Keyless Entry Programming

[stogiedude]

Well, I was fooling around with my '96 Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan last weekend and one of the things I did was disconnect the battery. Something strange and unexpected(to me) happened, my remote keyless entry/alarm isn't responding to the remote. What's strange is that one of the buttons opens and closes the sliding passenger door and it works fine. I went to a battery store thinking that the battery(3v lithium) might be bad and the guy put it on a volt meter and it's putting out 3.16 volts so the battery is fine.

I called around town and found out that the programming was probably lost when I disconnected the battery or the battery in the remote came loose. What I am looking for is someone to point me in the direction on the internet of how to reprogram the remote, I would REALLY appreciate it. This is an old vehicle and I don't relish putting a lot of money into it. If I have to I'll buy a new remote that comes with instructions, but if I can get this one working agin that would be great.

 

[rpn453]

I'd try disconnecting the van's battery for another 5 minutes and see if it works after that. Often keyless entry, remote starter, and alarm modules just stop working for no reason, but will work again if you cut the power for a couple of minutes.
I haven't programmed any GM keyless remotes, but it seems odd that the sliding door will open yet the rest doesn't work. So it does recognize the transmitter, which is often all the programming you can do (other than changing some settings like priority driver's door unlock).

 

[stogiedude]

I found the remote that I need on ebay. I watched it, bid on it and watched it. At the last 10 minutes I bid again because I had been outbid. We went back and forth and in the last seconds I got sniped out. The other guy outbid me by $2 in the last seconds of the auction.

I need to order a new remote or have a new keyless entry installed that will come with 2 new remotes and programming instructions which will go in the glove box for future reference.

 

[brianl703]

I believe I can get programming instructions for '98 Oldsmobile Silhouette--my manuals don't cover anything older than '98--but it might be the same.

I'll check later on.

 

[stogiedude]

Thanks but the '98 is different than my model year. Different remote. The remote for my van is for '95&'96 Olds Silhouette, Chevy Lumina and Pontiac Transport.

Strange thing about all this is I looked in the glove box and found the Owner's manual, the CodeAlarm installation manual and the CodeAlarm User's Manual. None of them have the programming instructions, that is totally whack! They want you to go to the stealer and take it in the *** .

 

[brianl703]

What is the FCC ID on the remote you have?

It's printed on the back.

 

[stogiedude]

FCC ID: ABO0203T

Canada: 218 101 229

1995 1996 1997 Chevy lumina Apv Van

1995 1996 Pontiac Trans Sport

1995 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette

GM Part #: 10286022

Found it for $60 + shipping here=> web page Price includes programming instructions but programming must be performed by the customer.

 

[brianl703]

Since this is a factory keyless entry system (since you mentioned a CodeAlarm I wasn't sure, that's why I asked for the FCC ID), the programming instructions are in the shop manual or in Alldata or Mitchell's.

You could ask the dealer if they'll tell you how to reprogram it (ask one of the parts guys), or check if any local repair shops have Alldata or Mitchells and would tell you how to program it, or check if your public library has Alldata or Mitchell's and look it up yourself.

There's also a possibility that the problem is not a programming problem and that it's with the transmitter. I'd inspect the buttons/contacts on the transmitter for corrosion or damage and clean/repair them if needed.

 

[stogiedude]

Actually I have considered that the remote may have coincidentally gone bad. It's almost 10 years old and I am planning to either replace it or replace the whole system because a new system comes with 2 remotes. Of course a new system is more expensive, but when I consider that I will have 2 brand new remotes which would cost me no less than about $100 to buy then a completely new system for maybe $50-$100 more sounds appealing.

I need to check some local shops because there is no way I can install one myself, if I could I could save some money, I've seen some combination remote entry/alarm systems on the internet for really low prices.

These are the things you have to deal with when you own an older vehicle, the tradeoff of no monthly payments, but higher repair and maintenance costs along with the time and trouble incurred. Easy solutions abound if you don't mind throwing cash at the problems.

 

[brianl703]

Take into account that if you have an aftermarket system installed, the reliability of the system is dependent upon the skills of the installer.

Also you may be able to find the remotes much cheaper at a discount GM parts dealer, of which VanDevere Olds is one that one of my old co-workers told me about. http://www.9c1.com/parts/dal.htm has contact info -- they can most likely supply you with programming instructions too.

There are a lot of places that offer keyless entry remotes at ridiculously marked-up prices on the internet. One of them is selling a single remote for the keyless entry system I put in my 1988 Mustang for the same price as I paid for the whole system and two remotes!

If it gives you an idea, that web page you linked to is selling the same FCC ID GQ43VT4T Ford remote that I got for $40 shipped from a discount dealer for $60..and the Ford dealer gave me programming instructions.