I've owned nothing but Fords since I was 19 and they all had remote door locks. I now have an '02 SCREW and the remote doesn't seem to work until you're right on top of the truck. It is especially poor when you approach it from the back or rear corners. Could this be a weak battery or is it just because of where the receiver is located on the SCREW? Anyone else noticing this?

 

I have had door openers before that were like yours, but this is my first Ford and I'm amazed at how far away the thing works; almost all the way down an aisle at the mall parking lot.
I had two Saabs before and you had to be right on top of them before the remote worked.

 

I have the same problem with my 03 Screw you can spit farther then the remote will work I have tried batteries and new remotes but nothing helps. The dealer says it normal and nothing can be done, so I plan on taking it to another dealer to see what they have to say

 

I'd have to agree with Chaos. The range on mine (03') is outstanding. Stick to your guns!

 

Our Toyota, you have to be on top of...

My SuperCrew on the other hand, could probably be in the next state...and these are the original batteries in my 2001 SuperCrew (Mar 2000). I've used the "panic" button before to find out where the shop park it - and it worked, from around the building, probably 50 meters away - even with the thing going off I had a hard time finding out where it was!

 

My 2001 SCREW is still on it's original batteries and works from at least 25-30 yards away. Some days it's range is less but on a good day I have been closer to 60 yards away and was able to use my remote. There is a mod you can do to make the antenna longer for the reciver. I have seen it on this board somewhere. There is a disadvantage to having more distance though. If you bump your remote in your pocket at work or something and set off your panic alarm (I have done this before) then you may not know it until someone comes up and says your car alarm is going off... I feel stupid because I told them I don't have one, then I found out I must have bumped that button because sure enough there was my horn honking and lights flashing.

 

a litte trick that actually works is hold the remote under your chin when you push the buttons. i've tried it and worked. i didn't think it would, but its pretty neat, i read it somewhere else on here. it uses your body as an antenna or something.

funny though, i got a lump the size of a golf ball under my chin now...wonder what its from?

 

That was me Harley 356, on of the salesmen at my dealer told me that one, it does work... Try it, you'll like it... you'll look silly too, but then.......

 

I had this problem on a Mazda B4000. I took it to the dealer and had them reprogram the remote with new batteries. this was 3 years after new purchase. Reprogramming is simple, any Ford dealer can do it in 2 minutes. Watch them and you can do it anytime.

2002 Screw, Lariat, 4x2, 5.4L, 6cd, extndr, 7700 tow, vermillian red.

 

Mines great, good for about 150 ft, I was 2 doors down from my house and unlocked mine.

 

Bumping to the top of the list -
Curious if anybody else is having problems with their remote keyless entry range performance.

 

wackman do you own a torreado red truck, if you do try skiping out of your housr when you push the buttons might help.

 

My '97 wouldn't work from 20 feet away. Changed batteries and everything. Nothing worked. Finally solved the problem, sold it and bought a 2002 SCrew. The remote on the '02 works from 100's of feet away every time.

 

mine seems to work from a mile away (well not really a mile) but certainly from well across a big ol' parking lot...