Keyless Entry - Insufficient Remote Control Range
911 (996)7/04 9662
8/13/04
Binder 9, Electrical
Insufficient Range of Remote Control
Vehicle Type:
911 Carrera (996)/911 Carrera 4 (996)/911 GT3 (996)
Model Year:
As of '99 (X)
Concern:
Increasing the range of the remote control by changing the routing of the antenna lead on vehicles with option:
- Anti-theft protection 315 MHz (I No. 535), this frequency is used for the North American market
- Anti-theft protection 433 MHz (I No. 534), RDW
Information:
The antenna lead of the remote control was previously incorporated in the wire harness running in the area of the left A-pillar and was routed together with the wire harness. This caused the antenna lead to have an unfavorable installation position, and, come into contact the wire harness and left A-pillar.
This caused excessive shielding of the antenna toward the outside, reducing the reception strength of the antenna. This lead to the range of the remote control being reduced. To avoid shielding the antenna and to increase the range of the remote control, the routing of the antenna lead in the area of the A-pillar has been changed as of the introduction date listed below.
If the customer complains that the range of the remote control continues to be insufficient (e.g., even after the remote control battery has been changed), the antenna lead should to be rerouted as described in work procedure in order to increase the reception strength of the antenna, thereby increasing the range of the remote control.
Introduction:
March 25th, 2004, as of the following VINs:
99 84S 62 2452 USA
Parts Information
Tools:
Side cutters
Scissors/knife
Work Procedure:
Change the routing of the antenna lead.
1. Remove the trim panel for the left A-pillar see POSES, 911 Carrera (996) Workshop Manual, Group 7, 70 57 19 - Removing and installing trim panel A-, B, C-pillar or 70 57 19 - Removing and installing trim panel for A-pillar - Cabriolet.
2. Detach the wire harness in the area of the A-pillar from above, starting carefully from the unpainted bodyshell.
Note:
The wire harness is secured onto the unpainted bodyshell with a strip of adhesive tape. The strip of adhesive tape is located on the outside of the protective sleeve for the wire harness.
3. Open the Velcro fastener for the protective sleeve (Figure 1, arrow) of the wire harness.
4. Remove locating tape on the end of the antenna lead (Figure 2, Item A) and guide the antenna lead (Figure 2, Item B) over a length of approximately 300 mm out of the wire harness.
5. Shorten the antenna lead by 100 mm measured from the upper end (Figure 3).
Caution!
Failure of remote control if the antenna length is incorrect!
> Different antenna lengths are necessary, depending on the frequency of the remote control.
> The length of the antenna is determined by removing the shielding (outer plastic sleeve and underlying metal weave) from the antenna lead.
> The length of the antenna is:
- for a frequency of 315 MHz: 130 (USA/Canada/Mexico/Australia/Japan/Hong Kong)
- for a frequency of 433 MHz: 100 mm (all other countries).
6. Measured from the upper end of the antenna lead, carefully cut through the shielding of the antenna lead with side cutters a length of:
- 100 mm (433 MHz) or
- 130 mm (315 MHz)
Remove the shielding from the antenna lead (Figure 4).
Important:
Be careful not to damage or cut through the antenna lead underneath the shielding.
7. Attach the sealing strap between the wire harness and antenna lead.
7.1 Shorten the sealing strap, part number, 999.911.663.40, according to the antenna length (100 mm or 130 mm).
7.2 Pull protective strips off the bonding area of the sealing strap.
7.3 Insert wire harness in the protective sleeve and secure the sealing strap on the wire harness so that:
- the sealing strap (Figure 5, Item A) is located across from the strips of adhesive tape on the out-side of the protective sleeve (Figure 5, Item B) and
- the end of the antenna (Figure 5, Item C) is flush with the sealing strap.
7.4 Place the antenna on the sealing strap and secure antenna and sealing strap on the wire harness with two strips of adhesive tape (Figure 5, Item D).
8. Close the Velcro fastener of the protective sleeve.
9. Secure wire harness as shown in Figure 6 to the A- pillar (Item A):
Beginning from below, secure the wire harness (Figure 6, inset) to the A-pillar on the outside of the protective sleeve (Item C) using the adhesive strips (Item B), so that the antenna (Item D) points in the direction of vehicle interior.
This installation position of the wire harness will prevent the antenna lead from coming into contact with the unpainted bodyshell and becoming shielded.
10. Install trim panel for left A-pillar.
11. Check function and range of the remote control.
Working Time
References:
POSES, Workshop Manual, 911 Carrera (996):
> Group 7: 70 57 19 Removing and installing trim panel of A, B and C pillars
> Group 7: 70 57 19 - Removing and installing A-pillar trim panel - Cabriolet
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