Experiencing problems with your 2018 Gmc Key Fob can be frustrating. Many owners rely heavily on the convenience of keyless entry and remote start features, making a malfunctioning fob a significant inconvenience. This article delves into a real-world experience shared by a GMC owner and provides insights into diagnosing and potentially fixing common key fob issues, particularly those relevant to 2018 GMC models.
Understanding Common Key Fob Problems
Key fobs, while technologically advanced, are not immune to problems. Users of GMC vehicles, including the 2018 models, sometimes encounter issues such as:
- Unresponsive Buttons: Buttons may become less sensitive or completely fail to lock, unlock, or start the vehicle remotely.
- Reduced Range: The effective distance from which the key fob can communicate with the vehicle decreases.
- Intermittent Functionality: The key fob works sporadically, sometimes functioning correctly and other times failing.
- Rapid Battery Drain: The key fob battery needs frequent replacement, suggesting an underlying issue.
- Erratic Behavior: Doors locking and unlocking unexpectedly, alarms sounding for no apparent reason.
One GMC owner detailed their experience with a 2017 Silverado, which exhibited some of these erratic behaviors, offering a potential DIY solution that might be applicable to your 2018 GMC key fob.
A User’s Experience with a 2017 Silverado Fob – Could This Help Your 2018 GMC Key Fob?
While the original post refers to a 2017 Silverado, the underlying key fob technology is often similar across GMC models of this era, including many 2018 GMC vehicles. The user described encountering a perplexing issue: their doors would lock with the fob and then immediately unlock. They also experienced random unlocking while driving or when the vehicle was in retained accessory power mode.
Initially suspecting a faulty key fob, isolating it out of range seemed to resolve the problem, leading them to believe one of their fobs was indeed malfunctioning. They resorted to using their second key fob and stored the potentially problematic one away.
However, after some time, the same issues resurfaced with their second fob. Determined to find a solution, they decided to investigate the key fob more closely.
Symptoms Described
The key fob symptoms were quite clear and disruptive:
- Immediate Unlocking After Locking: Pressing the lock button on the key fob would lock the doors, only for them to unlock again immediately.
- Random Unlocking: The doors would unlock unexpectedly while the vehicle was in motion or when the accessory power was still active after turning off the engine.
These symptoms are indicative of a communication problem or a short circuit within the key fob itself, sending unintended signals to the vehicle’s locking system.
Troubleshooting Steps
The user’s troubleshooting process was straightforward and effective:
- Isolation: They initially isolated the suspected faulty fob, which temporarily solved the issue, confirming the problem was likely related to the fob.
- Physical Inspection: Upon closer inspection of the key fob, they carefully opened the case to examine the internal components.
The Discovery – Gel Substance
Inside the key fob, the user made a crucial discovery: a clear, gel-like substance present on the circuit board and the inside of the fob casing. This substance appeared to be located in areas marked in red in the provided image.
Alt text: Close-up of a 2018 GMC key fob circuit board showing areas marked in red where a clear gel substance was found, potentially causing malfunction.
The user suspected this gel might be conductive and interfering with the normal operation of the key fob’s circuitry. They hypothesized that this substance was the source of the erratic behavior. While they speculated it could be battery leakage, they weren’t entirely certain of its origin.
The DIY Fix – Cleaning the Fob
Based on their hypothesis, the user took a simple yet effective step:
- Cleaning: They carefully cleaned the gel-like substance from the circuit board and the fob casing using a paper towel.
- Reassembly: After cleaning, they reassembled the key fob.
Following this cleaning process, initial testing suggested the fix was successful. The key fob appeared to be functioning normally again.
Preventative Measures and Further Actions for Your 2018 GMC Key Fob
While cleaning the gel substance proved to be a successful fix in this particular instance, it’s not guaranteed to resolve all 2018 GMC key fob issues. Here are some additional considerations and preventative measures:
- Battery Health: Ensure you are using a fresh, high-quality battery of the correct type for your 2018 GMC key fob. Low battery voltage can sometimes cause unusual behavior.
- Regular Cleaning: Periodically clean your key fob’s exterior to prevent dirt and grime buildup around the buttons, which could affect their responsiveness.
- Avoid Extreme Conditions: Protect your key fob from extreme temperatures and moisture, which can damage the internal components.
- Professional Diagnosis: If cleaning the fob or replacing the battery doesn’t resolve the issue, it’s advisable to seek professional help. A qualified automotive technician or a locksmith specializing in key fobs can diagnose more complex problems and offer solutions like reprogramming or replacement.
Conclusion
This real-world example highlights a potential, often overlooked cause of 2018 GMC key fob malfunctions: a conductive gel substance within the fob itself. While not definitively identified as battery leakage, cleaning this substance proved to be a successful DIY fix in this case. If you are experiencing similar erratic behavior with your 2018 GMC key fob, carefully inspecting and cleaning the internal components might be a solution worth trying before seeking professional and potentially more costly repairs. Remember to exercise caution when opening electronic devices and consult a professional if you are uncomfortable with DIY repairs or if the problem persists.
