Alarm/Remote Start experts

[Eric91Z]

OK, this is for those of you with expertise with car alarms/remote starts. I have an Ungo 2-way remote start setup on the Marauder. In just the last couple of days, the remote has been acting funny. As in, I can't even stand in the house and start the car in the garage. And I can't lock/unlock unless I am standing right by the car, pointing the remote at the front windshield where the sensor is at.

I have the 2-way remote and a standard 4 button remote and both of them are acting the same way. I have tried 2 different batteries in the remote and same results. I can play with the remote itself and all the settings it has on the remote just fine, but the receiver in the car does not seem to be catching the signal.

Could the rolling codes be out of whack for some reason? Anything I can check before I take it back to the place that did the install. And I can't remember if this setup has a 1 year or 2 year warranty. My luck it is just one year and it is now out of warranty...

[Bigdogjim]

Please do not laugh....check the battery's

Been there done that.

[BAD MERC]

Two things; how much metallic content does your tint have? Where is the antenna? call me if you need, 239-770-3630. I have done this stuff for 19 years. Love, (I mean... nevermind) Kenny.

[mercmatt]

my remote was f'd up and it wasnt putting out the right frequency. go to a remote start dealer and have them check the frequency that the remote is puitting out

[Eric91Z]

OK, couple items:

1) I have tried 2 different, brand new batteries in the primary remote and same thing and same thing with the secondary remote
2) I have had this setup on the car for over a year, same thing with the window tint - has worked wonderfully up until yesterday.

I stopped by the place that did the install and set an appointment for next Saturday. They are going to see if the rolling codes got turned on some how causing this. Then they are going to try a different "brain" and go from there.

I just wish I could remember if this had a 1 year or 2 year warranty...

[Eric91Z]

Well, I have an idea that I am going to check on tonight when I get home. When I stopped by the place that did the install last Friday, he mentioned that the antenna might have come unplugged. I was just thinking the end where the antenna/receiver is up on the windshield. Then, today, I remembered that I hear this "noise" down in the driver footwell area when I turn. If I turn left, I hear it one time. Then turn right and I hear it one time. Kind of like something rolling or sliding to the side.

Anyway, I wonder if the antenna connection came unhooked at the "brain" of the unit and that is why it doesn't read from anywhere further than about 10 feet from the car - if that. But if you are close and point the remote at the driver's side of the car, it will lock, unlock, start, stop, and pop the trunk like always.

Anyway, will check that tonight and hopefully save myself a trip to the shop.

[magindat]

Sir, you are on the right track. The 'antenna' is simply a specific length of black wire. It is often run up the dirver's side pillar or up on to the 'pinch' between the dash and windshield. Many installers just run it and let it sit on it's own stiffness. Some elec. tape it, some zip tie. Either way, they fall. When that length of wire falls, it's behind a myriad of metal and wiring, thus dropping your range to next to nothing.
OTOH, the antenna may be secure and the 'brain' may have shifted causing the wire to come unplugged. Both are common.
If the rolling code was f'd up, your alarm would not respond AT ALL. I'd be warry of the installer who thinks or agrees that's the problem. Rolling codes have squat to do with range.
One last thing. Most 'antennas' have a plastic nib on the end protecting the cut length of wire from touching ground. It's also not uncommon for this nib to come off the end ofthe wire and to touch ground. This situation makes for some real PIA troublshooting cuz is causes a very intermittent problem with range.

Go forth and conquer!

[Eric91Z]

Sir, you are on the right track. The 'antenna' is simply a specific length of black wire. It is often run up the dirver's side pillar or up on to the 'pinch' between the dash and windshield. Many installers just run it and let it sit on it's own stiffness. Some elec. tape it, some zip tie. Either way, they fall. When that length of wire falls, it's behind a myriad of metal and wiring, thus dropping your range to next to nothing.
OTOH, the antenna may be secure and the 'brain' may have shifted causing the wire to come unplugged. Both are common.
If the rolling code was f'd up, your alarm would not respond AT ALL. I'd be warry of the installer who thinks or agrees that's the problem. Rolling codes have squat to do with range.
One last thing. Most 'antennas' have a plastic nib on the end protecting the cut length of wire from touching ground. It's also not uncommon for this nib to come off the end ofthe wire and to touch ground. This situation makes for some real PIA troublshooting cuz is causes a very intermittent problem with range.

Go forth and conquer!


Thanks. I am going to try as soon as I get home and go from there. Hopefully it is something that easy as the range seems to be the only issue at this point and it is same symptoms with both remotes.

[Eric91Z]

Well, doesn't seem to be an antenna/receiver issue, at least not connection wise. I checked the the receiver that is mounted near the top of the windshield behind the review mirror and connection seems to be good and tight there. Checked at the "brain" and good and tight there. Checked all wires and connections I could find and everything seems to be tight. And couldn't find anything under there that would be causing the little noise I hear now and then.

Still same issue. I can stand 5-10 feet from the car and it works fine. Starts, locks, unlocks, trunk, etc. Go in the house, close the door, and nothing - with either remote. Even is the code hoping was turned on and that did for some reason reduce range, I can't image it would be by that much. It had pretty decent range until about a week ago.

Oh well, guess it will go back in on Saturday to the shop that did the install. I did see on the website that the "brain" has a limited lifetime warranty. I hope that covers labor to diagnosis, too, since it has been just over a year since it was installed.

[MarauderMark]

I have a brand new alarm that never worked right since i got it and just within the last few days mine will not start the car any more , the back windows wont work and when i activate the thing the windows go up and then down 1 inch which is great when i'm missing the vent shade for one window.And the closest person to fix it is 2 1/2 hrs away and wont return my calls.1 of the biggest P.O.S. that i bought.Thank you for letting me rant.:D

[ctrlraven]

If you had it installed someplace they should warranty everything. I know in cases like this with installs I have done, just a simple reprograming of the system fixed it. It may or may not help work in this case but it is worth a try.

[Eric91Z]

SHE'S FIXED!!! Took it in to the shop this morning that did the original install. The unplugged the antenna and plugged back in and now it works. They said if the antenna gets a "power surge" of any sort it can lock the antenna up and it won't receive a signal. I almost tried to do that, but didn't want to pull too hard or didn't know if it had a clip or something holding it in.

Now has great range again!!!!