Sounds more like a battery dying than anything else. As the battery degrades, you have to get closer and closer. The ridiculous design of this key where you can't replace the battery is so frustrating. I know there are ways to do it, I have not had luck doing ti. I would do whatever Qsilver says. He knows this stuff inside and out.

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Dave S.
Northeast
2003 4.6is
2005 E53 4.4
2003 E39 Msport(a REAL ONE!)
1959 Fiat 600