Living in the Twilight Zone?

MWMan · May 18th, 2016, 06:32

I had a play around with VIDA / DICE while the car was in the garage the other day, as I had not done much with it since I bought it. Messed around with a few things and left it at that. Yesterday with car now on the drive, I finished working on it and then went to lock it with the key fob - nothing! Tried the 2nd key and nothing as well. (both have new batteries). I thought I had managed to switch off the remote operation in VIDA somehow.

At this point the wife came home in the other car (not Volvo), gets out and tries to lock her door with the remote - nothing!!!!!!!!!!! Tried the spare with no luck. I am now stood in front of two different cars with four keys and none of the remotes would work.

We had to go off out at that point. When I got to the car park - the remote locking and unlocking worked fine. When we got home that evening, I tried both cars again on all keys and all worked fine as usual.

Am I going mad, or it is possible that something electronic could have been sending out a signal that could block the signal from the keys? I have never experienced this before.

RM955I · May 18th, 2016, 07:12

On older vehicles it was not unknown for radio signals to jam remote key fobs - it used to happen to me at a place in Milton Keynes near a police station. Maybe someone is/was transmitting near you?

reggit · May 18th, 2016, 08:25

On any car with a keyfob this can happen if said thing malfunctions.

If you have immediate neighbours ask them if they have similar issues.

Do you have any of the following: wireless doorbell, weather station with outdoor sensors, video sender wireless heating controls. If yes, turn power off or take batteries out of the remote units and see if car locks work.

If it is interference, the remote may still work if you hold it near to the rearview mirror. it will also only malfunction within 10's of yards of the location.

ASt85 · May 18th, 2016, 08:33

As reggit says above but other likely causes can be a wireless mouse or keyboard, DECT type phone transmitter or range extender, VHF/UHF radio transceivers and on occasion bluetooth transmitters have all been shown to interfere with key fob signals.

Brendan W · May 18th, 2016, 08:59

................and those handheld card readers in restaurants.

Longhouse21 · May 18th, 2016, 09:09

I always see interference with mine when I'm on site and there's a Hiab or crane with remote control operating.

reggit · May 18th, 2016, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhouse21

I always see interference with mine when I'm on site and there's a Hiab or crane with remote control operating.

If they switched the hiab to their 2nd channel, it wouldn't be a problem.....

reggit · May 18th, 2016, 09:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brendan W

................and those handheld card readers in restaurants.

Yep, come across those as well. Here's one I tracked down in the 'day job' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...es-gadget.html

MWMan · May 18th, 2016, 11:04

Thanks guys. Once both cars were doing the same, I had a suspicion that something was causing interference. Nothing changed in my house though, so it must have been one of the neighbours, or that waitress from Windermere has started working near us!!

Dancake · May 18th, 2016, 16:49

This happened to me the other week. Turned out that the battery in the wireless doorbell was nearly done. Removed the battery and all central locking functions were restored.

May 18th, 2016, 06:32	#1
MWMan Master Member Last Online: Yesterday 04:33 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Bishops Stortford	Living in the Twilight Zone? I had a play around with VIDA / DICE while the car was in the garage the other day, as I had not done much with it since I bought it. Messed around with a few things and left it at that. Yesterday with car now on the drive, I finished working on it and then went to lock it with the key fob - nothing! Tried the 2nd key and nothing as well. (both have new batteries). I thought I had managed to switch off the remote operation in VIDA somehow. At this point the wife came home in the other car (not Volvo), gets out and tries to lock her door with the remote - nothing!!!!!!!!!!! Tried the spare with no luck. I am now stood in front of two different cars with four keys and none of the remotes would work. We had to go off out at that point. When I got to the car park - the remote locking and unlocking worked fine. When we got home that evening, I tried both cars again on all keys and all worked fine as usual. Am I going mad, or it is possible that something electronic could have been sending out a signal that could block the signal from the keys? I have never experienced this before.

May 18th, 2016, 07:12	#2
RM955I Premier Member Last Online: Jun 26th, 2022 23:42 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Midlands	On older vehicles it was not unknown for radio signals to jam remote key fobs - it used to happen to me at a place in Milton Keynes near a police station. Maybe someone is/was transmitting near you? __________________ D5, 205 Phase 3 V70...love the grunt. Previous: 2004 (2005 facelift) 2.4 170

May 18th, 2016, 08:25	#3
reggit Premier Member Last Online: Jun 21st, 2024 20:32 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Preston	On any car with a keyfob this can happen if said thing malfunctions. If you have immediate neighbours ask them if they have similar issues. Do you have any of the following: wireless doorbell, weather station with outdoor sensors, video sender wireless heating controls. If yes, turn power off or take batteries out of the remote units and see if car locks work. If it is interference, the remote may still work if you hold it near to the rearview mirror. it will also only malfunction within 10's of yards of the location. __________________ 2009 Volvo V70 D5 (Polestar 225bhp) r-design 185,000 miles Last edited by reggit; May 18th, 2016 at 08:29.

May 18th, 2016, 08:33	#4
ASt85 Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 17:47 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Walderslade....Kent	As reggit says above but other likely causes can be a wireless mouse or keyboard, DECT type phone transmitter or range extender, VHF/UHF radio transceivers and on occasion bluetooth transmitters have all been shown to interfere with key fob signals. __________________ The saddest moment is when the one who gave you the best memories....becomes a MEMORY V70 SE 2004 2.3L T5 Geartronic, C70 2005 2.0T Automatic, Sold 2.4l 20 Valve Automatic Torslander Sold 854 GLT 20v Auto Last edited by ASt85; May 18th, 2016 at 08:38.

May 18th, 2016, 09:09	#6
Longhouse21 Master Member Last Online: Jun 16th, 2024 10:18 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Warrington	I always see interference with mine when I'm on site and there's a Hiab or crane with remote control operating. __________________ Current cars: 2003 V70 D5 SE (MY2004); 2012 CRV 2.0i V-TEC; Gone but not forgotten: 2001 Honda HRV; 1989 VW Polo C Mk2; 2000 Honda Civic VTi Aerodeck ; Cavalier SRi; Cavalier LX; 1971 Triumph Spitfire Mk3; 1963 Triumph Herald.

May 18th, 2016, 08:59	#5
Brendan W Premier Member Last Online: Jun 10th, 2024 09:51 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wexford	................and those handheld card readers in restaurants.

May 18th, 2016, 11:04	#9
MWMan Master Member Last Online: Yesterday 04:33 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Bishops Stortford	Thanks guys. Once both cars were doing the same, I had a suspicion that something was causing interference. Nothing changed in my house though, so it must have been one of the neighbours, or that waitress from Windermere has started working near us!!

May 18th, 2016, 16:49	#10
Dancake Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 23:34 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Belfast	This happened to me the other week. Turned out that the battery in the wireless doorbell was nearly done. Removed the battery and all central locking functions were restored. __________________ 1996 850 T5 - Sold 2003 S40 1.9d - Sold 2004 S60 D5

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