What the Key FOB looks like...

[Laramie1997]

Been dealing with some poor range issues with the ram lately and finally today the remote got bad enough that I could be standing next to it and the buttons were not responsive so I pulled it apart to change the battery. Didn't break anything but for future reference, the battery in these things are a C2032 battery so you don't have to pull yours apart first to find out.

Here's a pic:

 

[Musclemckeester]

I can be standing within 1 foot of my truck and have to press the button 3-4 times to get just the drivers door to unlock. It's very frustrating.

Hmm... might have to test the battery.

 

[Laramie1997]

Yup, that's what I was running into myself. Tested my other fob that I keep in the door just in case I lock myself out of my truck and it doesn't have the same problem that this one does. I just put a new battery in and every thing seems fine now.

 

[Musclemckeester]

Wow, if the battery is all that is I feel dumb, but glad it's an easy fix. I'm going to give that a try.

 

[LB3711]

huh seems a pattern here. Mine was doing the same thing. I had to replace the battery in my fob too. I was seeing the same issues as you guys. It was only 2 months in of buying it it was really causing my problems. I changed the battery and its been good now.

 

[myoung84]

I had the same issues with mine before switching to my Viper alarm. I would just take it apart every month or so and wipe the battery off with my shirt and turn it a little. Seemed to work well.

 

[Laramie1997]

Well, I think someone had been doing that on mine because the battery in my main FOB had a ring around it where someone had been rotating in the socket to get a better connection.

Figured Dodge used a cheap battery (they did) so I just picked up two new ones and replaced them both. I'm just glad that these fobs are pretty easy to pull apart.

 

[AParrette]

you could solder in a small gauge wire and that will act like an antenna. will boost your range considerably

 

[Mega-Hemi]

Tested my other fob that I keep in the door just in case I lock myself out of my truck and it doesn't have the same problem that this one does. I just put a new battery in and every thing seems fine now.

Please explain to me how this works.. My cousins husband used to carry a coat hangar in his trunk in case he locked his keys in his car. I asked him how he planned to get the trunk open. I never did get an answer..

 

[Laramie1997]

Please explain to me how this works.. My cousins husband used to carry a coat hangar in his trunk in case he locked his keys in his car. I asked him how he planned to get the trunk open. I never did get an answer..

On the 4th gen trucks, you get two key FOBs and two actual keys with the truck. The key itself only allows access to the door and the tailgate lock should your vehicle be equipped with that. You use the actual FOB as the key to the ignition on the truck.

In my case, I put the FOB in the truck somewhere where I can find it and I have a magnetic key holder somewhere outside of the truck where I can find it. Between the two, should I lose the fob that I keep on my belt or what have you, I won't be locked out for long.

 

[Mega-Hemi]

I see, so you still have a "Key" outside. Got it...


Can you program a key fob to start both your 4th gens??

 

[Laramie1997]

Not to start them. Maybe if both had remote start but mine doesn't have that option. I know the FOBs themselves use a hard coded RFID that's planted on the chip. (shoulda got a picture of that for you guys) That code is unique to each truck and is a passive transmission so there is very little range and no cross over.

 

[cmerritt84]

just get a regular key and ive had no issues at all.

ive had 3 fobiks say damaged key when i put it in ignition. so i got a ST style key works good.

 

[Gray2010Ram]

I had the same problem with my key fob back a few months ago. i took my truck up to the dealer and found out i had their was 2 recalls. I forget what they were for but they changed something out and since then i have not had any problems getting in my truck.