Keyless remote not working....98 Jetta TDI

[vegandavid]

So, using the guide on this website (http://myturbodiesel.com/1000q_how_t...ylessentry.htm), I was able to figure out that the 98 Jetta I bought a couple years ago has the white keyless entry box. When I got the car there was no remote, so I went ahead and bought a Clarion remote.

So... I can't get the remote to work....

When I put a key in the ignition to "ON" but not started, I can then close all doors and hold the key in the driver's door to the unlock side at which point I do hear three beeps. Now, according to the directions I should press the unlock button on the new remote and hear a beep. I hear nothing. Nothing happens.

So, what do y'all think? Do you think the new remote is broken? Or do you think I have some other problem??? If the car beeps three times when doing the test, does that mean my wireless module works, or could something still be wrong with it?

Thanks!
David

[Fluid]

Check the FCC number on the remote vs the keyless entry box. If you do hear the 3 beeps then you should have keyless entry.

It's possible the remote is not the same FCC number as the box. They have to match. Try press and hold the button? Try press and hold lock?

[chittychittybangbang]

When I unlock the door I hear one beep. Are you holding the key while you press the button? I think you are supposed to let go but I'm not sure if it makes any difference. The following is copy of the remote program instructions:


Plug in the new module and reconnect the battery, and prepare to run the following test.

1. Program the remote by inserting 1 key in the ignition switch to ON (not start)
2. Close the doors, hood, trunk, etc.
3. With 1 key in the ingition to ON, turn and hold another key in the driver's door lock to UNLOCK and hold for 15 seconds, or until you hear a beep, let go of the door key and let the key return to neutral.
4. Press UNLOCK on each remote, you should now hear a beep.
5. Turn the door key to UNLOCK, you should now hear another beep, remove all keys.
6. The remote should now unlock the doors.

If the 98 Jetta has a white box I'm pretty sure it had keyless entry. Check the FCC number on the remote but I think it should work - it should be m3ghu01wt.

If your box has an FCC number of m3ghu01wr it is the correct remote and there's some problem when you're programming the remote or an antenna/wiring problem.

All the alarm troubleshooting steps are here: You just have to go through it

http://myturbodiesel.com/1000q_how_t...leshooting.htm

[Tomspassat]

Bad wiring at the harness or battery? The key normally locks or unlocks and rolls the windows down when you hold it to lock or unlock.

[vegandavid]

Originally Posted by Tomspassat

Bad wiring at the harness or battery? The key normally locks or unlocks and rolls the windows down when you hold it to lock or unlock.

The key does lock or unlock the doors. It doesn't do the windows because I have manual windows. The key isn't the problem, everything seems to be doing what it's supposed to except the remote.

David

[vegandavid]

Ok, so I got the remote working by pulling the alarm module out and putting the remote up to the module. So my problem is that the module is not picking up the signal from the remote. Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this?

Also, the remote doesn't lock the doors, I read somewhere that this is normal. Seems weird, is it indeed the way it should be?

Thanks,
David

[chittychittybangbang]

It's normal if you just added a white keyless box without adding a jumper, it's hard to draw any further conclusions about why it doesn't work. The weak reception is not normal. First go through alarm troubleshooting here: http://myturbodiesel.com/1000q_how_to/a3b4/a3b4_alarm_troubleshooting.htm

some ideas: someone tried to add keyless entry but that would be unusual that they didn't have the remote or jumper wire to make the doors lock. Adding a jumper wire should make it lock but check and test your wiring harness as mentioned in the instructions to verify the correct wiring before jumping wires!

the antenna on the module could be weak or the remote could be defective.

another possibility: some random module problem that would explain both the weak reception and not locking the door. Hopefully it's a simple ground or other problem.

[zeumer]

try this. hook everything back up. press the lock button on the remote. wait more than 70 seconds. does it lock?

[vegandavid]

Originally Posted by zeumer

try this. hook everything back up. press the lock button on the remote. wait more than 70 seconds. does it lock?

You're a genius. Crazy as it is, trying to get the remote to work has been on hold for almost 2 years now. I decided to give it a go today. Here are my results...

Horrible reception, I literally have to be 1 inch away from the unit. Tried adjusting the antenna and it didn't work.

Doors unlock. Trunk unlocks. Doors lock after 60 seconds of the red light flashing by the driver's door lock.

So....

Should I just extend the range of the antenna by hooking it up to the car stereo antenna?

Or is there another way that will make it so the unit that only works from 1 inch away will work better?

How do I get the doors to lock right away?

Thanks,
David

[chittychittybangbang]

Check the module for bad soldering like cracking or bad wiring? This sounds like an antenna problem, maybe a grounding problem or something shorting out. Check all the wiring for shorts. The wire diagram is in the article.

Also, have you checked the door boot wiring harness for cracks or shorts? This was a common problem.