The lock button on my key fob stopped working. So I finally broke down and bought some replacements online, but a locksmith and a dealer couldn't program them. I also bought one from the dealer thinking maybe I got cheap knock offs. That one didn't work either. They didn't have their expert tech onsite only the guys who could program and not really diagnose. But they thought maybe it was because I had an aftermarket stereo. The aux port when bad on the original so rather than paying something like $400 at the dealer for a replacement I bought one from Crutchfield which included all the special hardware to make the chirping noise and everything else work correctly. I contacted Crutchfield and they haven't heard of aftermarket stereos preventing HHR key fobs from being programmed. So I looked online and found some replacement pads to see if those fix the problem. But I still have the issue that they can't program key fobs for my car, which is a 2010 HHR, if I ever need it. In doing some research I came across some info that said the HHRs can have a max of 4 key fobs programmed at one time. Is there anyway to tell how many are currently programmed for a car? I kind doubt it. When I bought the car used from a dealer I got one key fob, which I had to buy and get programmed. I am wondering if that was the 4th one. I am a little worried to have them try resetting the system to erase all programed fobs because that might not be the issue and then I am without the one I have now that kind of works.

Has anyone had a similar issue about key fob programming with an aftermarket stereo or heard anything about that being the problem? If you have do you have any workarounds?

 

Try a different dealer. When I had my stereo problems I bought a used HHR radio off a vendor on eBay. I took the old stereo out and put the 'new' stereo in and took it to the local dealer.

I had a tag with the vin number of the donor car on it but the local dealer said there was no way to program the car to accept the replacement stereo.

So I jammed an old clarion stereo in the dash, as time passed it turned out that my speakers were the root problem, the original stereo is still in the car and working fine.

While I was messing with the original I contacted Chevy and they told me what years of GM vehicles had the kind of radio used in the HHR's and that any of many should have worked. They thought that my local dealer simply did not know how to use the program computer.

I have already had my 4 replacement key fobs programed. I'm down to one now and the local dealer tells me there is no way to get more programmed for my car. If this one goes tits up I just won't have a working remote key fob unless I go with a aftermarket keyless entry unit. Unless of course one of the 'lost' key fobs turns up.

I haven't tried another dealer yet, but it is an option that is on my mind.

You can get replacement rubber key pads on eBay, I replaced mine years ago, Autozone has them also probably most big box car parts stores do too.

 

There is no connection between the fob and the radio. Unless you messed with the radio antenna and mucked the RCDLR up.

Could be the battery cage in the remote need soldering.

Why would you need to purchase "standard equipment" when you buy a car, especially from a dealer? They are even supposed to supply an Owners Manual.

 

I don't happen to have another dealer close by, well not a Chevy dealer anyway. The closest one is maybe 45 minutes away. I might try that in the future. All my online searching hasn't turned up anything about aftermarket stereos preventing key fob programming.

The dealer did say they tried resetting my system to see if that would work. I am not sure if they really did that or if they just rebooted it.

 

That is what I would think especially since Crutchfield provided all the needed harnesses and adapters. To my knowledge I didn't mess up the radio antenna or the RCDLR. If I did mess up the RCDLR wouldn't my key fob stop working all together and right after I did the radio install?

No the battery cage in the fob is fine. I triple checked that and the battery.

I bought the car used and they said they didn't have the key fobs. It was previously owned by a rental car company. It only cost $30 to buy the fob originally and no programming fee. Also no owners manual but I found that online and don't really need it.

 

Next used car demand that ALL equipment that came on the car be delivered. It is a law in my state.

 

Just curious what State is that? Virginia it's "safety equipment"

I just remember reading something about programming key fobs that you need to program them all at once, including existing working ones, otherwise they stop working. Is that true and if it is then when I had my key fob programmed it should have erased the others so having reached my max wouldn't be the problem then. It's true, but I thought it was 4 fobs operative at one time. I might be wrong.

The dealer suggested that I might need to have a diagnostic test done on my system for $120. Does anyone know what that test would be and if it is needed/worth it? NO!

The problem is that the technicians don't have a clue how to use a Tech2 scanner.

I just remembered; I found my fob still in protective plastic in one of the storage bins, you might take a look.