[anxiousMN]

Hi,

Today I had something strange happen to me on my way home from work. I stopped at a store before getting home (got 65.3 miles on electrons today by the way before the range extender kicked in). This is longer than my normal commute but I was stupid and forgot something at home halfway on my way to work and had to go back. Anyway, when I stopped at the store, I went in and made my purchase, came out, opened the hatch and put stuff in the back, closed it, went around to the door and it would not open. Wouldn't open with the door buttons (any of them), wouldn't open with the key fob, nothing. This is after I opened and closed the hatch. So I went back into the store for a bit, came back out after about 10 minutes and the door opened with the door button! If it didn't, I was going to try the app to open but didn't have to.

Long story short, anyone else have this type of problem? Solutions?

thanks,

skol
2017 Volt LT

 

[Steverino]

You can use the mechanical key.

 

[jcanoe]

That should not happen. Possible causes include a weak key fob battery (easy to test by switching to the spare key fob or changing the 2032 button battery), a defective 12V battery (if it happens again definitely have the 12V battery tested), loose 12V battery terminal connection (you can check this yourself of have the dealer do it.) Sometimes parking in a space with excessive RF noise from a nearby storefront could interfere with the key fob signal. This happened to me one time in a Chevrolet Traverse rental at a gas station pump island. The problem resolved after a few minutes but freaked me out as I could not lock the SUV and the Traverse would not recognize the key fob.

 

[anxiousMN]

That should not happen. Possible causes include a weak key fob battery (easy to test by switching to the spare key fob or changing the 2032 button battery), a defective 12V battery (if it happens again definitely have the 12V battery tested), loose 12V battery terminal connection (you can check this yourself of have the dealer do it.) Sometimes parking in a space with excessive RF noise from a nearby storefront could interfere with the key fob signal. This happened to me one time in a Chevrolet Traverse rental at a gas station pump island. The problem resolved after a few minutes but freaked me out as I could not lock the SUV and the Traverse would not recognize the key fob.

Thanks, I'll check the battery connections this weekend and then try the other key fob.

 

[VoltenRock]

Yeah if the car doesn't sense the fob it won't open. For now, I have onstar and can always use the app to unlock. Not sure if that will be worthwhile under their new "plan" but I've got a "complimentary" free year (it's really not complimentary because the app never worked for the first 3 months I had the car--their fault--and they extended me to a year).

 

[Guest]

Old neon sign transformers put out some nasty RF interference. Also nearby cell towers or radio transmission towers of any kind can overload the car's receiver and prevent it from recognizing the fob.

 

[anxiousMN]

Thanks for all the tips. I'm not sure it was key fob interference because the door buttons would not unlock the vehicle either but, i'll check the battery connection and key fobs this weekend.

 

[wmtunate]

I'm not sure it was key fob interference because the door buttons would not unlock the vehicle either

The vehicle needs to sense the presence of the fob nearby, which still involves RF signals. Otherwise, anybody could just come up and unlock your doors without the fob.

 

[hellsop]

To be fair, though, a LOT of fob-related issues clear up by taking a ten-minute walk away from the car. Even a half-decent search here will turn up a half-dozen different stories that ended this same way.

 

[caskConditionedAle]

Sometimes when I've had a few drinks, machines around me start doing weird things.

 

[anxiousMN]

The vehicle needs to sense the presence of the fob nearby, which still involves RF signals. Otherwise, anybody could just come up and unlock your doors without the fob.

Good point. Wasn't putting 2 and 2 together there.

Thanks

 

[MikeyCVolt]

To be fair, though, a LOT of fob-related issues clear up by taking a ten-minute walk away from the car. Even a half-decent search here will turn up a half-dozen different stories that ended this same way.

Makes sense. Most people around me need a 10 minute break from me from time to time. Only fitting the car is no different.

Mike