100% Free

No Scanner Needed

Carly logo

Carly Community

matspeters1

BRZ Key Fob and Antenna System Issues Cause Start Troubles

My 2022 BRZ is having some weird electrical issues that started recently. The remote key fob barely works for locking and unlocking, and I need to insert the key to start the engine even though its supposed to work keyless. The car also stored some error codes. A suggested it might be the car antenna in the front bumper causing these problems. Has anyone experienced similar issues with their vehicle antenna system? Looking for advice before heading back to the shop since my last mechanic visit wasnt great. Car has 46490 KM and runs on gas.

4 comment(s)

rudolflorenz93

Had a similar situation with my 2019 Subaru WRX. The symptoms matched exactly, remote key problems, push start issues, and error codes. The car antenna system was indeed the culprit. The main issue was a damaged antenna module in the front bumper area. The fm antenna connector had corroded, affecting both radio signal reception and the key fob functionality. These systems often share components for signal processing. During repair, the technician found that water had seeped into the antenna housing, causing connection issues with multiple systems. The fix required antenna replacement and resealing the housing to prevent future water damage. Not a complex repair, but critical since it affected multiple vehicle functions. This wasnt a major mechanical issue, but leaving it unfixed could lead to complete key fob failure and potential security system problems. If your symptoms match, having the antenna connections checked should be the first step. The car radio and security systems often share these components, so problems tend to show up in both areas simultaneously. Be sure to mention these specific symptoms to your mechanic, as they might overlook the antenna system when diagnosing electrical issues.

matspeters1 (Author)

Thanks for sharing that experience with the WRX antenna repair. My car ended up having the exact same problem. Just curious, do you remember what the antenna replacement cost was for your car? Also, has everything worked perfectly since the fix, or have you noticed any other electrical quirks? The antenna repair solved most issues on my BRZ, but Id like to compare experiences since these vehicle antenna problems seem somewhat common in our models.

rudolflorenz93

Great timing, I just had my antenna mount and connection repaired last week for 95€. The issue turned out to be a faulty connection at the antenna base rather than needing a full antenna replacement. The mechanic found signal interference was happening due to a loose plug. Since fixing the antenna system, everything works flawlessly again. The key fob has perfect range, push start works every time, and no more error codes have appeared. Even the radio reception is noticeably clearer now, I hadnt realized it was slightly degraded before. This seems to be a known weak point in our models where water exposure can affect the antenna connections over time. Getting the repair done early likely prevented more extensive damage to the electrical system. The 95€ repair cost was definitely worth avoiding bigger issues down the road. Glad to hear your BRZ is sorted now too. These car antenna problems can be tricky to diagnose at first, but once fixed they typically stay fixed as long as the seals are properly maintained.

matspeters1 (Author)

Thanks everyone for the insights about antenna issues. I wanted to follow up on my BRZ situation. Took it to a different shop this time that actually knew what they were doing. Turns out the vehicle antenna was damaged, just like you all suggested. The repair cost me 180€ including parts and labor. The mechanic showed me where water had gotten into the antenna mount and corroded the connections. They replaced the whole assembly and added extra waterproofing. All the problems cleared up right away, key fob works perfectly now, push start is back to normal, and those error codes are gone. Radio reception is way better too, which I guess was also suffering from the signal interference. What a relief to have this fixed. The first shop I went to wanted to replace the whole key system for triple the cost. Really glad I checked here first and learned about these common antenna repair issues.

Join the discussion now: