I posted this a few years ago, but the thread devolved into dehumidifiers in the trunk so it kinda went off-topic, but I've never found a solution to the problem, so I'll ask again... I have a message on the dashboard display that says “Key Fob not Detected”, and you can't start the car with the push button. The temporary solution was to pop the button cover off, put the key fob in the slot and turn it like a regular key. That works ok. Then, after starting the car with the fob and turning it off, the message “Service Keyless System” comes up. It's not the fob. Thought maybe it was, but a new battery didn’t help, and I tried my other fob and that didn’t work either. I found a TSB that has that error message listed, #08-047-11 …. (DTC) B25AA-01, B25A9-01, but it seems to be for a 2011, and talks about replacing both door handles with something about the proximity entry system, which my 2010 doesn’t have. I highly doubt that it's software. This just started out of the blue one day, and there's been no updates to the vehicle software, and it's not been to any dealership for service or had any other work done on it. I suppose it could be the key unit in the dash, maybe something in there failed? But it looks like that's a $400 part and probably requires a dealer to tweak the software to work with my car. So I have to admit, I’m stumped. Has anyone else seen this problem?
Check that passive entry is turned on in the Uconnect menu. But, the fact you're also getting the FOB not detected message, there's probably something else going on. Also, your car's security control module can be queried for any error codes. If there is a weak signal from the keyfob, or a possible problem with the antenna that is used to communicate with the keyfob at engine start-up, there is a chance there is an error code logged. I might mention most often, if there is a problem in this area, it is most likely due to someone having been at the area behind the dash and inadvertently disturbing the antenna and its connection. The antenna resides behind the dash ignition switch surround. Do you have access to an OBD2 scan tool specifically for your Challenger? If not, the dealer could test the security system and its RF circuit that interacts with the keyfob and get to the root cause of the problem. You may have a bad WIN module.
Tom, does your car have passive entry? Mine does not. And I believe that wasn’t available until 2011. I *think* it’s the door handles that have the little button on top? So, anyway, all that stuff online about shorted door handles and unplugging the wire harness from the door handle, doesn’t apply to my 2010. I have the Autel Maxi AP-200, which came with software for my wife’s Jag. So I splurged and paid the $21.99 for the Dodge download. (I guess twenny bucks won’t break the bank) That gave me the ability to read ALL the trouble codes that are buried way down deep and usually inaccessible to some of the other scanners. The one that seemed the most important was “B1A7301 - Passive entry antenna 3 - general electrical failure”. Now, like I said, my car doesn’t have passive entry, but google said there’s an antenna under the center console that detects the FOBIK and allows you to start the car. This part is supposedly a common failure item. So… I pulled all that crap apart, in the ridiculous Florida heat looking for the antenna, but all I found was something google identified as a “yaw” sensor. (I think that tells the computer if the car rolls over in an accident) On second thought, that’s probably how it gets the G-force numbers it shows on the dash readout? So, I am no closer to figuring out what the broken part is. And if it is the WIN module, I’m not sure spending $400 on a new one is worth it, since everything I’ve read says it won’t hurt the car to continue starting it by sticking in the fob and turning it. And… if I spend the $400 and that doesn’t fix it I’ll REALLY feel stupid!
I would bet that it is the WIN module. The only way to confirm it would be to take it to the dealer, but it would be expensive. For starters, you are looking at a $220 scan. To save money, you can continue to use your fob as a key. My 2009 SRT does not have passive entry.
Yeah, Tom, it’s starting to look more likely that it is the WIN module. I did some research and it seems fairly easy to remove, so maybe today I’ll pop it out of the dash and see if there’s anything visually obvious. But $220 for a scan from Dodge? I guess the $22 I paid for the Dodge download on the Autel was worth it. I got 2 relevant errors: B1A35 - Unidentified key communication error B1A7301 - Passive entry antenna 3 - general electrical failure And, yeah, it seems that no Challengers before 2011 have the passive entry system.
