Another Keyless Entry Question

[ppeterso2]

I have a 2000 Ford Ranger with factory theft system, power door locks, windows and keyless entry. I just replaced both door actuators last night and they work fine (whew, getting that first actuator off it's mount blind was a biotch! Tips: A. You need a stubby flathead screwdriver and B. unbolt that window regulator piece that's near the actuator!!!)

However I have the 2 original keyfobs that came with the truck and one (that I always use) works fine and the other (that I rarely use) seems dead (I remember that it quit working about 10 months ago). This morning I put a new CR2032 battery in the "dead" fob and it still does nothing.

My question is: If the battery in this nonworking fob has been dead for 10 months, would it lose its program? Or do I just have a dead remote??

PS- I know how to reprogram the keyfobs (ignition on and off 8 times and so forth) but don't want to mess up the programming on the one that works.

Thanks!

 

[rtg143]

It must have lost the memory. Just program them both at the same time, one after another, the one that works first. If that doesn't work, the remote is bad.

 

[ppeterso2]

Thanks Bert,

That's kinda what i was thinking--it makes sense to program the good one first. I plan to try that tonight when I can get home to the other remote fob.

 

[ppeterso2]

Hello, I figured that I'd post an update:
Thanks Bert, your suggestion worked like a charm--both remotes were programmed within a few seconds! Now I know if that battery dies in the remote to replace it quickly!
Pete