LC250 Fobs are Trash

[PurelyAbrasive]

That’s potentially one element of the issue, but if you read the comments directly above yours you can see that people are having issues in the exact scenario you are suggesting the fob is designed for (co-located with or even inside the vehicle).

That sounds more like a battery issue than an actual fob issue.

 

[BELL WGN]

That sounds more like a battery issue than an actual fob issue.

I replaced the battery in my fob the day before my vehicle wouldn’t start

 

[Sparkie567]

Last winter I could remote start with the FOB from inside the house - this winter, a couple of weeks ago it wouldn't & had to go outside and aim directly at the LC from about 20 feet away to get it to start (vehicle was coated in ice from freezing rain so needed some heat inside to get the ice more easily off & get the door open) so I changed the battery and still no luck from inside the house aiming at it from a window & then the other day it decided to work. No idea what's going on.

Try holding a flat metal plate on the opposite side of the fob, so that you are reflecting the radio signal towards the vehicle. Ideally it should be a 1/4 of the wavelength or larger, so at a typical fob frequency of 315Mhz it should be 24cm or larger. Maybe a large metal frying pan or pot?

 

[BELL WGN]

I replaced the battery in my fob the day before my vehicle wouldn’t start

I just left the dealership, they had to order me a new key fob. I’ll let you know how it turns out when I receive it.

 

[Matsayz]

Try holding a flat metal plate on the opposite side of the fob, so that you are reflecting the radio signal towards the vehicle. Ideally it should be a 1/4 of the wavelength or larger, so at a typical fob frequency of 315Mhz it should be 24cm or larger. Maybe a large metal frying pan or pot?

Or use your body. Keep it closer to your body rather than extending your arm out towards the vehicle.

Perplexity:
Yes. At 315 MHz your body can act as part of the antenna system and reflect or re‑radiate some of the fob’s energy, which can extend practical range by a bit in the direction you’re facing.

## Practical tips

• To “aim” farther: hold the fob to your chin or side of your head and face the vehicle when you press the button; this usually works noticeably farther than holding it in your hand at waist level.
• You can get a similar effect by holding the fob against a large water-filled object (like a water bottle), since water has similar RF behavior to tissue at these frequencies.
• The effect isn’t magic: it may add tens of feet, not hundreds, and depends on battery strength, interference, and how the vehicle’s receiver is oriented.

## How your body helps

• At a few hundred MHz, the human body is electrically large enough and has high water content, so RF currents are induced on the surface when the fob transmits.
• Those surface currents cause part of the signal that would otherwise radiate in all directions to be reflected or re‑radiated more strongly in front of your body, effectively boosting signal in that direction.
• Holding the fob against your head or under your chin capacitively couples it to your body, so your head/torso act as a larger, lossy but still useful antenna, which is why people notice extra range this way.

 

[BELL WGN]

I just left the dealership, they had to order me a new key fob. I’ll let you know how it turns out when I receive it.

Received my replacement key today from the dealership and so far everything seems to be working properly

 

[BELL WGN]

Received my replacement key today from the dealership and so far everything seems to be working properly

The new key doesn’t seem to have remedied my issues

 

[WookieBait]

Sometimes my cruiser don’t even recognize the key fob while it’s in my pocket and I’m sitting in the driver seat

Mine does this occasionally. Also isn't recognized when Im trying to keyless door entry. I've tried both keys and both do it every once In a while. I've replaced the batteries, think it's just interference or the FOB.

 

[cvx5832LC]

Another thing to consider is RF interference in your area. When I was in Hawaii there was this parking garage adjacent to a radio station. And I could NOT get my car ('02 5-series) to unlock via remote unless I was right at the door. It only happened in that parking garage, and consistently at that.

Check online to see what radios are transmitting in your area.

 

[BELL WGN]

The new key doesn’t seem to have remedied my issues

Another thing to consider is RF interference in your area. When I was in Hawaii there was this parking garage adjacent to a radio station. And I could NOT get my car ('02 5-series) to unlock via remote unless I was right at the door. It only happened in that parking garage, and consistently at that.

Check online to see what radios are transmitting in your area.

I removed my power supply a day or two ago and so far I have not had any issues, so it seems at this point it was having an interference with my power supply

 

[Mitchel]

Both of mine will go through weird periods of a week or so of having like 10’ of range.

The intermittent signal makes doing the triple lock to remote start a true test in patience.

At first I thought the sound deadening I did in the front doors was causing the issue but even standing at my 2nd story window with the window open staring down into the windshield it still barely works.

My 5th gen 4Runner key could be used from 100’ away without issue.

Nothing like paying $70,000 for a vehicle for it to loudly beep at you when you walk away and try to lock it because the car thinks there’s a key still inside.

I bought the Compustar remote Pro T13 system. Has a 3mile radius for remote start and an enhanced alarm system. Comes with two FOBS . One has an LCD screen. There also is a phone APP. System works great and much superior to the Toyota FOB

 

[Matsayz]

I bought the Compustar remote Pro T13 system. Has a 3mile radius for remote start and an enhanced alarm system. Comes with two FOBS . One has an LCD screen. There also is a phone APP. System works great and much superior to the Toyota FOB

Cost, install complexity, does everything still work? Spill the beans!

 

[Mitchel]

Cost, install complexity, does everything still work? Spill the beans!

I installed it Sept 2024 and it works great. It cost me $1200.00 cdn to install. Compustar is a US company so your cost should be much cheaper based on cdn currency vs US .