Corolla remote unlock unreliable

I'm having a strange issue with my 2005 Toyota Corolla diesel. It's got about 185000 km on the clock. Lately, I've been getting an error message, and the remote unlocking has become very unreliable. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Even stranger, every now and then, the car won't start unless the key is physically in the ignition. I suspect a faulty antenna somewhere as everything else seems to be working fine.

4 comment(s)

Whoa, that sounds funky! I had a similar experience with my old Passat. It turned out to be a corroded cable connection to the bumper antenna. Does your Corolla have an antenna in the bumper? I had some seriously weird electrical gremlins back then. Have you checked the fuses? And are you getting any radio signal interference or anything? A faulty antenna could definitely mess with the central locking and immobilizer system.

Yes, the antenna is in the bumper. Where exactly should I look for this corroded cable? Any tips on how to find it and what to look for?

Okay, if the antenna is in the bumper then the plug connection is the first place that I would check, corrosion loves those spots! I'm 95% certain that if the electrics are playing up and the car struggles to start, then it is to do with that antenna. It's probably best to take it to a trusted mechanic - the repair is probably going to cost around 95€.

Thanks a lot for the advice! I followed your direction, and after a visit to the workshop, it turned out that you were right! It was a defective plug connection to the bumper antenna, which was quickly fixed with a new cable. I appreciate your help!

Join the discussion now: