R129 Central Locking Issues

[WigeonIncognito]

Two central locking queries...

My 1997 SL has the IR central locking with IR receiver and red/green lights below/in the rear view mirror. The central locking itself works from the button in the car, but it is a bit hit and miss from the remote fob. Sometimes it doesn't work for days at a time. Also, the key in the door only unlocks the car, it doesn't lock it. The key in the boot only operates the boot lock.

That means I think I have two separate things to resolve:

1) I want to replace the IR locking with RF locking rather than resolve the issues with the IR. Am I right in thinking that I will still need to keep the original key to ensure the immobiliser still works, or is there a way around that? I'm trying to avoid having the original key plus an aftermarket fob dangling around if possible.

2) Does anybody have any advice as to why the car won't lock from the driver's door, and why the boot lock operates mechanically on the boot lock only not triggering the rest of the system?

Thank you,

Matt.

 

[Will]

Hi Matt,

Have you got a second key to try firstly for the IR issue you mentioned?

Also - sounds obvious but the battery in the key and for the car are both confirmed good?

 

[WigeonIncognito]

Hi Matt,

Have you got a second key to try firstly for the IR issue you mentioned?

Also - sounds obvious but the battery in the key and for the car are both confirmed good?

Hi Will,

Yes I should have said the batteries in both keys are new, as is the battery in the car. The second key has never worked with the IR, it appears to be shorting in some way and emitting a constant IR beam which the car doesn't like. The first key was pulsing just fine, although that is now starting to intermittently do the same as the second key. That is another reason I was looking to use an RF system, as I seem to have a reliability issue with the IR system both at the receiver and key ends.

Thank you,

Matt.