Autostart/FOB problems

[RamChops]

I have a RAM 1500 Laramie with the push start FOB. The range has been getting worse and worse (not like it was great to begin with) and the auto start was inconsistent, and now completely stopped working.
I've had the truck into my local dealership twice now, and they don't know how to fix the problem, they say the antenna is good, and we've replaced the FOB batteries, and a code us coming up on the FOB's that the "buttons were pressed too many times from out of range" and that's the problem (but they can't reset this error). They want me to buy another FOB off them in the hopes they can program that one and not fix the others.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[DRkNESS]

Well here’s my thought on that situation. How about they use another fob, if by doing so then that fixes the problem, then you’ll buy that fob. Why should you put out money for them to experiment with ?


Father Of Four

 

[HEMI_Finn]

Well here’s my thought on that situation. How about they use another fob, if by doing so then that fixes the problem, then you’ll buy that fob. Why should you put out money for them to experiment with ?


Father Of Four

FPNI - Why should your wallet be the guinea pig?

 

[skupko9680]

Well here’s my thought on that situation. How about they use another fob, if by doing so then that fixes the problem, then you’ll buy that fob. Why should you put out money for them to experiment with ?


Father Of Four

Yes as an IT guy have them program another FOB and try it. That narrows things down in a binary kind of way.

 

[DRkNESS]

I can’t believe they had the “ balls “ to offer that as a solution !!!!!!!!


Father Of Four

 

[skupko9680]

Yeah the buy a new FOB thing is WACK but the idea to troubleshoot this way makes sense.

 

[Jarhead57]

Yeah, I would make them test that idea at their expense not yours. Maybe try a different dealer?

 

[bigred90gt]

What year is your truck? Is it under warranty?

 

[RamChops]

2013, 151000 km, no warranty left on it.
I will go back to the dealer and tell them their tech in incompetent and they shouldn't expect me to foot the bill for their trouble shooting. There is another Dodge dealer in town I will take my business to if they won't do anything.

 

[baum]

because your out of warranty your sol unfortunately. unless you can get lucky and find a dealer that would be willing to try it.

ON the flip side OP would you work for free? i doubt it why should they.

Unless people purchase the "fob protection" plans that dealers offer they are only warrantied for a year from original purchase. They are an extremely disposable item, people drop and they can break easily.

 

[CostaRam]

I just had a similar problem, FOB was working intermittent, sometimes it helped to use it just beside the car.
Both FOB i have had the close button not working right and you could not feel the "click" when depressing it.
I opend the FOB and pulled out the cirquit board from the rubber shell.
Instead of having micro switches as most other FOB is saw, this FOB has circular contacts on the cirquit board and some circular "cups" sticked to the rubber FOB cover.
In my case some of this rubber cups became loose and the other FOB just had them a bit corroded. The fix where two:
1° I cleaned the corroded cirquit board and cups from the corrosion
2° i used this white chewingum like removable stickers to hang stuff on the wall to stick the cups back in their place.
Problem solved!
Chris

 

[JPT]

because your out of warranty your sol unfortunately. unless you can get lucky and find a dealer that would be willing to try it.

ON the flip side OP would you work for free? i doubt it why should they.

Unless people purchase the "fob protection" plans that dealers offer they are only warrantied for a year from original purchase. They are an extremely disposable item, people drop and they can break easily.

I think you are missing the point... He isn't asking them to work for free, he and others do not feel it is up to the customer to PAY for them to buy parts to test if that is the problem. You pay a diagnostic fee (labor), not a throw money at parts to see if it fixes it fee. If that FOB IS the problem, then the cost of the FOB is on him, but what if it isn't?

They either need to have FOBs on hand for the purpose of diagnosing the problem, or they need to find a better way to test. It is the dealership, not a mechanic without the FSM and all the FCA computers.

Now, if they say, "We will order a new FOB, if this is the problem, you will be charged for the new FOB, if not, we will return it at no cost to you" This would be different, and an acceptable way to test without screwing the customer.