96 850 remote key fob door locks SUPER annoying

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 22 Feb 2026, 13:37

Is there a switch or contact, in the car, that failure would intermittently prevent key fob use? My FOB works 95% of the time, but seemingly every time I stop to get gas, I can't operate the locks with the FOB. I don't think this is the typical low battery, or dirty contacts in the FOB itself. I took care of that a few months ago. However, it's like the car stops listening for the radio signal from the FOB, as no amount of button pressing will get the car to respond. The next drive cycle it's fine, as if nothing was wrong.

Post by **scot850** » 22 Feb 2026, 16:32

That is a strange issue. I have had issues with P80 fobs being intermittent with age (fob not me!). The transmit ships reduce range over time and sometimes depending where you are around the car can make a difference to fob performance.

Does the fob work normally if when you have this issue you lock and unlock the car manually with the key and then re-try the fob?

Neil.

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 22 Feb 2026, 17:51

scot850 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2026, 16:32 That is a strange issue. I have had issues with P80 fobs being intermittent with age (fob not me!). The transmit ships reduce range over time and sometimes depending where you are around the car can make a difference to fob performance.

Usually I'm right at the driver's side front, or by the fuel filler

Does the fob work normally if when you have this issue you lock and unlock the car manually with the key and then re-try the fob?

I've tried that and today tried actually restarting the car and neither worked immediately. By the time I was ready to go, I was able to use the FOB.

Post by **scot850** » 22 Feb 2026, 23:28

Do you have more than one working fob, and if so, do you have the same issue with both? Trying to see if the issue is the fob or the system.

Neil.

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 22 Feb 2026, 23:36

scot850 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2026, 23:28 Do you have more than one working fob, and if so, do you have the same issue with both? Trying to see if the issue is the fob or the system.

Neil.

Unfortunately, the other key, and fob disappeared on me over the last year. I kept thinking, I'd run across it, but it hasn't turned up, so I'm thinking it's permanently lost.

I probably should try to get another, and get a new key cut.

Post by **scot850** » 23 Feb 2026, 13:56

It is therefore hard to figure out if the issue is a faulty fob with say a sticking button, or if it is the system itself that is the issue.

Neil.

Post by **jreed** » 24 Feb 2026, 05:38

I had to replace a fob recently because it was intermittent... I took the old one apart later and found lots of corrosion inside the two dome contacts and on the carbon traces inside the switches.

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 24 Feb 2026, 07:05

jreed wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 05:38 I had to replace a fob recently because it was intermittent... I took the old one apart later and found lots of corrosion inside the two dome contacts and on the carbon traces inside the switches.

When I took the fob apart I didn't find any corrosion and I thoroughly cleaned it with alcohol and then tested the battery. Upon reassembly it worked much better. I don't believe this problem of it randomly being completely irresponsive is on the fob side of things.

My thought would be that if it was the fob, repeated pushes would eventually get a result, but that's not the case. It won't work at all until the next drive cycle.

Post by **jreed** » 25 Feb 2026, 05:40

Sometimes when one of our fobs doesn't get the car to respond, I hold the end of the fob up to my chin and then press the button... that seems to make the fob transmit a stronger signal and the car responds. You could try that when your car isn't responding and see if that helps.

Post by **scot850** » 25 Feb 2026, 08:36

And yes, it is a thing!

Neil.