Anyone had problems with the KiPass keyfob losing range?

[Martin#30]

My KiPass system has started to act up in the last few months. When I press the stove key to unlock the bike, it only works 25% of the time. Most of the time, I need to remove the fob from my pocket and physically hold it next to the stove key.

I am also getting more and more instances where "No Transponder" flashes up briefly whilst riding. Probably happens twice a week at the moment, used to be twice a year.

It feels like the fault is with the keyfob itself, maybe its transmission range is reducing, or becoming intermittent. Replaced the fob batteries twice, no difference.

Anyone had similar, and fixed it? Anyone know if dealers can meaningfully test the KiPass system rather than simply replacing expensive parts until they cure it?

Martin.

[trousersnake01]

Martin, when I first had the bike I noticed it happened a few times. However since then I haven't seen it. So the only difference to my bike would be that now I own and ride it the bike battery will be charged because it does a hundred miles every day as opposed to sitting in a dealership with a discharging bike battery.

Just a thought

[Martin#30]

Martin, when I first had the bike I noticed it happened a few times. However since then I haven't seen it. So the only difference to my bike would be that now I own and ride it the bike battery will be charged because it does a hundred miles every day as opposed to sitting in a dealership with a discharging bike battery.

Just a thought

Good suggestion. My bike does between 300 and 600 miles each week so the main bike battery should be charged, but it is a 2 year old battery and they do not last forever. Swapping it could be a cheaper solution than replacing KiPass bits.

Martin.

[trousersnake01]

If you are doing that sort of mileage your bike battery will be fine. Should get 4 or 5 years from that because of its use

[Ubertours]

When replacing Tx batteries make sure that they are high quality as cheepies only last five minutes!!!

[SirToU]

Just to add a comment, if you look at the KIPASS location on the KMUK website, it's under the seat, not thE key.

You might get better response near the seat.  Just a thought.

Neil

[Martin#30]

Just to add a comment, if you look at the KIPASS location on the KMUK website, it's under the seat, not thE key.

You might get better response near the seat.  Just a thought.

Neil

Thanks Neil.

The KiPass ECU is indeed under the seat, but I have learned a lot recently reading about the KiPass system on various forums. It seems that the key fobs have two 'chips' in them to allow the bike to start. There is a radio based transmitter with a range of about 5 feet, and powered by the fob battery. There is also a near field type of chip, which works with a range of about 5cm which allows the bike to start, even if the fob battery is removed. This 5cm near field chip only works when the fob is held next to the headstock.

It seems like the 5 feet radio part of my fob is failing.

Martin.

[SirToU]

Of course, I'd forgot about, the smaller rule.  But that really is for emergencies, and I also forgot it worked with the fob and not just the keyring.

Neil

[patrick]

I had the low battery warning come on when the bike was about 2 yrs old.

I usually have both transponders with me when im out on the bike and taking to each to the bike separately show that both batteries were low.

I popped a new battery in each and bought 2 spare batteries in my inside jacket pocket.  18 months later and  I've hardly used the bike this year but got the low battery display. I simply put the spare batteries in both transponders and now need to replace the spares.

Carrying the spares was handy one day when my mate got low battery warnng and I gavehim one of my spares.

P

[Martin#30]

My KiPass system has started to act up in the last few months. When I press the stove key to unlock the bike, it only works 25% of the time. Most of the time, I need to remove the fob from my pocket and physically hold it next to the stove key.

I am also getting more and more instances where "No Transponder" flashes up briefly whilst riding. Probably happens twice a week at the moment, used to be twice a year.

It feels like the fault is with the keyfob itself, maybe its transmission range is reducing, or becoming intermittent. Replaced the fob batteries twice, no difference.

Anyone had similar, and fixed it? Anyone know if dealers can meaningfully test the KiPass system rather than simply replacing expensive parts until they cure it?

Martin.

So it seems, and I cannot quite believe I am actually going to type this, that the problem is my iPhone. If I walk up to the bike, press the stove key, 25% of the time the bike will unlock. But, if I remove said iPhone from my pocket, tada, 100% success rate.

Now, the phone is very close to the keyfob, although in a different pocket. Never happened with my Blackberry which I changed 3 months ago.

More testing required, but I do believe the phone to be the root cause. Very odd, as I would expect the BB and iPhone to use the same radio frequencies as they are on the same mobile network.

Martin.

[O.C.]

Well now there's a thing, I had an iPhone 4 and it was very problematic with regard to its signal/reception qualities

[coman37]

My house wifi (or neighbours) sets and unsets the central locking on my Range Rover and I come home to a flat battery

Coman

[Ubertours]

KiPass is a very short range radio signal and therefore very weak, any strong radio signal will swamp the area stopp

My house wifi (or neighbours) sets and unsets the central locking on my Range Rover and I come home to a flat battery

Coman

ing the weaker signal. Used to get loads of problems with car alarm fobs in supermarket car parks, push the car 50yds down the road and away you go.

[coman37]

KiPass is a very short range radio signal and therefore very weak, any strong radio signal will swamp the area stopping the weaker signal. Used to get loads of problems with car alarm fobs in supermarket car parks, push the car 50yds down the road and away you go.

I am not going to park my car 50 yds from my drive???
I will just get screwed by someone elses wifi,
I keep a spare battery with crocodile clips in the boot just in case

Coman

[Ros]

My house wifi (or neighbours) sets and unsets the central locking on my Range Rover and I come home to a flat battery

Actually, some cars (usually older models) when the battery goes flat, the central looking locks/unlocks/locks/unlocks.... etc. and then the battery goes completely flat.  Obviously you THINK that someone is trying to get into your car or whatever.  No way that the neighbours wifi will do that.