Keyless entry question

gpw · 07-24-2011, 03:47 PM

Hi everybody. Just become an owner of 1997 550 silver on red.
I have two remotes, but non of them operate door locks, only
alarm/start disable system. Is that normal?
Please advise

tazandjan · 08-14-2011, 12:43 PM

GPW- What you describe are the symptoms of the remote batteries needing replacement. Ferrari actually recommends replacing the batteries every 6 months, which is kind of overkill, but I do replace mine annually with Duracell MN21 batteries. Any 23A/A23/MN21/21/23 alkaline 12 volt battery will fit, but the Duracells do not leak, so I use them. For a quick change, RadioShack will have a battery that will fit.

If you are actually able to open your car door with the key without the alarm going off, your alarm was never armed and all that was armed was the immobilizer, which automatically arms from 60-120 seconds after no input to the alarm system if the engine is not running.

My car had exactly the same symptoms when I first received her.

Taz
Terry Phillips

gpw · 08-15-2011, 02:37 PM

Thanks for the info.
The car came with 2 remotes and non of them open or lock doors. You right about immobilizer going off after 1-2 minutes, but if i just open any door alarm sound goes off too. I will try to replace battery in remote, but i don't think that is the case.

tazandjan · 08-15-2011, 06:42 PM

Very strange. Let us know how the battery change works. Here is a document I wrote on the fobs if it will help. Have never heard of remotes that would arm the alarm and not lock or unlock the doors.

If the batteries do no help, an ECU reset might do some good. Helps get rid of the spare electrons.

Taz
Terry Phillips

onemean6 · 11-04-2011, 06:14 PM

my friend is having the same issue. His red unit works but wants to program the 2 black units. For unknown reasons I can't open the link you have provided. Can you send me the info? I will advise him to change the batteries first. much appreciated. Alex

tazandjan · 11-04-2011, 07:12 PM

Welcome to Ferrari Life. That is not a link, it is actually an attached document. Try it again here:

JazzyO · 11-05-2011, 12:51 AM

Wow, Taz, I have never replaced my remote batteries. That's after 4 1/2 years and 40,000 kms....lots of remote use. But I was getting slightly nervous about it, so will replace them next week.

Onno

tazandjan · 11-05-2011, 09:05 AM

Onno- I think Ferrari's 6 months is overkill and probably based on the car being used several times a day. I use one year and that also prevents the battery from leaking, although I have never seen a leaking Duracell. I even put a drop of battery terminal treatment on the contacts with a toothpick.

07-24-2011, 03:47 PM	#1
gpw Owner Join Date: May 2011 Location: Philadelphia,PA Ferrari Life Posts: 3	Keyless entry question Hi everybody. Just become an owner of 1997 550 silver on red. I have two remotes, but non of them operate door locks, only alarm/start disable system. Is that normal? Please advise

11-04-2011, 06:14 PM	#5
onemean6 Join Date: Nov 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 1	issues my friend is having the same issue. His red unit works but wants to program the 2 black units. For unknown reasons I can't open the link you have provided. Can you send me the info? I will advise him to change the batteries first. much appreciated. Alex

11-05-2011, 12:51 AM	#7
JazzyO Owner Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jersey, Channel Islands Ferrari Life Posts: 4,289	Wow, Taz, I have never replaced my remote batteries. That's after 4 1/2 years and 40,000 kms....lots of remote use. But I was getting slightly nervous about it, so will replace them next week. Onno Future: 458 Italia (May 2012) Present: 550 Maranello, 330GTC, 365BB (x2) Past: eh - see above.

11-05-2011, 09:05 AM	#8
tazandjan Owner Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Ferrari Life Posts: 3,603 Name: Terry H Phillips	Onno- I think Ferrari's 6 months is overkill and probably based on the car being used several times a day. I use one year and that also prevents the battery from leaking, although I have never seen a leaking Duracell. I even put a drop of battery terminal treatment on the contacts with a toothpick. Taz Terry Phillips Present: 575M 135171 Past: Dino 246 GT 02984, 365 GTB/4 14009, 308 GTS 25125 Every day I look around, and if nobody is shooting at me, it is a pretty good day.

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08-14-2011, 12:43 PM	#2
tazandjan Owner Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Ferrari Life Posts: 3,603 Name: Terry H Phillips	GPW- What you describe are the symptoms of the remote batteries needing replacement. Ferrari actually recommends replacing the batteries every 6 months, which is kind of overkill, but I do replace mine annually with Duracell MN21 batteries. Any 23A/A23/MN21/21/23 alkaline 12 volt battery will fit, but the Duracells do not leak, so I use them. For a quick change, RadioShack will have a battery that will fit. If you are actually able to open your car door with the key without the alarm going off, your alarm was never armed and all that was armed was the immobilizer, which automatically arms from 60-120 seconds after no input to the alarm system if the engine is not running. My car had exactly the same symptoms when I first received her. Taz Terry Phillips

08-15-2011, 02:37 PM	#3
gpw Owner Join Date: May 2011 Location: Philadelphia,PA Ferrari Life Posts: 3	Thanks for the info. The car came with 2 remotes and non of them open or lock doors. You right about immobilizer going off after 1-2 minutes, but if i just open any door alarm sound goes off too. I will try to replace battery in remote, but i don't think that is the case.