance, or so that when you unlock it, you have to be close enough so that someone couldn't get in the vehicle unnoticed. That's exactly what they told us. It's annoying, isn't it?

Answer 3

if the remote use to work good and now it won't give a strong signal even when you changed the batteries then there is something wrong with the remote. When you press the button on the remote pay attention to the light is it slightly dimmed even when you installed new batteries in it. If so that means the electrical connections of the battery are corroded and needs to be cleaned and if this is the case just clean the connector and problem solved. If you get a very bright light when you press the remote then it might be a bigger issue such as complicated electronics that have gone bad in your remote or the alarm control receiver unit's antenna in your car needs to have it's antenna and strength adjusted. This unit is usually found on the left side of the driver's side in the door area below the steering wheel. It is a small eletrcial box with a a bunch of wires coming out of it. Find the black one that is short and slightly bigger than the rest and that is the antenna. Make sure it is fully extended to get a better reception. Also there are controls and switches on the unit itself that uses a flat screwdriver to adjust the strenth of the unit. If you can't find it ask the mercedes dealer or someon knowledgeable or online about where it is exactly. If could just the remote itself is bad. You always have a backup remote in case something should happen to your first remote or your lock yourself out. If the remote is bad look for it on ebay you can usually get one for under $30 or $40 much less than what the dealer wants which is a few hundred.

Answer 4

A SmartKey uses infrared energy to send its signal and won't work from long distances. You may be accustomed to remotes that use a RF (radio frequency) signal can unlock the doors, they'll work from a much longer distance.

If you're talking about being 1-2 feet away before it will work there could be an issue with the IR receiver in the door handle. You should take it to the dealer to find out for sure.