Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

Technical => 932 Series (156, GTV, Spider, 147, GT, and 166) => Topic started by: biggerrich on October 06, 2012, 11:20:30 AM

Title: 147 key fob tired
Post by: biggerrich on October 06, 2012, 11:20:30 AM
hi, I'm new here!

my key fob works just about if i hold it right over the sensor. it also works better in the dark, so I assume it's IR, and draws me to the conclusion  the transmitter is tired.

where do I get a new fob from with all the guts? I've taken it apart and identified the transponder chip, I assume this and the blade can be swapped to a new one.




Title: Re: 147 key fob tired
Post by: colcol on October 06, 2012, 02:58:28 PM
If it is like a 156, then have you tried a new battery?, if not try it, and clean up the contacts for the battery, Colin.
Title: Re: 147 key fob tired
Post by: biggerrich on October 06, 2012, 03:43:46 PM
yeah, first thing I did!
Title: Re: 147 key fob tired
Post by: colcol on October 06, 2012, 05:10:35 PM
Just checking!, have a look at some of the UK sites, they seem to have a good selection of solutions, some of the 147 and 156 UK ebay sites have deals where you pay a fee, send the key and they fix it, never used it, but they seem to know what they are doing, Colin.
Title: Re: 147 key fob tired
Post by: Cool Jesus on October 06, 2012, 11:40:25 PM
Its not IR, that just wouldn't work realistically. I'd say col is right about the battery, or I've seen on ebay a reconditioning kit for the key fobs with new button, battery and the micro switch... how's your soldering skills? I'll see if I can find the item for you, I may have the wrong key fob, but, you never know, it might be the right one...
Title: Re: 147 key fob tired
Post by: Cool Jesus on October 06, 2012, 11:42:07 PM
Huh, found it ;)

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/170906121453?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/170906121453?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649)
Title: Re: 147 key fob tired
Post by: colcol on October 07, 2012, 09:56:23 AM
One of the ones i seen was that you pay a set fee, send your old keyfob to them and they recondition it with a warranty, Colin.
Title: Re: 147 key fob tired
Post by: biggerrich on October 08, 2012, 05:54:45 PM
so, (and I don't recommend this approach) as it turns out, leaving your key in the pocket of a pair of jeans, sending them through the wash, drying it out in a jar of rice, appears to improve the range of the fob by 10 meters. That's science, that is.

Title: Re: 147 key fob tired
Post by: colcol on October 08, 2012, 08:26:46 PM
OK biggerrich, after you leave it in your jeans, and it goes through the wash, and you are trying to dry it out in a jar of rice,[rice is hydroscopic, that means it absorbs moisture], what type of rice, wholegrain, long grain, chicken savoury?, can you please be a bit more specific, Colin.
Title: Re: 147 key fob tired
Post by: biggerrich on October 08, 2012, 09:16:59 PM
arborio, obviously!