Malfunctions of the remote central locking systems of cars

The remote central locking systems of cars are radio-controlled. These systems use radio frequencies selected from the common frequency band 433.050–434.790 MHz, the frequencies of which are also used by numerous other low-power wireless devices, such as wireless weather stations, wireless doorbells and garage door remotes.

Remote central locking systems are prone to interference when there are other radio signals using the same frequency band nearby. At worst, this interference can completely prevent the unlocking of the car. Interference can also manifest as reduced range, meaning that the remote needs to be brought very close to the car before it will unlock. Sensitivity to interference also depends on the car model. Problems caused by radio interference are usually limited to an area spanning a single block.

How do I unlock my car if the locking system is malfunctioning?

If your car’s remote central locking system will not unlock, try bringing the remote close to the bottom edge of the windshield and moving the remote along the edge while pressing the unlock button. Since the receiver of the locking system is usually located inside the dashboard, doing this can boost the signal sent to the receiver. The interference may also stop by itself after a time. If you cannot unlock your car with the remote, you can use the mechanical key to the car instead. Please refer to the manual of the car to learn how to get the key out of the remote and where the key cylinder is located on the car. The key cylinder may be hidden under a cover plate.

Determining and removing the cause of the interference

If your car’s locking system keeps malfunctioning in a specific area, you can try working together with the area’s residents to determine whether there are any low-power wireless devices, such as wireless weather stations, being used in the area. If you find a device that you suspect might be causing interference, remove its batteries or power it down to see whether this fixes the problem. When they malfunction, low-power wireless devices may start emitting a constant signal that prevents remote central locking systems from working. Battery-powered wireless devices, such as the outdoor sensors of weather stations, are known to have caused problems in particular. Their transmitters are prone to getting jammed and emitting a constant signal when the battery voltage is low.

If your car’s remote central locking system is malfunctioning and you cannot find the cause of the problem, you can request help from Traficom by submitting a notification of radio interference.