Nipped into B&Q, Aberdeen at lunchtime... Came out, fob would not open the car. Tried a few times then tried to warm the fob up incase the battery was expiring...

Then I noticed another car alarm going off a few rows away... Never mind, tried another time then decided to open the passengers door with the key.

Now, I've got the Nautilus horns - Jeez, do they make an impressive sound when blasting away Shut the door, they stopped a few seconds later. Then a little bloke came over and said "Can't help but notice you were having alarm problems, so did I - Took 2mins to get into the car..." Then we looked over to this Renault which was still going daft with a confused lady beside it..

I opened the door again, put the key in the ignition and the alarm stopped and engine started... so I wandered over to this other car to suggest she try the same... While I was talking to her, another bloke had the same problem.

So, that was four of us, could not get into our cars in the carpark using the fobs at lunchtime.

Any ideas??

Nope... but I'd suggest your first problem was going to b&q

I'd guess it's something to do with the frequency of the remotes or something?

Last week our friends left the house after visiting and pressed key fod to there brand new (that day) imprezza and it set off my mates dadas jeep wrangler alarm, happened again too.

Were you any where near a substation, mobile/radio/TV transmitter?

Ah, was it the B&Q by the Asda on south side of Aberdeen?

There is an mobile phone site there. They occosionally can interfere with some car alarms but is generally the big transmitters like at Durris etc.

Steve

Hmm.. I've been there loads of times before (not that I suppose that counts for much )

It was the one at Bridge of Dee Tomo, typically, I live within line of sight of the Durris mast too! (albeit three or so miles away).

On the positive side, at least I now know that the alarm shuts up when you get the key into the ignition - that didn't work for the other person

It sounds like interference from a similar frequency device in close proximity.
Find it on multimap so we can see an OS map - that will likley show anything bigger.

That aside - how do you get in with the key? My Nav has a small slot under the passenger door handle but the key wont push in there like that? Do you have to pry the plastic off first?

FF

car remotes work around the 433mhz frequency, i can only think that there is a transmitter of the same or near harmonic nearby causing the problem.

Hi dunc, I had the same problem over the road at Asda yesterday, so did the car beside me, must be some transmitter down there.

Bill

hi guys

as a radio ham myself it is possible another radio ham could have been transmitting in his car on or near the car park on the 433 mhz band,
or worse still it could be someone deliberately keying the mike on 433mhz and watching the mayhem.
next time look out for unusual aerials on vehicle close by

phil

Phil,
Mine and Rabbitcatchers experiences are same place, different days. tip though, I'll have a look out for a big aerial next time