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Old 07-14-2005, 07:11 PM   #1
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Range of Key Remote

My remote will only lock/unlock/open front trunk/open rear trunk from a distance of no more than 5 feet. With some of my previous cars, I could lock and unlock them from across the parking lot, as well as from my office (7th floor). Is this by design, or does my key have an unusually short range?

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Old 07-14-2005, 07:25 PM   #2
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Don't mean to insult your intelligence...but have you changed the battery? I just changed the battery in my other car's key and I can open it from Iowa.
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Old 07-14-2005, 07:31 PM   #3
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There is a TSB out concerning the short range of the remote. It involves clipping the antenna behind the dash and re-routing it a little so the signal pick up range is greater. If you're interested in it, let me know and I'll try and put it up on my website for you to use.

Like Rail26 said, change the battery first. They don't last a really long time and go down quick when they run out of juice.
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Old 07-15-2005, 06:05 AM   #4
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My key from new is only good for about 20ft away from the car.
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Old 07-15-2005, 12:07 PM   #5
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I will try changing the battery, but it has been this way since I got the car, about 3 months ago. I am not complaining about the range, just wondering if it is normal.
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Old 07-15-2005, 12:30 PM   #6
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Like Adams, mine is about a 20' range and has been except for when the battery started to die in the key.

It's pretty frustrating to go to lunch with a co-worker who has a Nissan and can unlock his doors and roll down the windows from inside the restaurant while your Porsche doesn't work from two parking spaces away.

I'm going to try the TSB fix to see what kind of additional range I get after I put the water tank in tomorrow and get it running again.
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Old 07-15-2005, 02:41 PM   #7
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Old 10-15-2005, 06:59 PM   #8
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I was told by some porsche representative that the short range in porsches is because the alarm changes frequency everytime you hit the button, so it can only operate at shorter distances.
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Old 10-15-2005, 08:54 PM   #9
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Beyond my knowledge, but the radio frequency used for North America is different than Europe. I am on several UK message boards and I cannot remember complaints about the range. Only US boards.
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Old 10-15-2005, 10:50 PM   #10
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My remote has never worked from more than 5ft, even with new batteries. Its a UK spec car.
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Old 10-16-2005, 06:07 AM   #11
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I actually measured the distance and my key only worked from 22.5 feet away.
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Old 10-16-2005, 07:10 AM   #12
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New Battery=Works at 30+ feet.
2 Month old battery= Works ONLY at 5 feet or less!

These batteries drain quickly!
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Old 10-16-2005, 03:42 PM   #13
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Hold the key under your chin when you're pushing the buttons...it improves the range..honest !

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