My problem started a couple of weeks ago. I noticed that my keyless entry remote was working sporadically. I switched the remote on my key ring with the spare, and tried that one instead. Same problem. So I went to Autozone and bought a new battery. Even with the new battery, the problem still exists.
If I push the buttons on the remote, I don't hear a sound from inside or from the engine bay, unless the doors actually lock/unlock. The times that they don't respond, there is no sound whatsoever. Shouldn't there be a sound from some electronic part (a relay?)?
I recall that I did clean the engine bay thoroughly a couple days prior to noticing this problem. I clean my engine entirely by hand though, so water forced into a component is not likely. I'm thinking maybe I got some
NXT Protectant on a wire or connection somewhere that is causing the intermittent operation?
Here lies the biggest part of the problem...
I have been using my key in the lock cylinder to open the doors much of the time, when pushing the remote a dozen times doesn't yield any response. There is a small plastic bar inside the cylinder that I assume is there to keep water/dirt out of the cylinder. Well this plastic has apparently been degrading over the years, because after a few times being pushed by the key, it started to crumble and chip away. The one on the driver's side has more missing then remaining at this time. Of course it happens when you push the key in, so most (or all) of the bits of plastic fall inside. This morning I opened the garage and pushed my remote button to open the doors...no response. After a dozen or more attempts, I decided to use the key. I inserted the key, and a piece broke off (surprise surprise...
). The piece got stuck in the cylinder, so the key could not get in. I didn't push hard on it, because I knew it wouldn't help my case to force it farther in the cylinder. I went around to the passenger side door to unlock the doors, but of course the plastic piece in that one is falling apart too, so it's only a matter of time before my remote won't work, and neither of my key cylinders will unlock the doors either. :
I just went outside to move my car from one of the campus parking lots (metered parking...I was late) to a farther one (non-metered). Of course I had to open the doors from the passenger side again, and hope that the plastic didn't clog that cylinder. I'd be in big trouble if it did.
So I got in, drove it to the other lot, and had the idea to use a tiny knife blade to pick the plastic out of the driver's side cylinder. I wasn't able to actually remove it, but I was able to push it up and out of the way of the key. I inserted the key slowly, and it went right in, locking and unlocking the doors with no problem. I'm afraid this is merely a temporary fix though. After all, the plastic bits are still inside there, just not actually clogging the cylinder.
This is really frustrating me. What good is a shiny car if you can't open the doors? I really don't want to leave my door(s) unlocked all the time either.
Please offer some suggestions/ideas! Any reason my keyless might not be working? Anything I could do to fix the lock cylinder issue? Any other ideas about anything?
Thank you.
in the cylinder. Bad thing was the coathanger was coated with plastic and it pulled off inside the cylinder. She didn't tell me this until I tried to put the key inside the cylinder several times which jammed the plastic even further... 
Locksmith took out cylinder and picked out all the plastic (took about an hour). Charged me $50...
Linear Mode
