I have a 2003 SCrew and the factory keyless entry system. Sometimes when I approach my truck I have to get practically right on it before it unlocks my truck. Other times it will unlock at 50 feet or so.

Where is the sensor that picks up the signal from my key ring transmitter? Is the radio antenna used or what.

TIA

Tom

 

I have noticed this too. I have had keyless on every vehicle I've owned since about 93. Some are strong and some are not. Right now I have two 01 F-150s The SuperCab works at an amazing distance. The SuperCrew only works when you are standing next to it.

To give you and idea how strong the SuperCab is, one night I was getting ready for bed. I took my pants off and layed them down near the window. I noticed lights blinking by the garage which is way on the other end of the house.

I grabbed my truck keys out of my pants pocket and proceeded to the garage in my underware, where I fouund the lights flashing and the horn sounding on my truck. Somehow something in my pocked pushed on that button.

Nice knowing I can lock the truck without getting out of bed. Well, ok, I suppose I have to find my pants in the dark first.

 

I have the exact same problem with my 03 Screw I have to stand close enough to use the key itself before my keyless entry wotks. The delaer says there is nothing they can do about it, but my 01 Scab would work 200 feet sometimes. I have found the brain up under the steering wheel on the firewall close to were the brake release is located its up kinda high and says Keyless or PATS system its a white box with a bundle of wires coming out in 2 locations

 

i know this may sound crazy, but I have found if I hold my keyless entry button under my chin (touching my chin), when I press the button, it will work from farther distances than if I dont. strange huh?

ryan

 

I have had the same problem, 95 percent of the time it works from long distances away. There's one building that I go to during work, and it won't work at all there. I work on a Navy base so it doesn't suprise me. Normally works great though.

Rick

 

My 01 SCREW works at great distances.

I had a car once and I had to re-position the "Antenna" under the dash so it would work farther away .

 

ryan.posey,

You didn't get that idea from me did you? I posted that a few weeks ago..

Anyway, first thing to check is the transmitter, have you tried the second key fob? Do both work the same?

What about replacing the battery in the fob?

My keyfob works from pretty far away.....

 

My truck was in my side yard and i was in the other end of the house and could just see my truck out the bedroom window, so i said to self , i wonder if i can lock my truck from here, no problem, locked and lights blinked.

My wife has a Mercury Villiager, 10 ft is the limit.


Mark Keller
03 Screw
XLT 4x4
Ox White

 

The keyless entry receiver itself looks like a little PC circuit board and is generally located near the steering mechanism (or in some vehicles like Volvos IN the steering column). Follow the directions from Wefare Wagon, above, and you should be able to find it. It is very similar in design and function to the receiver in an automatic garage door opener.

Assuming that you have checked the batteries in the FOB, the problem is most likely the board itself.

There is a wire coming out of the board which is the receiver antenna. Some people report improved performance by lengthening the wire.

Others report better performance by just replacing the whole board. Apparently they are notorious for winking out. I know that I just replaced the receiver in my garage door opener a few months ago and now I can zap it with the remote from a couple of blocks away again--just like new.

If your dealer says there is nothing he can do, lean on him to replace the receiver.

When these things are operating properly they work at large distances and through buildings. Our baby managed to set off the panic alarm in our vehicle from inside the church during the pastor's sermon one Sunday. Woke a few people up!

Here are a couple of links to people griping about the performance of these receivers. Doubtless you can find others...

http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/keyless_discuss.html
http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/k...-rangeext.html

 

Thanks for the info Wildcatter but I could not find the antenna wire from the "brain" of the keyless modular all the wires are wrapped and eletrical tape and bundled together. Any ideas on what color wire or where exactly to look for the antenna?

 

The receiver in an F150 does not use an external antenna. The antenna is internal to the receiver module and cannot be modified - the length is matched to the receiver components to achieve maximum performance.

Most F150s I have seen (including my SuperCrew) have very good range - one thing that can seriously degrade performance are sources of RF noise (radio/TV towers, your neighbor's HAM radio, etc) at or near 315MHz.