Keyless Entry: Description and Operation

The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System allows the driver to unlock the drivers door, unlock all the doors, illuminate the headlamps or lock all the doors by the use of a handheld key fob transmitter. The RKE system is tired directly into the power door locks and operates in a tied directly into the power door locks and operates in a similar manner. When the handheld key fob transmitter is activated, the RKE module provides a voltage to the drivers door lock motor causing the door to unlock. If the transmitter is activated twice, the RKE module provides power to the power door relay causing all the doors to be unlocked. The lock feature operates in a similar manner. The headlamp illumination feature causes the headlamps to be illuminated for a specified period of time when the transmitter is activated. The time period is variable on gasoline vehicles and fixed at 17 seconds for diesel vehicle.

Each RKE module has a preprogrammed access code that operates on a radio frequency of 315 MHz. The access code cannot be altered. There are over 4.3 billion variations of the access codes possible, therefore it would take over 14 years to sequentially break into the vehicle through the access code.

The transmitter has a minimum range of approximately 7 meters (23 feet). If the RKE transmitter does not operate withing the minimum range, replace the batteries in the key fob. The maximum range of the transmitter can vary depending on atmospheric conditions, stray radio frequency interference, and the location of the vehicle.