Do-it-yourself alarm keychain repair

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of alarm key fobs from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Unfortunately (for car enthusiasts), fortunately (for entrepreneurs), services that include a column in the list of services: repair of car alarm key fobs are flourishing, and all because they have enough customers. Installing a security system designed to protect against vehicle theft, it would seem, should solve all the problems of the car owner, but no one is immune from breakdowns. And, as a rule, the most vulnerable element of the system breaks, namely: the alarm key fob.

If the car alarm stops responding to commands from the control panel (key fob), then first you need to understand what is the reason for this development of events and only then decide what to do in this case?

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There are enough reasons to either contact a company that repairs alarm key fobs, or spend time studying this issue in order to further repair the key fob yourself. To get acquainted with the list of the most common malfunctions of key fobs and the causes of them:
  1. Buttons do not respond. The problem may be due to:
    • sticky buttons;
    • failure of the button itself, contact or wire as a result of natural wear or mechanical impact (impact);
    • the absence of a sufficiently strong fastening of one of the elements of the main board (the contacts have come off).
    • Weak illumination. The indicator LED is dim and the screen is dark. A malfunction can be caused by:
      • insufficient charge of the power source (batteries);
      • failure of the controller;
      • the departure of quartz from the processor;
      • violation of the integrity of the fastening of the contacts (often observed after the fall of the car alarm key fob).
      • There is no feedback. The system does not respond to commands sent from the key fob. Possible causes of the malfunction:
        • key fob decoupling (disruption of synchronization between the remote control and the elements installed on the car);
        • wear (breakage, damage) of the transmitter reception antenna;
        • the alarm was installed incorrectly (errors either during installation or connection).
Video (click to play).

There are other reasons forcing a car enthusiast to use the service: repairing the alarm key fob or trying to restore this most important element of the security system to its original characteristics with his own hands.

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If the key fob is broken, it is not at all necessary to immediately buy a new remote control. In most cases, a faulty key fob can be reanimated. Some breakdowns can be repaired on your own. In this case, you need to act in stages:
  1. Step one (diagnosis). First you need to identify where the failure occurred (disassemble the key fob into its component parts, ring the board contacts, the tester will point to problem areas, check the condition of the battery, carefully inspect each part for damage or wear).
  2. Step two (feasibility assessment). Based on the results obtained, decide how to proceed further (contact professionals or still repair the key fob with your own hands).
    The list of tasks that you can handle on your own (if you have basic knowledge that does not imply special training) includes the following items:
  • replacement of parts (a car enthusiast can replace such elements of a key fob device as: a case, a display, a button, but there is one “but”: it is rather problematic to find spare parts for some alarm models);
  • soldering contacts (gluing quartz with thermal paste);
  • reprogramming the control panel (detailed information on how to link the key fob to the alarm system, including those already stored in the system’s memory, can be found in the instruction manual).
  • Step three. Direct troubleshooting, performance check.
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    In the event that it was not possible to repair the key fob using your own skills and abilities, it makes sense to seek help from specialists. At the same time, neither the brand of the alarm system (Starline, Sherkhan, Pandora, Tomahawk, Pharaoh and others), nor the type of security system (GSM, GPS alarm), nor its class (economy, business, premium) matters. Highly qualified craftsmen are able to restore the functionality of the key fob of any alarm (if possible and justified).

    The list of works available to customers of such a service includes such actions as:

    • diagnostics of the technical condition of remote controls (carried out using modern equipment that allows you to get accurate results within just a couple of minutes);
    • replacement of parts (display glass, display itself, faulty button, damaged housing, metal or plastic antenna, battery cover);
    • restoration of the microcircuit (elimination of breaks in the circuit of the main board);
    • car alarm key fob coding (reprogramming - in case of successful repair of the old one, binding of a new one - in case of an unsuccessful attempt to repair or the masters recognize it as an inappropriate event).

    What are the benefits of professional repair? In 100% quality of work performed, confirmed by warranty and in a short time to solve the problem.

    What is the downside? In need of parting with their own finances.

    Summing up, I would like to say: in most cases, the car alarm key fob can be repaired. Breakdown is not a sentence!

    The car alarm system is a complex electronic mechanism that can sometimes malfunction. Most often, problems arise due to malfunctioning alarm key fobs. If the security system is under warranty, in case of a malfunction, it is better to contact the service or the installer, in other cases, you can correctly identify the problem and try to fix it yourself.

    If there are power problems, then the key fob buttons may not respond to pressing or perform independent actions, for example, opening and closing without pressing the button. As practice shows, in 90% of cases, a faulty battery is to blame. The failure of the latter is also indicated by the dim glow of the key fob power LED or the complete absence of a signal. To check, use the tester. At this stage, it is better to replace the battery with a new one, perhaps the problem will be solved by itself.

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    On some models of car alarms (StarLine, Pantera, etc.), after replacing the battery in the key fob, it is necessary to program it. As a rule, this process is described in detail in the instruction manual. To the sound of a screaming siren, you need to find the Vallet service button. With the help of it, an emergency shutdown of the alarm and automatic synchronization of the system with the memorization of various functions and key fobs occurs.

    Sometimes the key fob can freeze even with a good battery. This happens when the alarm is in the range of radio transmitters, the so-called car alarm jammers. In addition, the operation of the key fob also depends on the degree of charge of the car's battery. In the first case, it is necessary to perform an emergency unlocking of the car alarm and leave the transmitter coverage area, in the second case, replace the battery and reconnect the wiring.

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    On some vehicles, connecting the alarm system involves powering a separate positive wire from the battery and accessing a separate system fuse.Then the tester checks the health of the fuse. At the same time, it is recommended to check other car fuses that may affect the signal malfunction (dimensions, sound signal, etc.). In some cases, you need to reset the power supply of the security system, that is, remove the connector from the contact, remove the terminal from the battery, wait a few minutes and connect everything in reverse order. After that, a beep will sound, and the key fob can “come to life” and work normally. Otherwise, the problem lies in the microcircuit and the contacts of the key fob itself.