Quality replacement key fob (transmitter) (1 Viewer)

[serran8r]

Hey all,

I purchased this replacement from amazon and placed the transmitter in a yotamd key.

Amazon link

It worked great but less than a year later the transmitter is working intermittently. I replaced the batteries, no better.

I was wondering if anyone has a good source of a transmitter so I can replace this one that isn't crazy expensive.

Thanks!

 

[gregnash]

can you describe "intermittently"?
Biggest thing is that these fobs only have a transmission/reception distance (at least in the 98-02) of about 30ish feet. So if you are more than that it will work intermittently. Also, the receiver is located above the headunit in the center of the dashboard (if I remember correctly from the EWD) so if you have anything on top of the dash there it could potentially be blocking the signal.

 

[serran8r]

can you describe "intermittently"?
Biggest thing is that these fobs only have a transmission/reception distance (at least in the 98-02) of about 30ish feet. So if you are more than that it will work intermittently. Also, the receiver is located above the headunit in the center of the dashboard (if I remember correctly from the EWD) so if you have anything on top of the dash there it could potentially be blocking the signal.

When I am super close, sometimes it will unlock / lock and other times it won't. I will push it a ton of times and every once and a while it will work. However, other times, it works just fine from a far distance.

 

[suprarx7nut]

When I am super close, sometimes it will unlock / lock and other times it won't. I will push it a ton of times and every once and a while it will work. However, other times, it works just fine from a far distance.

FWIW, that's how my OEM fobs behave on both my 99LC and 06LX. They work about 90-95% of the time, but they're definitely not 100%, even with a fresh battery.

I did just buy a brand new OEM transmitter for my LX. It was $122 from McGeorge. We'll see if that performs any better fresh out of the box. I should have it in hand in a few days.

 

[gregnash]

So the question @serran8r is when you are doing this when things AREN'T working, can you see the little light on the fob turn on when you hit the button? Wondering if it is the button itself wearing out from use.

For instance, my wife's '11 4Runner has the homelink system in the upper console. One of the buttons you have to press a very specific way to get it to trigger. For my wife this is super annoying and an inconvenience and wants to rip the whole thing out and replace ($$$$$$$). I tell her I just need to program the other buttons, but what has happened is that over the last 9ish years the button has been pushed enough times that the portion on the PCB board is no longer making appropriate contact all the time, thus why pushing a specific way gets it to work. Doesn't affect the other buttons necessarily but will wear them as quickly (possibly more quickly).

 

[serran8r]

So the question @serran8r is when you are doing this when things AREN'T working, can you see the little light on the fob turn on when you hit the button? Wondering if it is the button itself wearing out from use.

For instance, my wife's '11 4Runner has the homelink system in the upper console. One of the buttons you have to press a very specific way to get it to trigger. For my wife this is super annoying and an inconvenience and wants to rip the whole thing out and replace ($$$$$$$). I tell her I just need to program the other buttons, but what has happened is that over the last 9ish years the button has been pushed enough times that the portion on the PCB board is no longer making appropriate contact all the time, thus why pushing a specific way gets it to work. Doesn't affect the other buttons necessarily but will wear them as quickly (possibly more quickly).

The little red light does come on when I push the button, the car just isn't registering it.

I did place my old OEM transmitter in my YotaMD fob and placed the amazon cheepo in the stock plastic and both seem to be working currently.

Maybe the one from amazon wad a hard time sending signals through the youa MD fob?

 

[suprarx7nut]

The little red light does come on when I push the button, the car just isn't registering it.

I did place my old OEM transmitter in my YotaMD fob and placed the amazon cheepo in the stock plastic and both seem to be working currently.

Maybe the one from amazon wad a hard time sending signals through the youa MD fob?

The YotaMD kit should be totally radio transparent. Significant testing was involved in the design and I had no statistical difference in function up to ~50 feet away - well beyond the normal range of the fob.