Getting Key Fob Low Battery on Evic - Hidden Key Fob Possibly?

[Ecobuilder]

New to me 2014 Ram 1500 Sport back in May. Came with no key fobs - just one Compustar remote.

Last few days I've been seeing the Key Fob Battery Low notification on my evic after starting the truck so I'm wondering if there is an actual key fob possibly hidden somewhere in the truck.

I did use AlfaOBD a while back to sense for any key fobs, but it returned nothing.

If the evic is displaying this warning, there must be a key fob somewhere in the truck, correct?

 

[04fxdwgi]

If there was a fob hidden in the truck, you wouldn't be able to lock it up. At least my Sport does that.

Leave your fob in the house and go and try to open up and start truck.

 

[Ken226]

New to me 2014 Ram 1500 Sport back in May. Came with no key fobs - just one Compustar remote.

Last few days I've been seeing the Key Fob Battery Low notification on my evic after starting the truck so I'm wondering if there is an actual key fob possibly hidden somewhere in the truck.

I did use AlfaOBD a while back to sense for any key fobs, but it returned nothing.

If the evic is displaying this warning, there must be a key fob somewhere in the truck, correct?

More than likely, the aftermarket remote is transmitting with a slightly weaker signal that the RF hub expects to see from an OEM key fob, and is interpreting that as a low battery.

In your situation, I would buy 2 OEM replacement key fobs, then use AlfaOBD to clear ALL fobs from the RF hub memory and program the new fobs. Aftermarket key fobs cause issues (as you can see), buy OEM if possible. Even used OEM is usually better than cheap Amazon or eBay junk.

I bought the wife a 22 Durango R/T about 6 months ago, that only came with one FOB. The RF Hub had 2 in memory.

I purchased another used OEM fob on eBay, then used Jscan to clear the fobs from memory and programmed them back into the RF hub.

I wasn't big fan of having extra keys to my truck floating around out in the wild somewhere.

 

[Ecobuilder]

If there was a fob hidden in the truck, you wouldn't be able to lock it up. At least my Sport does that.

Leave your fob in the house and go and try to open up and start truck.

If I lock it using the door panel switch and close the door, it honks three times and then unlocks.

Doesn't matter if the compustar remote is on me or a mile away.

The compustar remote locks/unlocks the truck with no honking.

On another possibly related note, the truck can be started (push button) whether the compustar remote is on me or not which I'd like to rectify asap.

 

[Ecobuilder]

More than likely, the aftermarket remote is transmitting with a slightly weaker signal that the RF hub expects to see from an OEM key fob, and is interpreting that as a low battery.

In your situation, I would buy 2 OEM replacement key fobs, then use AlfaOBD to clear ALL fobs from the RF hub memory and program the new fobs. Aftermarket key fobs cause issues (as you can see), buy OEM if possible. Even used OEM is usually better than cheap Amazon or eBay junk.

I bought the wife a 22 Durango R/T about 6 months ago, that only came with one FOB. The RF Hub had 2 in memory.

I purchased another used OEM fob on eBay, then used Jscan to clear the fobs from memory and programmed them back into the RF hub.

I wasn't big fan of having extra keys to my truck floating around out in the wild somewhere.

My plan is to uninstall the compustar system with the Blade AL module under the dash and revert back to factory keyless remotes.

Strange timing that this alert is showing.

 

[Ken226]

If I lock it using the door panel switch and close the door, it honks three times and then unlocks.

Push button start?

That sure sounds like there is a lost FOB in the truck somewhere. Mine is not a push button start, but i've heard that on the push button start trucks, if a proximity FOB is left in the truck it will honk 3x and unlock if the key fob is left inside.

I'm sure you've already searched it, but maybe some hidden magnetic hide-a-key thing somewhere?

 

[Ken226]

Push button start?

That sure sounds like there is a lost FOB in the truck somewhere. Mine is not a push button start, but i've heard that on the push button start trucks, if a proximity FOB is left in the truck it will honk 3x and unlock if the key fob is left inside.

I'm sure you've already searched it, but maybe some hidden magnetic hide-a-key thing somewhere?

@Jimmy07 knows the programming on these things better than most. Perhaps he's still around and can chime in.


Edit: I apologize for the double post. Too much coffee or just wasn't paying attention, but at the time, I thought I was editing the previous post and ended up with this one.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Push button start?

That sure sounds like there is a lost FOB in the truck somewhere. Mine is not a push button start, but i've heard that on the push button start trucks, if a proximity FOB is left in the truck it will honk 3x and unlock if the key fob is left inside.

I'm sure you've already searched it, but maybe some hidden magnetic hide-a-key thing somewhere?

That is what my '16 push button start does if key is left in truck, you hit the lock button on the door and then leave the truck and close the door. Door unlocks and 3 beeps.

Sure sounds like a fob is still in the truck.

 

[RamDiver]

That is what my '16 push button start does if key is left in truck, you hit the lock button on the door and then leave the truck and close the door. Door unlocks and 3 beeps.

Sure sounds like a fob is still in the truck.

My truck does the same 3 beep warning with a FOB inside and then unlocks.

.

 

[nlambert182]

Same here. I'd be looking for that fob. Bound to be in there somewhere.

 

[Ecobuilder]

I"ve checked before in the usual places - rear floor cargo bins, under seats, under the dash, glovebox, most of the console.

May have to use the borescope and look further in the console and behind the rear seat. Might be a good opportunity to install the rear seat mod.

 

[Ken226]

GG

I"ve checked before in the usual places - rear floor cargo bins, under seats, under the dash, glovebox, most of the console.

May have to use the borescope and look further in the console and behind the rear seat. Might be a good opportunity to install the rear seat mod.

Looked outside? Under the chassis, frame, fender wells, etc? For one of those old fashioned hide-a-key magnetic box things?

 

[Ecobuilder]

GG


Looked outside? Under the chassis, frame, fender wells, etc? For one of those old fashioned hide-a-key magnetic box things?

Will do that this weekend. Thanks for the tips!

 

[diymirage]

GG


Looked outside? Under the chassis, frame, fender wells, etc? For one of those old fashioned hide-a-key magnetic box things?

I have one of those one every vehicle I own, but I have "house style" keys in em

Between me, the kids and the wife, there have been way to many keyfobs locked inside vehicles to not have a way in

 

[Ken226]

I have one of those one every vehicle I own, but I have "house style" keys in em

Between me, the kids and the wife, there have been way to many keyfobs locked inside vehicles to not have a way in

Yea, similar tactic here. I got one of those trailer hitch vaults. Slides into the hitch receiver and has a 4 digit combo to unlock it.

 

[diymirage]

Yea, similar tactic here. I got one of those trailer hitch vaults. Slides into the hitch receiver and has a 4 digit combo to unlock it.

Ive never seen those, but i like the idea...except, i leave my towball on 24/7 and use it as a park sensor

 

[turkeybird56]

Ive never seen those, but i like the idea...except, i leave my towball on 24/7 and use it as a park sensor

I have a small (2) keys on ring, contains "extra" door lock key and my key to my rear full tonneau cover. I always CARRY this extra 2 ring setup in my pocket in case I have a severe brain pain moment. Further, for the guys that talk about the fob in truck, truck's unlock. Just FTR, U can lock that FOB in truck. If U leave fob in there, and try to lock when truck not running, on 4th try system will let U lock fob in truck. ALSO with truck running, say like most peeps, throw keys in console. I do not have auto to unlock all doors, just drivers set up. If I get out and manually say hit the lock button with my elbow, the truck running, and not pay attention, the FOB will be locked in the truck, just saying.

 

[Dean2]

If I lock it using the door panel switch and close the door, it honks three times and then unlocks.

Doesn't matter if the compustar remote is on me or a mile away.

The compustar remote locks/unlocks the truck with no honking.

On another possibly related note, the truck can be started (push button) whether the compustar remote is on me or not which I'd like to rectify asap.

Then there is a FOB in the cab somewhere, if it was not in the Cab and hidden somewhere outside the cab elsewhere on the vehicle, it would not do the auto unlock. If you lock and close the door three times it will stay locked, you can also push down the manual silver lock tab near the door post and it will lock first time.

Good news is, once you find the FOB you saved yourself $150.

Lock the doors with the electronic button, open the drivers side and exit. Push this down with all the other doors locked for lock on first try.

 

[Marshall]

yrs back when I was thinking of installing remote start on the then new '08 Honda,
a couple models I looked at , you had to leave a coded key in the car because of the alarm system.
I never bothered with any of it.
That could be something to think about.
If there is a fob hidden, you should be able to start the truck without your other fob.

I can't lock the doors on my 2014 sport with the door switch if the fob is in the truck.
It will sometimes beep at me as I walk away if the fob is in my pocket, but the truck does not read it.
them I have to hit the lock button on the fob and it will lock.

It seems to matter which pocket I am using. strange.

You could ask a dealer/ installer for that brand of remote start about hidden keys if you could find one.

 

[04fxdwgi]

I"ve checked before in the usual places - rear floor cargo bins, under seats, under the dash, glovebox, most of the console.

May have to use the borescope and look further in the console and behind the rear seat. Might be a good opportunity to install the rear seat mod.

Will do that this weekend. Thanks for the tips!

If you have a console, check the thin slot / pocket on the side. I have stuff mysteriously show up in that pocket (that you can't get your hand in) after searching everywhere around the seat and the floor.