'03 V8 4x4 with a very strange problem.

[4StringSlinger]

Hello all. I have a strange keyless entry receiver problem, and was wondering if anybody had ever heard of this happening:

2003 T4R, V8 4x4 Limited, 185k

3 weeks ago, my wife, me, and our 7 month old daughter came out of a restraunt only to find that my keyfob wouldn't work. My wife gets her set from her purse, same thing...so I try the key to unlock the door, no dice. Same result with my wife's key.

Call a towtruck and a cab, have the runner taken to a dealership near my house. Turns out the keyless entry receiver has gone TU and because the keys were so worn and never used in the door locks, they wouldn't work. So...new receiver, new keys, new fobs...$1100. Ugh.

Couple days ago, guess what? Keyless entry stopped working again. At least I can use the vehicle this time, but as you can imagine I am pretty pissed after dropping that kind of coin.

All the dealer says is 'bring it in'...not about to drop another grand into this...

I have also noticed that the trip computer is resetting every time i turn off the ignition. My guess is that there is an electrical problem/short causing this. From what I understand it is very rare to have the receiver break.

Any ideas folks?

 

[toto]

Definitely some sort of power problem. Could a fuse be blowing that's disabling the keyless entry ECU?

 

[4StringSlinger]

I have checked all of the interior and some of the under-hood fuses. Anybody know which fuse would be responsible?

 

[toto]

Looking at a wiring diagram, there is no fuse for just that system. If it were a fuse, you'd have bigger problems.

Another theory - I notice that the ground point for the wireless receiver is shared by the back door computer. Is everything about the back door working correctly (window, wiper, motor that pulls the door closed)?

When you tried to use the keys in the door locks, did the key fail to turn, or did the door locks fail to work when you turned the key?

 

[4StringSlinger]

Thanks for your response. The rear hatch is working as it should. Wipers, window, and pulling shut just fine.

When this problem originally occurred, the keys [which were original] would not turn in the exterior locks. I spoke to a couple of locksmiths, they said that it isn't that uncommon this day in age with most cars having keyless...that the exterior locks never get used...so my 7 year-old keys were worn from being used in the ignition to the point that they wouldn't work the exterior locks. The dealership confirmed this, and cut new keys from the VIN number...the new ones work as they should.