2000 LX/LC Extend Factory Alarm Range?

[CEO714]

Ok So I did A search and only found this topic come up with the 80 series not the 100 series just wondering if anyone has done a mod for our model to extend the range? If so let me know please its getting very annoying that I literately have to be 5 or less feet from it to start working. Yes I have changed the battery and they are BRAND NEW MASTER KEY FOBS! both have very short distance. I read somewhere of a "Grey Wire Mod" but its not for our model. Wonder if something can be implemented to our models.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CEO714]

No one?

 

[Keowee]

It is an annoying problem with most 100's. Have not heard of a fix yet.

 

[CEO714]

It is an annoying problem with most 100's. Have not heard of a fix yet.

Yes very annoying! Stupid thing has a mind of its own sometimes I can get the distance as far as 15 whole feet (OHH boy!) and sometimes I practically have to stand on the hood to get it to do anything!

 

[yotasavg]

I've been searching as well and have not found a fix, so annoying though.

 

[CEO714]

For me the option of after market defeats the purpose of having the master key and factory system and a waste of money! So that option is not a option to me! I swear when we do find a way to extend this I am going to wrap the antenna around the truck to have a rage from space to make up for the lack of distance over the years!

 

[yotasavg]

Haha ya I've only got a s***ty old master key... so there's a good chance I'll have remote start before a new one of those lol.

 

[CEO714]

Off topic but I am sure your aware (I learned the hard way) DO NOT LOSE YOUR MASTER KEY! If you get to a point where you no longer have a master key yes the valet key will work but will not lock glove box and if you ever choose to go back with a working factory system for some years such as mine you will have to buy a entire ECU and new master keys to have them programmed to each other there was NO OTHER OPTION for my year ;( they couldn't just program a master key sigh. So after all of that and finding out that my range of this system it 5-10 ft really irritates me and I am progressively looking for a solution! LoL

 

[r2m]

Just a thought, if one could reverse engineer the assembly, they may be able to find the receiver and when the receiver is found the antenna should not be far. That being said, in theory one should be able to extend the antenna, change the location or both.

I'm a mechanical engineer so I'm just guessing here...

 

[CEO714]

Just a thought, if one could reverse engineer the assembly, they may be able to find the receiver and when the receiver is found the antenna should not be far. That being said, in theory one should be able to extend the antenna, change the location or both.

I'm a mechanical engineer so I'm just guessing here...

These are the days I wish I had time and know how to reverse engineer things such as this! One day tho I may tear into this task if no one else has done so yet! Grrr! What was Toyota thinking? They clearly knew this should be by many standards un acceptable range!

 

[r2m]

There is a trick to getting a little better range out of a remote. This may sound like I'm making an April Fools joke but I'm not.
Hold the transmitter (your key) to the bottom of your chin, touching it, and press the button with your mouth slightly open.
I AM NOT KIDDING! And it's not a urban legend either.
I have had this work on many remotes and it would double or triple their distance. Funny thing, I've never tried this with my Hundy yet. I'll try it when I get off work!

 

[FlammableFishie]

There is a trick to getting a little better range out of a remote. This may sound like I'm making an April Fools joke but I'm not.
Hold the transmitter (your key) to the bottom of your chin, touching it, and press the button with your mouth slightly open.
I AM NOT KIDDING! And it's not a urban legend either.
I have had this work on many remotes and it would double or triple their distance. Funny thing, I've never tried this with my Hundy yet. I'll try it when I get off work!

I was actually just about to share this little trick, but yeah it actually works. Or at least it seems like it does. My friends always look at me oddly when I do it, but if I forgot to lock my car and I'm too lazy to walk back within range I'll just stick the key right under my chin and it works like a charm. Extends the range at least 20 feet.

I'm with yotasavg though, I think I'm going to get a remote start kit in the near future. It'd just make things so much easier.

 

[looking4lc]

i have heard about the poor alarm range but in my lx is decent, i can start the car from almost 100-150 feet away

 

[CEO714]

i have heard about the poor alarm range but in my lx is decent, i can start the car from almost 100-150 feet away

Wow that's impressive! I wish mine was that good of range!

 

[yotasavg]

i have heard about the poor alarm range but in my lx is decent, i can start the car from almost 100-150 feet away

What year do you have?

 

[looking4lc]

2007

 

[Dwight S]

In the 2004 manual you can download in section Body Electrical, page BE-100 states that distances will vary and to test, stand 1 meter away from vehicle and press a transmission switches for 1 sec. On a good day I may can get 10' away if the wind is blowing toward the car to help push the weak radio waves.....

On page BE-98 it shows the Wireless Door Lock ECU in the rear passenger side door cavity along with rear door lock motor and detection switch.

 

[yotasavg]

2007

Oh cool I didn't realize those had remote start!

On a good day I may can get 10' away if the wind is blowing toward the car to help push the weak radio waves.....

Is that really how it works???

On page BE-98 it shows the Wireless Door Lock ECU in the rear passenger side door cavity along with rear door lock motor and detection switch.

Good detective work. I have to do my door lock actuators soon so maybe I'll be able to see what's going on with that while I'm in there. Not sure when I'll get to the rear doors though...

 

[CEO714]

Ok so according to Toyota and Lexus the brain for this thing is deeply hidden under center console! In front of the shifter... Now we need to find the antenna! But heard it's internal! Aghh!

 

[yotasavg]

Internal in the Wireless Door Lock ECU? Now we're talking work but who knows it may be possible to get in there and extend it... no wonder it's got bad range if it's buried in metal and polymers and stuck inside an ECU box!