Hi All,

So I am in a bit of a Jam.. I had one working key fob, so I bought another online and wanted to program it. When I bought the car, it had no emergency key, so I went to the dealer and they cut me one.. So I figure I'm all set.. I go to program the new fob tonight following the instructions in the user manual, and I somehow erased my old fob from the cars memory.. So I figure ok, no problem, I'll just follow the instructions in the manual for no recognized fobs.. NO LUCK.. I'm placing the fob into the pocket in the glove compartment with the buttons to the right and turning the key 5 times, but I cant get the DIC to begin programming.. Now im afraid to close the door as I dont want to be locked out of the car.. Anyone have any experience with this, or am I screwed and will I have to get towed to the dealer?

thanks,
Eric

Well, as long as you have the key, You can't get locked out of the car. BUT, if none of the fobs are recognized, I believe you are going to need to have the dealer or someone with a Tech2 reprogram it.

So what's the deal with the procedure in the manual for no recognized fobs?? Is that a load of crap?

Well, as long as you have the key, You can't get locked out of the car. BUT, if none of the fobs are recognized, I believe you are going to need to have the dealer or someone with a Tech2 reprogram it.

Did you do a search already on the forum .... I found some useful infomation under the search link: Key FOB reprogramming

This problem has been addressed several times....

Good luck

Thanks.. I will check it out.. I guess I was too hasty in my post :-)
Did you do a search already on the forum .... I found some useful infomation under the search link: Key FOB reprogramming

This problem has been addressed several times....

Good luck

I had a similar problem and situation, with the exception that my #1 fob still worked. When I took the car to the dealer to have them reprogram it so the "new" #2 worked, they couldn't either. They wound up replacing both fobs AND the "brains" for the keyless entry. I think others have had everything replaced also.....

Yes.. That's what I'm figuring will happen... I'm waiting for a tow right now..

I called cadillac roadside assistance (very plesent experience btw) and they offered to send out a tech, but turned out the closest one was 80 miles away and this was not his area (guess that was the only negative). Anyway I'm nervous about the tow.. I found it odd there was no shift lock release to put the vehicle in neutral, even though in the manual it says "put vehicle in neutral to tow".

I had a similar problem and situation, with the exception that my #1 fob still worked. When I took the car to the dealer to have them reprogram it so the "new" #2 worked, they couldn't either. They wound up replacing both fobs AND the "brains" for the keyless entry. I think others have had everything replaced also.....

They should flatbed it--not tow it!!! :nono :nono :nono

yea i figured that.. big fiasco with the tow.. They sent a flat bed over initially, but he had no dollys, and the way my driveway/garage is oriented in my apartment complex there was no way he was going to be able to get the truck in there to get the car up on the flatbed without dollys to roll the car out first. Luckily the caddy dealer is half a mile from my house, so I said screw it and had them do a rear lift tow around the corner to the dealer. Everything worked out ok. Drove around for a while after the reprogramming and everything in the front end seems fine..

Incidently they told me the reason why the good fob stopped responding is becasue I was trying to program a second #2 fob. I told the guy I didn't think it mattered what the number was on the back of the fob, and that you could put a 2 in a 1 spot or a 4 spot, etc... whatever.. they got it fixed and gave me a new fob in place of the one I got off ebay...
They should flatbed it--not tow it!!! :nono :nono :nono

Incidently they told me the reason why the good fob stopped responding is becasue I was trying to program a second #2 fob. I told the guy I didn't think it mattered what the number was on the back of the fob, and that you could put a 2 in a 1 spot or a 4 spot, etc... whatever.. they got it fixed and gave me a new fob in place of the one I got off ebay...

So, was the EBay fob not usable? Could you have programed it with more information? Did you learn anything that you can share on the forum??? As you have found out we all search here for help .....

I am so glad that it has all turned out well for you .... I could "hear" the frustration in your posts last night.:D

Did they happen to check the fob batteries?

Due to the method of use, the XLR key fob is unique in that it is always on. Due to that, Cadillac recommends battery replacement around 18 months or less. If you bought the "bad" fob from eBay, it'd be hard to say how long it's gone without a fresh battery.

Also, you were correct about the #1 vs #2. It would sound as if the Dealer was just doing some guessing.

[QUOTE=XLR KEN;25129]Did they happen to check the fob batteries?

Supposedly, the DIC will report a low fob battery. Of course, if you purchase a fob with an already dead battery I doubt you'd get that warning.

Floyd

Hi All,

So I guess thinking back on all of this, I don't have anything astoundingly useful to contribute, except to maybe detail the procedure I followed that caused the car to not recogize either fob. I did replace the battery on the fob that I got from ebay before I tried anything, figuring that it was indeed dead. Keep in mind also that it's possible I could have got a defective fob from ebay.

Essentially all I did was follow the programing instructions, except the first time I tried it, I kept the good FOB on the key ring attached to the key in the trunk slot, NOT on my person. So the first time I tried it, the DIC said ready for fob #3 (fob 1 didn't come with the car when I bought it used). When I put the ebay fob into the slot, nothing happened for about 6 minutes. Then the car exited programming mode; There were no beeps, or ready for fob 4 messages or anything like that. At this point I tried my good fob - all was well. I decided to try again, still not realizing that the good fob had to be on my person. Repeated the procedure, DIC said ready for fob 3, put the fob in, nothing.. At this point I went back and re-read the instructions - it was here I realized that the good fob needed to be on my person, so i pushed the OFF/ACC button (thinking it would cancel programming mode) while the DIC said waiting for fob 3. This was when the trouble started... No audible or visual warnings were issued.. just neither fob would work to start the vehicle, none of the buttons on the fob would respond, nothing happened when I put either fob into the key slot, etc. Thinking back on this morning, I do believe that the service manager mentioned to me that when they plugged the computer into the car, it said it was in theft deterrent mode, which seems to turn off the receiver (i guess this would be to prevent spoofing the fob signal with a laptop and a transmitter). So the only thing that I could think of was maybe the car was trying to communicate with the ebay fob, and something was wrong with it. By pressing the off/acc button, I may have interrupted some handshaking signal and spooked the computer in the car..

Anyway, I'm not sure, and I dont think the dealer was either.. but they ran through diagnostics on the computer and the FOB receiver/controller and it all checks out now. They gave me a new fob and took away the old ebay fob.. Didn't charge me anything, so I guess I got a new fob at an ebay price. Guess I'll need to get myself a tech2 or something for the next time this happens..heh.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions!




So, was the EBay fob not usable? Could you have programed it with more information? Did you learn anything that you can share on the forum??? As you have found out we all search here for help .....

I am so glad that it has all turned out well for you .... I could "hear" the frustration in your posts last night.:D

Just a little follow up

If you have a 05/07 XLR either remote can be programed to #1 or #2. If you are adding a remote it is best to wipe out the programing and start over, as it could take the added remote to the #3 position. That will open the vehicle and start the car, but you wont have any personalization features.

If you have a 2004 XLR, the remotes are exclusive to #1 & #2 and should not be tried to reprogram unless you are sure they are for the correct # and are from a 2004

www.Cadillac-XLR.com (http://www.Cadillac-XLR.com)

Thank you
Allen

Ahhhh! Very interestering.. So the dealer was correct.. That probably explains the situation.. Thanks!
Just a little follow up

If you have a 05/07 XLR either remote can be programed to #1 or #2. If you are adding a remote it is best to wipe out the programing and start over, as it could take the added remote to the #3 position. That will open the vehicle and start the car, but you wont have any personalization features.

If you have a 2004 XLR, the remotes are exclusive to #1 & #2 and should not be tried to reprogram unless you are sure they are for the correct # and are from a 2004

www.Cadillac-XLR.com (http://www.Cadillac-XLR.com)

Thank you
Allen

So I guess thinking back on all of this, I don't have anything astoundingly useful to contribute, except to maybe detail the procedure I followed that caused the car to not recogize either fob. I


Welcome to the forum :cheers ... you may not think that what you added is "astoundingly useful", but just think how much information you have actually contributed on this subject for the next guy who runs into this same problem. :yesnod
There is no shortage of helpful information already threaded, and no problem that the forum members won't help you solve! :yesnod :yesnod
And no lack of personal opinions! :glol :glol

Alright, so the number printed on the case of the FOB is irrelevant (with the exception of an 04 appearantly).

However the car already had FOB 1 and 2 registered - you just didn't have both FOBs. So when you tried to program a second FOB, the car already had two placeholders reserved that is why it was asking for FOB 3.

I suppose you had to clear the stored FOB 2 from the cars registry then try and reprogram the new FOB.

So when the dealer said that the you were trying to program a second FOB 2 perhaps above is what they meant.

Ben.

My car also was purchased use and only came with 1 remote. I am going to try programming a #2 which I also purchased on eBay, after reading this thread I think I will go to my dealerships service parking lot on a sunday to try to program my #2 remote. I need to avoid the towing nightmare which this poor guy had. I wish this car just had a plain ole fashioned ignition/KEY LOL!!!!

hah.. yes I would recomend you DO take that approach. Also if the programming fails, I recomend you don't mention that you purchased the FOB on ebay. My service manager was nice enough to ignore that fact and just write it up as a failed second FOB as opposed to stupidity on my part.. Try to play it off that way if it fails.. you might get a new FOB out of the deal.

Good call!!! You little sneaky devil! HAHAAHAHAH

It's real easy to have the fob in the hand your trying to open the door and it will not open the door because the fob is to close to the door latch....................Just something I noticed.
Bobo

It's real easy to have the fob in the hand your trying to open the door and it will not open the door because the fob is to close to the door latch....................Just something I noticed.
Bobo

Bobbbo,

Now, that's a very interesting observation; as the recommended pocket to keep the FOB in is the right side pocket, which is pretty close to the door latch (at least the way I open the door). Actually, I've had no problem using either pocket, although I've recently switched to the right pocket because of recent posts. :confused

Floyd

Floyd,
This is not a comment, it's true. Go outside and put the fob in the hand you are trying to open the door. It won't open, then hold it outstretched toward you back and the door will open. I think a lot of guys that complained they where locked out are doing this.
Could be a fluke on my car.........try it and let's see.
BoboBobbbo,

Now, that's a very interesting observation; as the recommended pocket to keep the FOB in is the right side pocket, which is pretty close to the door latch (at least the way I open the door). Actually, I've had no problem using either pocket, although I've recently switched to the right pocket because of recent posts. :confused

Floyd

Floyd,
This is not a comment, it's true. Go outside and put the fob in the hand you are trying to open the door. It won't open, then hold it outstretched toward you back and the door will open. I think a lot of guys that complained they where locked out are doing this.
Could be a fluke on my car.........try it and let's see.
Bobo

Bobbbbo,

Fluke, or some kind of fish, I'm not a fish guy. . .mine works fine.

Floyd

You cheated................you did it in the dark and we couldn't see which hand you had the fob in
Some of you other guys try this maybe my car is a fluke or flounder.
BoboBobbbbo,

Fluke, or some kind of fish, I'm not a fish guy. . .mine works fine.

Floyd

You cheated................you did it in the dark and we couldn't see which hand you had the fob in
Some of you other guys try this maybe my car is a fluke or flounder.
Bobo

Nope, turned on the garage light. . .

Floyd