Keyless Remote Black Stuff

[JohnDur]

95 XLS w/165k. Weird remote problem. Remote will often take repeated attemps to unlock or lock depending on the ambient temperature. If it is above 65F or so it works fine, below that it begins to get balky, sometimes not working at all.

I have taken the remote apart, cleaned it, replaced the batteries and reprogrammed with no change in behaviour. When the remote is out of the case I noticed a black sticky (yes I touched it) material on the circuit board beneath the "chicklet" buttons. Would the presence or lack of this stuff have any bearing on this weird bahaviour? If so, how do I correct?

Tnx,
John

[96Avalon_Matt]

Sounds like something spilled on the remote and leaked inside. I think the best you can do is to clean the remote and remove the black stuff (which it sounds like you've done already). If your having trouble cleaning it off, maybe try 'Goo Gone', works great! BUT, maybe confirm with someone else that it won't mess with the circuit board.

My mom spilt something (coffee?) on her keyless entry remote and the thing acted up non stop afterwards, for obvious reasons.

[JohnDur]

Mystery solved! A friend who is an engineer and a biologist figured out mositure had penetrated the seal on the remote causing a mold to grow on the rubber buttons. Cleaned it up again with alcohol, paying special attention to the rubber "feet" on the underside of the buttons and it works perfectly, only 13 years young!