Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Remote key system (Read 1200 times) previous topic - next topic

Remote key system

Our remote control (fob) for our bay locks and door lock no longer works with the latter.  I am trying to learn how this system works and am wondering what this thing is on the screen door.  It is located near to bottom of the screen door.  See photo below.

Thanks in advance. 
The selected media item is not currently available.
George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: Remote key system

Reply #1 –
Quote from: George Hatfield –
Our remote control (fob) for our bay locks and door lock no longer works with the latter.  I am trying to learn how this system works and am wondering what this thing is on the screen door.  It is located near to bottom of the screen door.  See photo below.

Thanks in advance. 

This is an unparalleled opportunity.  Our locks no longer work either, so this topic is like a 2fer.  Two of us can learn at the same time.

George: after you determine what to buy and how to install it, I will be doing the same thing.

I am glad you started this topic.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Remote key system

Reply #2 –
George,
That is a magnetic switch that tells the door step to open/close at the same time the door is open/closed. It is active when the ignition is in the on possion so when you are at camp the step stays extended.
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Remote key system

Reply #3 –
Quote from: George Hatfield –
Our remote control (fob) for our bay locks and door lock no longer works with the latter.  I am trying to learn how this system works and am wondering what this thing is on the screen door.  It is located near to bottom of the screen door.  See photo below.

Thanks in advance. 

George,
That is a magnetic "Reed switch" contact & magnet.
It makes connection for the steps.
With the engine running and you open the door, the steps will come out.
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Remote key system

Reply #4 –
Quote from: George Hatfield –
Our remote control (fob) for our bay locks and door lock no longer works with the latter. 

George,

Does the entry door lock still work with the rocker switch?  Just trying to rule out a problem with the actuator.

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Remote key system

Reply #5 –
Can only offer what happened to me, the cost of a new system is about $200.00 + installation about 2 hours by Weaver at MOT.  Have seen another tech. work 2 days on it before giving up, then to MOT where Weaver unscrewed it.

As long as it has not been screwed up / burnt up first by a nincompoop.  ;D

Re: Remote key system

Reply #6 –
OK, that magnet switch controls the steps.  That makes sense. 

I thought it might be related to my door problem because in the past when I used the fob, the door had to be closed (or at least partially closed) for it to work.  This may prevent one from locking the deadbolt (i.e., putting it in the out position) and then trying to close the door.....clunk!  I have done this several times, so the system is not "fool" proof!

So the system must have some way of sensing when the door is open....open door fob does not work on the door (still works on the bays); closed door, fob works on all locks.  But how does it do this?  The sensor is associated with the door, not the screen door.  Closing or opening the screen door has not affect on the fob.

Our door is again working with the fob (and wall switch).  It has done this before.  I'm sure it will fail again, so I'd still like to know how it works. 

The selected media item is not currently available.
George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: Remote key system

Reply #7 –
Quote from: George Hatfield –
in the past when I used the fob, the door had to be closed (or at least partially closed) for it to work.  This prevents one from locking the deadbolt (i.e., putting it in the out position) and then trying to close the door.....clunk!  I have done this several times, so the system is not "fool" proof!

So the system must have some way of sensing when the door is open....open door fob does not work on the door (still works on the bays); closed door, fob works on all locks.  But how does it do this?

I just tested our door and fob and there doesn't seem to be an interlock with door position.  I can lock the front door with the switch and fob regardless of door position.  We have the same year coach, although I don't know if we have the same door or fob.

If yours is intermittent, sometimes working only when the door is closed, I'd look at the wiring that passes from the body of the coach into the door (for the actuator).  See if something is pinched or strained or if there's a loose connection where the problem is relieved when the door is closed.  Am I remembering correctly that you had a bent door "pos-i-lock" arm?  Perhaps the door got away from the PO during a gust of wind and it pinched a wire or jostled something loose?

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Remote key system

Reply #8 –
Michelle.... You are brilliant!  The "sensor" turned out to be a broken wire (see below).  Since it was held in the flexible conduit, when I closed the door the two ends came together.....fob worked.  When I opened the door, the two ends pulled apart....fob didn't work. 

I temporarily repaired the break with electrical tape and it works fine (door open or closed).  I don't think I can use a butt connector here.  I'll solder it when I find someone with a tool or just replace the entire wire, which would require removing the door cover. 

This is the second broken wire to the door locks that I have found.  The other one was to the main storage bay on our coach.  Same situation where the wire was hidden in flexible conduit and worked intermittently until it failed completely. 

 
The selected media item is not currently available.
George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: Remote key system

Reply #9 –
Quote from: George Hatfield –
Michelle.... You are brilliant!  The "sensor" turned out to be a broken wire (see below).  Since it was held in the flexible conduit, when I closed the door the two ends came together.....fob worked.  When I opened the door, the two ends pulled apart....fob didn't work. 

Cool!  :D

And thanks to fellow moderator Barry for sneaking in, editing my post and adding that photo of the door wiring conduit.  That's teamwork!

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Remote key system

Reply #10 –
What a fantastic sequence of posts. This is wonderful, makes my heart happy.
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,
 

Re: Remote key system

Reply #11 –
George , you might be able to find a piece of shrink wrap almost the same color of that wire, slide it on and then solder it slide the shrink wrap over the wire and heat it up and it will look like new fwiw
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921