I have a 96 850 and the key fob is really finicky. I have to hold it at a certain height for it to work. Sometimes if i’m standing right next to the car it won’t work. Seems i have to aim it towards the engine bay for it to even work. The response time is really slow too. I press it then 5 seconds later it unlocks, sometimes. Ive replaced the battery, and I've tried the other fob i have. Is their some sort if relay or sensor i can replace to fix this? or are they all slow like this? I put pics of the fob if that helps. Thanks!

 

May simply be a bad remote. I have sold and programmed many of that older type (years ago). The good thing is for a 1996 you don't need a special tool or a VIDA subscription to program your car to accept the signal from a new remote. 1998 and up require a tool or subscription. To program your remotes you turn the key to the on position 5 times to put the car in programming mode, then push a button on the new remote. The car will accept the signal from the new remote after that. Order the exact part number that's on the back of your old remote. 9148646 is the part number on your remote. .

 

I figured id eventually need a new one, thanks for the info! Is there a limit on how many fobs i can program to the car?

 

Don't know - if so I'd guess it would be like later chipped keys and remotes (or your garage door opener) after you get 5 remotes or so the oldest one stops working.

 

Not trying to hijack this thread, but that's excellent information. Thank you!