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Gen 3 (JB33W) Key Fob Has Terrible Range

Crankshaft Culture
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27 Jul 2025 17:58 #261326 by Crankshaft Culture

Gen 3 (JB33W) Key Fob Has Terrible Range was created by Crankshaft Culture

Just picked up a new-to-me 1998 JB33W (JDM). It has an OEM key fob. The only way it'll work is if I hold it nearly against the front windscreen. I replaced the battery with a fresh one, and it made no difference. While it's a minor gripe, it'd be great if there were a fix for it. Anyone else experienced this and have a fix?

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fordem
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27 Jul 2025 21:05 #261330 by fordem

Replied by fordem on topic Gen 3 (JB33W) Key Fob Has Terrible Range

Where did you get the new battery from? I've seen quite a few cases where new batteries are not fresh batteries and don't work as well as they should.

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Motacilla
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28 Jul 2025 13:21 - 28 Jul 2025 13:22 #261338 by Motacilla

Replied by Motacilla on topic Gen 3 (JB33W) Key Fob Has Terrible Range

I've never looked inside the JDM fob, but in others the antenna can sometimes come adrift.

Sometimes a contact gets crudded up, on those where the antenna is a metallic component off the circuit board.
Or, when the antenna is embedded as a long trace on the circuit board, it can get cracked through rough handling.

Either way, after you voltage-test the coin cell per @fordem 's advice, the next thing to look at is the antenna component.

Last edit: 28 Jul 2025 13:22 by Motacilla.

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Crankshaft Culture
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28 Jul 2025 15:19 #261342 by Crankshaft Culture

Replied by Crankshaft Culture on topic Gen 3 (JB33W) Key Fob Has Terrible Range

Both batteries are actually good on power. The previous owner thought the black part on the rearview mirror may be the fob's receiver. Is that what it is? I went to partsouq.com and looked up interior parts and it wasn't shown, however. Is that indeed what it is? (I haven't tried to open it up.)

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fordem
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28 Jul 2025 17:47 #261348 by fordem

Replied by fordem on topic Gen 3 (JB33W) Key Fob Has Terrible Range

Whatever that is, it's aftermarket, and I've just realized we are discussing a JDM import, how about a picture of the key fob, let's see exactly what we're dealing with.

The following user(s) said Thank You: Crankshaft Culture

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Crankshaft Culture
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29 Jul 2025 18:25 #261372 by Crankshaft Culture

Replied by Crankshaft Culture on topic Gen 3 (JB33W) Key Fob Has Terrible Range

OK, perhaps it is an aftermarket keyless system after all. Here's a photo of the key and fob that came with the vehicle.

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Gen 3 (JB33W) Key Fob Has Terrible Range

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