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General 500X Keyless Entry Problem

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General 500X Keyless Entry Problem

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johnnypasta

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Apr 10, 2006
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Hi,
I’m starting to have problems with the keyless entry central locking system on my 2016, 500X 2.0 Multijet 4x4 Cross Plus.
When I touch the back of the door handle, the door should unlock. However, it’s stopped working . I have to first pull the door handle towards me, release it, then touch the back of the handle as I used to do for it to work.
When it does unlock, it’s accompanied by strange “clonking” sounds almost as if the central locking is trying to lock and unlock simultaneously (also the indicators are flashing like crazy) After which, the doors will not unlock or lock either with the key fob or with the actual key in the lock. I have to wait around 20 secs before I can lock the doors by pressing the key fob.
I’ve changed the battery on both key fobs and I have tried disconnecting the engine battery overnight. The latter seem to cure the problem for about 5 mins but that’s all.
Also, on occasion, the car doors will unlock as I approach the vehicle without me having to do anything and then the central looking will go bonkers again trying to lock and unlock itself.
Incidentally , I have no problems starting the car. There are no warning lights on. It is purely the central locking that has the problem.
Has anybody else had this? Did you managed to sort it?!
Cheers
John
 
johnnypasta said:
Hi,

I’m starting to have problems with the keyless entry central locking system on my 2016, 500X 2.0 Multijet 4x4 Cross Plus.

When I touch the back of the door handle, the door should unlock. However, it’s stopped working . I have to first pull the door handle towards me, release it, then touch the back of the handle as I used to do for it to work.

When it does unlock, it’s accompanied by strange “clonking” sounds almost as if the central locking is trying to lock and unlock simultaneously (also the indicators are flashing like crazy) After which, the doors will not unlock or lock either with the key fob or with the actual key in the lock. I have to wait around 20 secs before I can lock the doors by pressing the key fob.

I’ve changed the battery on both key fobs and I have tried disconnecting the engine battery overnight. The latter seem to cure the problem for about 5 mins but that’s all.

Also, on occasion, the car doors will unlock as I approach the vehicle without me having to do anything and then the central looking will go bonkers again trying to lock and unlock itself.

Incidentally , I have no problems starting the car. There are no warning lights on. It is purely the central locking that has the problem.

Has anybody else had this? Did you managed to sort it?!

Cheers

John
Click to expand...



Does the car behave the same with both key fobs? Apart from that no suggestions
 
Hi, It happens with both doors. I did initially think it must be a problem with the driver's door handle but alas, no.
 
johnnypasta said:
Hi, I'll give it a try. Thank you .
Click to expand...

Well for what it is worth I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the Keyless Entry.

I still have it enabled (to save key fob button wear and tear) but I'm not happy with two issues:

1) Ultimate security and the remote signal boosting hacks. I'm more than happy that "prestige" cars (Mercedes, BMW, .....) will be the prime target of these attacks but the 500X could be vulnerable

2) Automatic Deadlocks. After a Fiat campaign/software update then pressing the door handle button automatically applies the deadlocks. Before the update you could only apply the deadlocks by a key fob lock button double click/press. This is a real life/safety issue. I've accidentally lock my wife twice in the car whilst going to pay the fuel bill. No doubt parents have/ will do the same with kids in the car where they can not get out in an emergency. Likewise rescuers can not get in. I've complained to Fiat but to date there is no software fix. Shame on you Fiat!
 
Hi,

I think Fiat should definitely give you the option in the setup menu to have the deadlocks on/off when using passive entry. But when have Fiat ever listened to customers' needs?!:)

I did as you suggested ( great suggestion by the way). It hasn't cured the problem, but the central locking is behaving normally now by using the key fob.

I can the lock/unlock the car now without any strange noises or manic indicator flashes which is absolutely fine for now.

So I guess it must me a problem with the transmitter/receiver of the keyless entry system. Sounds like a trip to Fiat when they eventually open again.
Thank you again for your suggestion, I wouldn't have thought about doing it!

Cheers

John
 
So partial success then :)

You might like to also try giving the door handles and external buttons a good wash/cleaning. The system seems to be very sensitive so much so when my wife (wife no key) attacks the car door handles before me then the car unlocks. Other times it will not and I get the "will you unlock the car please" request. This behaviour of the system (not the wife :) ) seems to vary with weather, location, .........

Now Fiat seem to be unable to respond and reprogram the deadlock operation. I'm unable to reprogram the wife operation, but this is probably a very good thing because if we ran the same program there would be no independent redundancy and we would make the same mistakes. :)
 
Last edited:
Hi, I might give the driver's door handles a clean then.

I do wash the car with a pressure washer. Maybe there has been some water ingress into the door handles.

I actually live on the coast of Ireland ( around 100 metres away from the sea).
Again, maybe there has been some corrosion on the electrical connections. Who knows?!

Given, I have lots of time on my hands at the moment, I might strip the door trim out and have a look at the connections which will probably result in the central locking never working again!:)

Thanks again for your help.

John
 
Hi,
It doesn't matter where I am . Same problem. But you are right though. I've learnt never to have my iPhone in the same pocket as the key fob as the doors won't open!
 
As others say proximity to phones and weak fob batteries all have an effect. Despite being set to flash ours also intermittently also decides not to flash the lights during lock/unlock for no apparent reason...............but I've had enough Italians to know what they are like!
 
As it's out of warranty, probably best to leave it as it is now and lock/unlock using the keyfob. Getting it fixed will be quite expensive I would imagine, and you won't have the relay theft risk now.

At least Fiat provide the option to disable keyless entry. The Hyundai I have now doesn't so I keep the fobs in Faraday pouches in the house. I know it's not a "prestige" car, but apparently lesser makes are stolen for parts.
 
Nello said:
Despite being set to flash ours also intermittently also decides not to flash the lights during lock/unlock for no apparent reason...............but I've had enough Italians to know what they are like!
Click to expand...

Same here. Sometimes flashes. Then not. Then just sidelights/drls glow.

I just ignore it now as every time I try to find a reliable explanation or event that causes the strange behaviour I get more confused than the car.

The only serious trouble I had a couple or so years ago was the key less and fob refuse to unlock the car. So I went to get the second key. Same problem.

After many tries with both keys it started to work again. Only explanation I could come up with was that the normal key had somehow had it's buttons depressed in my tight jeans pocket and the fob hahd been sending out rolling codes to which the car was not responding so the vehicles "look ahead" table (which is there to cater for a few missed codes) was overrun.
 
Re: 500X Keyless Entry Problem Update !

I've managed to figure out the problem with the keyless entry.

It turned out to be the car's battery which is really strange as there where no problems starting the car and there were no warning lights on.

I charged the original battery just as an experiment and the keyless entry system worked perfectly for half hour or so and then started to play up again but not as bad as before. I put the battery on charge again and the charger was showing that the battery charge was low. So, I took the plunge and ordered a new battery and..... it's been working absolutely fine for the last two days now!

I thought I'd mention it just incase anybody else is having problems with their keyless systems!
 
Re: 500X Keyless Entry Problem Update !

Well thanks for the update.

I sometimes wonder if it is idiots/numptys that design these car systems. They are so sensitive to battery voltages/conditions it defies any sensible explanation. My humble caravan has a "Booster" unit that will take a low towing vehicle voltage of down to 9V and boost it to 14.x V to charge the caravans battery correctly.

Either the vehicles control units should be designed to run from 9V (or less) or the sensitive units should be supplied via a regulator that can also "boost" up as well a regulate "down".

Rocket science NOT!
 
s130 said:
Well thanks for the update.

I sometimes wonder if it is idiots/numptys that design these car systems. They are so sensitive to battery voltages/conditions it defies any sensible explanation. My humble caravan has a "Booster" unit that will take a low towing vehicle voltage of down to 9V and boost it to 14.x V to charge the caravans battery correctly.

Either the vehicles control units should be designed to run from 9V (or less) or the sensitive units should be supplied via a regulator that can also "boost" up as well a regulate "down".

Rocket science NOT!
Click to expand...
I think lots of issues are caused by fitting the smallest battery they can get away with these days the save 4-5kg weight
 
Re: 500X Keyless Entry Problem Update !

johnnypasta said:
I've managed to figure out the problem with the keyless entry.



It turned out to be the car's battery which is really strange as there where no problems starting the car and there were no warning lights on.



I charged the original battery just as an experiment and the keyless entry system worked perfectly for half hour or so and then started to play up again but not as bad as before. I put the battery on charge again and the charger was showing that the battery charge was low. So, I took the plunge and ordered a new battery and..... it's been working absolutely fine for the last two days now!



I thought I'd mention it just incase anybody else is having problems with their keyless systems!
Click to expand...



Also having issues!!
Started last week. Have wiped handles etc! Took to my local garage but none the wiser!?
On the voltmeter in the car - it says battery is between 14-16volts but not sure how accurate!
Alan47 also said when he was on here battery condition is often a factor.
Its out of warranty-how do i disconnect the keyless system! Uconnect Live is telling me ti take ti a main dealer??
 
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