Suggestions for remote fob?

[fng]

I've just about had it with the poor design of the remote fob: the button that honks the horn and flashes the lights isn't really recessed. If I carry the fob in my pocket around the house, I inevitably wind up setting off the car horn when I bend over to tie my shoes, bump against something, etc. I've had this functionality on Honda and VW products for over 15 years without encountering this problem, because their designers were intelligent enough to recess that button in the fob; apparently this concept is beyond the grasp of the geniuses at GM. I triggered the car horn with the fob in my pocket more times in the first week of ownership than I did in years of Honda and VW ownership. Fortunately, it has almost always been the "3 beeps" as opposed to the continuous "panic button" activation.

Does anyone have any suggestions to remedy this problem. I'm thinking of using superglue to disable this button, but wondered if anyone else has done something more creative. I understand that I might need that "panic button" someday, but I've got to do something.

Anyone have any suggestions/comments?

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

This may help, have the same problem on older GM remote as button are flush.

 

[gobluetwo]

Is this it? That's a very large and prominent panic button. No wonder you've been setting it off!

What is the button that looks like a reverse "return" symbol? And where is the trunk button?

 

[BrianCoasters]

Is this it? That's a very large and prominent panic button. No wonder you've been setting it off!

What is the button that looks like a reverse "return" symbol? And where is the trunk button?

The button at the top right is for the remote start. There is no trunk button unless yours comes equipped with the automatic lift gate (I think). I don't have that option, so I just have to press the button on the trunk itself.

 

[Ctrcbob]

This is what mine looks like.

 

[SweetWafer]

I'm thinking we can take apart the fob and put some electrical tape over some contacts? I have the same problem, I usually trigger it while I'm entering the car. I'm not sure why GM doesn't give us a software option to disable it.

 

[Katsubento]

You might want to try one of those key fob covers that are raised slightly which might give enough of a recess to the button.

There are so many different ones, they might actually help in that regard.

 

[fng]

Can anyone supply a link to a cover that fits the '18 Regal fob? I've searched a few sites and come up empty.

 

[Katsubento]

Can anyone supply a link to a cover that fits the '18 Regal fob? I've searched a few sites and come up empty.

Sorry, I forgot to include links.

Online Shop for Buick regal key case Wholesale with Best Price

That's one place. You can scroll through and find some that may work for you. That site is finicky with search terms so try a bunch and you might get some different results as well.

 

[fng]

Searching that site is useless. However, a brute force approach found this one on the fifth page from the link above.

Car Key Case Cover For Opel Vectra C Corsa D Meriva Vivaro Insignia Signum Mokka Zafira Antara Carbon Fiber Pattern Key Cover-in Key Case for Car from Automobiles & Motorcycles on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

This looks like it should work. If you scroll down the page, they show 3 different remotes it fits. One looks like the remote for the Sportback, except it has Hatch Release where the Sportback has Remote Start. There's also a view of the cover on a remote showing the cutout in the back for the emergency manual key release.

I'm going to order one. I'll post my opinion after I use it for a while if it fits, or immediately if it doesn't.

 

[Banjo]

I agree that is one poor Design..I just keep it in my top Shirt/Jacket pocket .

 

[fng]

I agree that is one poor Design..I just keep it in my top Shirt/Jacket pocket .

That will likely work through the cooler months. I bought the car in mid-July and was wearing T-shirts (typically with no pocket, certainly with no flap over the pocket to hold the remote in when I bent over) and no jacket. I've carried in my jacket pocket a few times.

If the cover I've ordered doesn't address the problem, I may try carrying it on a lanyard around my neck.

 

[milicz]

6 weeks in I have never had this issue in my pockets.

 

[Vinny68]

Just stop wearing skinny jeans. 🙂

 

[BrianCoasters]

I'm not having this issue, but the fob-cover that fng posted looks pretty cool 🙂. Looking forward to your opinion on it, as I'm thinking about getting one.

 

[Ctrcbob]

 

[Katsubento]

That will likely work through the cooler months. I bought the car in mid-July and was wearing T-shirts (typically with no pocket, certainly with no flap over the pocket to hold the remote in when I bent over) and no jacket. I've carried in my jacket pocket a few times.

If the cover I've ordered doesn't address the problem, I may try carrying it on a lanyard around my neck.

I think something like this is also a viable option since it's pretty rare that you will actually have to use the key buttons nowadays.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B075K53FJQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aKP5BbAGT5P2V

 

[fng]

OK. I received the remote fob cover referenced in post #10 above. I ordered on 11/1; as I recall, they stated about 20 days for delivery; I received it on 11/13.

I can confirm that it's a nice fit on our remote fob. It looks like it will mitigate the problem of inadvertent activation of the "car finder/panic button." I put it on the remote fob, put the fob in the pocket in my jeans that I usually wear, and leaned against things with no honking. It's too soon to claim a win, but it does look promising so far.

I'll report back in a couple of weeks when I have a better sense of how well this cover prevents accidental activation of the horn.

 

[dgp]

I'll report back in a couple of weeks when I have a better sense of how well this cover prevents accidental activation of the horn.

Bump! How did it work? 🙂 My Buick remote will set off the "three beeps" at least once every single day I carry it (in a pocket completely by itself) so I'd love to fix it. I'll probably buy one of those either way but I'm curious if it's solved it for you.

On a related note, had a rental Malibu a few weeks ago that came with this remote (below). You can't tell from any picture I can find, but the button surface is all concave so it seems like it would be a lot less problematic than ours (unless you had a bunch of other stuff in your pocket to press against it). I've had half a mind to see whether I could get one of these and program it, but I haven't found any proof that anyone's ever done it so I doubt it would work (or equally likely, only a dealer could and they would refuse to). If anyone knows though, hit me up.

 

[Anaduff]

I wish they (either Opel/GM or Denso--the actual maker) offered either a bracelet (as in a watchband) or a 'smart card' (as in credit card) you could wear/carry with you instead of the bulky fob.

As for the car horn--I ended up pulling the fuse on mine after being honked at over 50 times in 6 weeks. When it was in for its 500 mile oil change, I asked if there was any way to have the horn sound ONLY when you pressed the airbag cover; answer--no.