s320 Alarm Remote Control POOR Range I have to place the remote up to the class to get it to work. - Benzworld.org

supersel · 02-02-2005, 07:35 AM

I have a 1996 S320, I noticed the remote control has very poor range. I have to aim the remote at the rear view mirror or hold the remote up to the glass to get a response. I checked the battery on the remote. Please advise.

mattman · 02-02-2005, 11:21 PM

How did you check the battery?

Usually this is a classic case of a weak battery. If you don't know when the battery was replaced last you should spend the couple of $$$ needed and swap it out.

Matt.

mercS600 · 02-03-2005, 02:06 PM

I think this is a feature designed to stop 'grabbers' stealing your IR details and stealing your car.I have had 3 W140's and it has been the same on all of them!I may be wrong of course![;)]

connundrum1 · 02-03-2005, 07:22 PM

the range is very poor on mine also. you have to be within about 2 or 3 feet of one of the door handles for it too work.

Merc600sec · 02-04-2005, 03:13 AM

And it is not helped by strong sunlight.. Mine has a range of 6 inch when that happens.. (fortunatly not that often in the UK,will be ok when we get the roof on)

posix · 02-04-2005, 04:53 AM

Let's get one thing straight here. Your remote control is actually two remotes in one. The first one is a radio remote and works up to about 5-10m away from the car. It done like this on purpose so you can't sit down on your remote and accidentally unlock the car. The second one is the IR remote which works only up to about 2m away from the door handle-mounted IR sensor. You can only do a full closure (i.e. close or open all windows and sunroof) by using the IR method (point the remote at your driver's door handle and hold lock or unlock button for a long time).

Now, if you have to point at the door handle to unlock the car I think your battery is weak as the IR works long after the radio bit has withered away. Change the battery first and see how it goes. It's simple to replace I think you even have the procedure in the user manual. If that doesn't help then the radio bit of your remote has died. You either live with it or order a replacement key.

dodgy geezer · 02-04-2005, 11:12 AM

Yes guys, It's almost definitely a battery problem.
Dodgy!!!!!![:o)][:o)][:o)]

AL-Sayegh · 02-04-2005, 10:57 PM

I don't thing it's battery issue because I have replaced them and No different , I have to be close to the window to operate it. Where in my ML320 I can operate it from almost 100 meter[:D]

Merc600sec · 02-05-2005, 12:22 AM

That would be because your M series fob is FMradio , and the other Infra Red... To get a IR transmitter to do that distance would require somthing the size of the car ..100mtr Huge power needed..

posix · 02-05-2005, 03:20 AM

not 100% correct there, merc600sec. the "other one" is BOTH InfraRed AND as radio. So you get both modes of operation. With the exception that total closure can only be done with the IR bit (for security reasons). And IR bit is a sort of a fail-safe measure in case your radio bit fails.