Crosstar keys suddenly BOTH have a very short 'blip' range

[Saycol]

I have had the car from new, now at 14 months and key fob fine. However having experienced “sudden death” on my previous car that also had keyless entry (VW Golf), I always keep a spare battery in the car.

[Kremmen]

Good point about spare batteries, must check what they are .................. CR2032

[Lord Voltermore]

The OP says that both were fine the day before:

"Yesterday, and ever since I bought the car in June 2021, both keys have blipped open and closed the car from a 25 + metre range."

My apologies   I missed that bit      .  That is indeed strange.   But the disadvantages of leaving  both keys on,  (and the admittedly very slight risk of  wearing out the buttons )  might still happen to others.

[BROC]

We had similar problems with our other car (Nissan Qashqai) & motorhome.   We were in a public car park when both Qashqai key fobs failed to work unless we were almost touching the car. Later when I got home, they both worked perfectly on our driveway at a range of 7-8 metres.

Some months later I couldn't disarm the alarm on our motorhome while it was parked on our driveway. The alarm had only been installed a couple of months earlier.  I spoke to the installers & they suspected radio interference. They said the radio band the key fobs operate in is getting very crowded.   I was about to try the motorhome alarm 'emergency disable' feature  when suddenly the key fob worked & the alarm disarmed.

I wondered afterwards if our car problem had been someone deliberately trying to prevent other people in the car park from locking their cars, to facilitate theft? In the case of the motorhome I wondered if it was interference from the drone that was buzzing overhead at my neighbours house, it was busy taking photos & recording video for the estate agent handling their house sale?

[Hicardo]

Hi Folks, and thanks for all the comments. 

So today - both keys still not 'connecting with' the car from 25 metres - at home - but operate close to vehicle just fine, I'm talking within 3 metres.  Took the car off to Tunbridge Wells on an errand, parked up at the multi-storey, and guess what, the key I took with me worked at a distance of about 25 metres.  Go figure??   Came home and we're back to short ranges again. 

Wonder if its got anything to do with interference from somewhere locally that's just started up - maybe? I live in a rural environment, but guess it could be BT works or something, not that i've noticed anything.  My other car's fobs, VW, work normally. 

I will buy / fit some new batteries next and see what happens. 

 

[Kremmen]

I never use the buttons. I leave the fob in my pocket and pull the handle to auto unlock.

[nowster]

There are repeated reports of key fobs not working near RAF bases.

[Lord Voltermore]

I think the vhf signal from the  buttons works on a different  frequency to the keyless locking signal.

Maybe a neighbour has just  just installed a bluetooth device, wireless router ,G5 etc that is interfering  with it.

I know the americans are having problems with G5 as the frequency they use  (different to uk) is too close to aircraft sytems.

I saw an amusing thing on TV the other night.  Some people are changing their wifi router name  so it reads as a rude message to anyone detecting  nearby  wifi networks.    Im tempted to change mine from a meaningless code to "Hi Fatty" 

[nowster]

I saw an amusing thing on TV the other night.  Some people are changing their wifi router name  to so it reads as a rude message to anyone detecting  nearby  wifi networks.    Im tempted to change mine from a meaningless code to "Hi Fatty" 

That's been going on for years!

[Lord Voltermore]

That's been going on for years!

I'm still in the whoopy cushion and itching powder  era. 

[aphybrid]

Increase range - key in hand hold against head and press button - silly but it works - o go on give it a try.

[shufty]

...I hardly ever 'blip' 

[Lord Voltermore]

Increase range - key in hand hold against head and press button - silly but it works - o go on give it a try.

VHF signals straight into your brain?   

OK I tried it.  The Unicorns made me do it.  Oh look a squirrel .....

I didnt really  try. I dont want to make things even worse.  I'll take your word for it.   

[Jazzik]

Increase range - key in hand hold against head and press button - silly but it works - o go on give it a try.

IT WORKS!!!

[stiggysawdust]

Silly as it seems but holding key on side of forehead really does work. Have known this a long time and people I tell never believe it until I show them.
On my previous HRV it  shows a warning on the dash when the key in use needs a battery change. Don't know if the Jazz does this as we haven't needed a battery replacement yet on our November 2020 Jazz. I rarely use the buttons, I just walk up to the car and open doors using the handle or on the boot, the button.