Faulty Antenna Disrupts Chrysler's Starting & Locking

Had a very similar issue with my 2002 Chrysler Voyager. As someone with basic car repair experience, I initially thought it was just a dead key fob battery, but it turned out to be more complex. The problem was indeed related to the antenna system. The car radio antenna mount had corroded connections that were affecting the entire signal reception system, including the key fob functionality. The workshop found that water had gotten into the antenna wiring harness, causing several connection points to fail. The repair involved replacing the damaged cables and installing a new automotive antenna with better weatherproofing. After fixing this, both the remote locking and starting systems worked perfectly again. Total cost was 95€ for parts and labor. Could you share more details about your vehicle: Have you noticed any issues with the car radio reception? Is there visible damage to the antenna or its mounting area? When did these symptoms first appear? Have you recently had any body work done near the fm antenna area? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced with my Voyager.

Thanks for the detailed reply. My mileage is 107022 KM since you asked. Last week I checked the fm antenna mount area as suggested and found significant corrosion where the vehicle antenna connects to the body. The car radio reception has been getting progressively worse over the past month, which now makes sense given what you described about your Voyager. No recent bodywork, but I did notice some water marks inside the headliner near where the automotive antenna wiring runs. Guessing water intrusion might be the root cause here too. Will get the antenna replacement scheduled and have them check the wiring harness while they are at it.

Thanks for the follow-up information. Those water marks near the headliner definitely match the symptoms I experienced. In my case, once water got past the automotive antenna seal, it traveled along the wiring harness and caused multiple issues. After fixing my Voyager, I learned that the antenna mount design on these models is somewhat prone to water intrusion, especially after years of exposure. The original factory sealant often deteriorates, creating a path for moisture to enter the wiring system. The repair shop found that signal interference was affecting not just the radio but also the key fob receiver, which explains the remote locking issues. They installed a new car antenna with upgraded weatherproofing seals and replaced about 30cm of damaged wiring where corrosion had spread. One tip: make sure they check the ground connection points during the antenna replacement. Poor grounding can cause similar symptoms and often gets overlooked. The total repair time was about 2 hours, and the new antenna system has worked flawlessly for the past year. Based on your mileage and the visible corrosion, this repair should resolve all the issues you described.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. Just wanted to update that I had the vehicle antenna system checked out today, and you were right about the water damage. The technician found extensive corrosion in the fm antenna wiring, plus some damaged ground connections just like mentioned. The car radio reception problems and remote key issues were both fixed after they installed a new automotive antenna assembly and replaced the corroded wiring section. Total repair cost was 120€, definitely worth it since all systems are working perfectly now. They also added extra weatherproofing around the antenna mount to prevent future water intrusion. For anyone else having similar issues with their Town and Country, definitely check the antenna area for corrosion and water damage, especially if you notice remote key and radio problems appearing together. The repair was straightforward once the actual problem was identified.