X308 4.0L N/A Key Fob stopped working.

[xjscharlie]

Hello Folks,
The key fob on my 4.0L N/A has stopped working. Changed the batteries & the headlight and boot release buttons work. It was working last week, went intermittent then stopped working. Possibly lack of regular use of late has contributed & i have a feeling that the actuators are sticking. All doors lock/unlock Ok on the key. Anyone experienced this & perhaps taken WD40 to the actuators or other remedial action. How do you access the actuators? Would be grateful for any advice. Rgds. Charlie.

[JimboV8]

Hi Charlie, take the fob apart and clean the circuit board with an appropriate electrical cleaner and try again.

[xjscharlie]

Many thanx did that and initially only the lights/boot worked so operated the locks several times on the key and tried again and it worked albeit intermittently i.e., not every time. This makes me think its stiction and thort of using WD40 on the door lock actuators hoping that this would not be detrimental. Anyone ever done this? Rgds Charlie.

[RichardSEL]

Many thanx did that and initially only the lights/boot worked so operated the locks several times on the key and tried again and it worked albeit intermittently i.e., not every time. This makes me think its stiction and thort of using WD40 on the door lock actuators hoping that this would not be detrimental. Anyone ever done this? Rgds Charlie.

WD40 won't hurt the door lock actuators. But don't use it on the key fob buttons. They're a very thin printed layer of carbon that wears out. That provides a change of circuit when the button's pressed. Same system as on a TV remote. They're not switches. On my Sport (now sold) the boot and lights' buttons didn't work but the main lock/unlock function did. On my Exec (that's now my daily) the light's button does nothing but all the other buttons work. The spare key fob's buttons all work. You've obviously changed the CR2032 cell (one only for XK8) So there's not much more you can do apart from get and re-program another remote IMO

I took an old TV remote apart that became intermittent on two buttons. You can use a heavy graphite pencil (2H) on the button end. Found that worked for a time, but gradually got intermittent again. What with TV replacement remotes being so cheap, just got one!

[xjscharlie]

Many thanx. Its still working! Charlie.