NC Remote Control "expiring"

[IMMX5]

Over the past month or two I have noticed a greater reluctance for the NC's remote control to function properly - and it's not the battery (replaced - no difference). What does happen is that if one keeps the unlock button depressed for a peiod the battery seems to charge the built in capacitor on the remote and eventually the door will unlock - and for a few minutes it seems to have enough strength to open & close the doors/boot.

I have seen the correctly coded replacement items on E-bay and eventually found the instructions to program both the transponder and the key (which would have to be cut locally). I am not concerned with the key itself - just the remote control etc.

Has anyone tried these remotes - and had success (or other experience) with programming the transponder?

[Zohxoco]

I've had no end of trouble with mine. I replaced the batteries and it worked OK for a little while (a week or so) then starts to play up again. The light is weak, or barely shows at all.

I have seen the correctly coded replacement items on E-bay

Wait, so you can buy a transponder that will unlock the car?

[PAU61L]

Hello, it sounds like it has dirty contacts in the button part of the remote, same thing happens with tv remotes, when you clean the contact area of the push switch, it works fine. Dirt, grit and sweat get into peculiar places, I haven't pulled one of these apart, so let us know if that is the problem and how you fixed it, Paul.

[deanb90]

Yeah mine stopped working, luckily i have another that works. Will try replacing the battery

[Gmi]

Mine has the same problem, I'm also using the spare. Let us know your findings, I'll open the faulty one up and check it out.

[IMMX5]

sounds like it has dirty contacts in the button part of the remote, same thing happens with tv remotes, when you clean the contact area of the push switch, it works fine.

Hi Paul
Remember, these are not like TV remotes where you have a membrane contacting the PC board - in this case the button pushes a microswitch. As I mentioned - if you keep the button depressed for a while (sometimes a minute or so) then the red LED begins to flash intermittently and eventually stays on for 'longer' as if the capacitor gets charged and finally the remote then works OK - and can open/close the door locks and open the boot w/o a problem. This also confirms the battery is OK as I have been doing this for the last month or so....

[IMMX5]

Wait, so you can buy a transponder that will unlock the car?

Just had an email back from keyless4u - seems like one has to exercise some caution - they also refer back to keylessride.com for more info (look like they can supply both new & used remotes). The response for a 2006 NC is a 4 button remote - I have emailed back both the FCC ID and a pic of our 3 button remote to see what they advise...

[kenson]

I'm interested to hear how you go.

My problem: Car only came with one set of keys and fob. I want to get a replacement.
Car is 2004 SE.

[kenson]

Asked a company in Perth for a programmed key and fob: $436.50

[IMMX5]

I just need to confirm the frequency the remote operates at - and then I plan to trial a remote. Just havent got to it yet!!!

Cost is approx $80 but will need to confirm. They mentioned additional discount for multiple purchases.

[IMMX5]

OK - so I bit the bullet about 3 weeks back, and bought a 3 button remote from Keylessride.com (US$54 + $20 shipping) = A$71.28. Confirmed with them that the FCC ID# was the same (in actual fact it is also the one for a 2006 Mazda 5) but could not get confirmation from either of 2 Mazda dealers about the frequency - the US one supplied is 315 MHz and they were not sure ours was the same.

I received it last week and tried a number of times to follow the programming instructions they supplied or a Mazda USA TSB which gives a System A & System B instruction (A says use the unlock button, B says any button). I tried multiple combinations - all to no avail - I just could not get the remote into programming mode

This morning it all twigged... Just after I bought the car I disconnected the 2-pin multiplug on the ignition switch which gets the car to have an intermittent beep with the key in the switch and the door open. This is a royal pain in both the NB and the NC and I had made this mod to both. In fact, I think I even wrote a thread up on this in the forum some 6 years back and even then I had noted that one needs to reconnect this multiplug if one has to re-programme the remote!!

Once reconnected, it went into programming mode - and I now have the remotes all working - with one hiccup -> the new remote with the panic button does not open the boot (but I can live with that for the spare remote!)

Not bad for 30% of the price of a new remote (plus some frustration/embarrassment!)

[de Bounce]

Used these steps to program the remote fob for a 2011 NC2 (same as described in the TSB)
1. Remove key from ignition
2. Close all doors.
3. Open drivers door.
4. Perform following steps within 24 seconds.
A. Turn ignition switch ON and back to LOCK position three times
B. Close and open drivers door three times
C. Door locks should lock and unlock automatically, if they do not wait 40 seconds and repeat procedure starting at step 1.
5. Press UNLOCK button of each keyless remote to be programmed twice, door locks should lock and unlock after each remote is programmed. If door locks do not lock and unlock proceed as follows.
A. Close and open driver’s door once, door should lock and unlock twice. If door locks do not lock and unlock, start procedure over with step 3.
6. Exit vehicle and test remote(s)

Also confirm the car won't enter programming mode if you have disabled the "key in ignition - door open" warning chime.
Thanks to IMMX5 for highlighting that little gem!

[davekmoore]

No need to spin round 2.37 times on your left foot then?

[de Bounce]

No need to spin round 2.37 times on your left foot then?

Or pay a dealer to do it when it's a 5 minute job!

[bruce]

That is absurd. All that to program a remote.