bad fobs
#13
@hhrfreek, I completely understand how annoying it is to have the key fob out… LOL. This is has just made me realize how attached I am to my key fob.
What have you tried with your key fobs, anything? I am just curious.
Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service
What have you tried with your key fobs, anything? I am just curious.
Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service
#16
I finally got around to fixing mine yesterday. A quick solder job and it works fine again, resoldering the two small connections on the arms of the battery holder, there wasnt much solder on them. Be careful that you dont jump the solder over to the button pad though, its a little close.
I am an electronics/computer engineer and looking at the way these were designed it seems likely that they will fail, I have no idea why GM would have made them this way.
They decided to put weakly soldered electrical connections on the flexible arms of the battery holder, which is something I would never do. It seems they could have just designed the circuit board to use the large solid connection in the middle of the battery holder that does not flex. If another repair is necessary, I may just put jumper wires from the small solder points to the large one, that should last.
And after a quick look, it seems each of the small battery connections power one side of the remote, so if only one breaks it may leave half the remote functional. That is what happened to mine, the unlock button stopped working first.
Heres a couple pics showing the two round holes to solder and the top of the board with the battery holder. I used three small clamps to retain the battery holder and hold the board up.
I am an electronics/computer engineer and looking at the way these were designed it seems likely that they will fail, I have no idea why GM would have made them this way.
They decided to put weakly soldered electrical connections on the flexible arms of the battery holder, which is something I would never do. It seems they could have just designed the circuit board to use the large solid connection in the middle of the battery holder that does not flex. If another repair is necessary, I may just put jumper wires from the small solder points to the large one, that should last.
And after a quick look, it seems each of the small battery connections power one side of the remote, so if only one breaks it may leave half the remote functional. That is what happened to mine, the unlock button stopped working first.
Heres a couple pics showing the two round holes to solder and the top of the board with the battery holder. I used three small clamps to retain the battery holder and hold the board up.
#17
Fob fix
We have an 07 HHR, and both original fobs failed. The problem was the conductive rubber pads that are supposed short across contacts on the printed circuit board. Evidently, the conductive rubber wears off. I have managed to provide at least temporary fixes with adhesive backed aluminum tape. Very temporary fixes with conducting paint. It is possible to make conductive rubber by mixing graphite and rubber cement, which is then applied to the rubber button.
#18
The search engine is your friend :) There is lots of information here already on repairing the fobs that have broken solder joints which has been a problem for a few people, and also dirty or worn out contacts (ie: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-tutorial-library-21/repair-key-fob-remotes-worn-out-contacts-30813/ ).
Great pics btw Prod!
Great pics btw Prod!
#20
My HHR fobs are fine, still new. But on my '05 Malibu they are worn out. Been sodered once already, and only one ocasionally works. We really need 2 cause 2 people drive that car.
So I decided to try an aftermarket keyless system. Installed with 2 fobs will be cheaper than replacing just one GM fob. Hopefully this works
So I decided to try an aftermarket keyless system. Installed with 2 fobs will be cheaper than replacing just one GM fob. Hopefully this works