Remote

3998 Views 17 Replies 5 Participants Last post by JCMorrill, Aug 2, 2015

annofofi4

Discussion Starter · Jul 22, 2015

Hello,
I was looking for a little help, I purchased a extra remote for my Karma on Ebay, how can I reprogram it? Thanks guys!

Elk Grove, CA

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

FiskerPhilly

· #2 · Jul 23, 2015

It's gotta be done with the Fisker scan tool and even with the scan tool it's a nightmare at times. I was doing one today and spent 2 hours before giving up, tried 3 different remotes still won't go. Some cars are no trouble and takes about a half hour. Worst cases need to remove VCM and send it with both remotes to Fisker to have programmed.
Give Alex Pop a shout at Elite Motors in Orange County or Pats Garage up North.

JCMorrill

· #3 · Jul 23, 2015

The latter is exactly what I have to do with mine ... next week. VCM & Keys going to Fisker. This is STUPID.

FiskerPhilly

· #4 · Jul 24, 2015

I used a few other words than that...
finally got this car to program today. Went through my whole stock of CR2032 batteries to find highest voltage fob batteries. Found a pair over 3v and it went right through. Fisker tech advice on remote voltage being over 3V.

Harleyguy

· #5 · Jul 26, 2015

I have a dedicated area in my shop that I use to program key fobs just in case the VCM doesn't play nice

JCMorrill

· #6 · Jul 26, 2015

Dedicated for ... what?

FiskerPhilly

· #7 · Jul 26, 2015

Dedicated for a car to be sitting, out of the way, dead, possibly for days without a VCM. Car won't move.

JCMorrill

· #8 · Jul 27, 2015

Hey. I may have hit lucky! Dropped my car off this morning for its module replacement and key fob programming, and Corey said a Fisker Tech was in town with his Engineering Laptop, and that he should be able to do my VCM programming without having to send the VCM out of state!

Harleyguy

· #9 · Jul 28, 2015

JCMorrill said:
Hey. I may have hit lucky! Dropped my car off this morning for its module replacement and key fob programming, and Corey said a Fisker Tech was in town with his Engineering Laptop, and that he should be able to do my VCM programming without having to send the VCM out of state!

I hope it's not Travis I don't know of any techs who have a engineering laptop unless someone from Fisker is stopping in . Please let us know the out come and who programs the keys for you

FiskerPhilly

· #10 · Jul 28, 2015

I wonder when those guys are gonna come visit us @Harleyguy?

Fanofearth

· #11 · Jul 28, 2015

Previous Fisker used a test track in Arizona, not sure if this is relevant but could make sense as to why engineers would be out there.

JCMorrill

· #12 · Jul 28, 2015

Harleyguy said:
I hope it's not Travis I don't know of any techs who have a engineering laptop unless someone from Fisker is stopping in . Please let us know the out come and who programs the keys for you

No. I don't even think Corey knows Travis. Corey said the name to me, but it didn't stick. Last name might have been "Brown", but I wouldn't put any money on it. His sentence was something like "So & So from Fisker is in town, and he has his Engineer's Laptop. So, he can program your fobs to the VCM here and we don't have to send it to California!"

I'm assuming that the Engineer's laptop lets one plug in a VCM to the computer and directly manipulate the fob codes in the VCM's memory. Instead of trying to make the car detect the new fob and do the update indirectly. ???

Harleyguy

· #13 · Jul 29, 2015

Rob Brown is his name and I'm not a 100% sure but when we send keys and VCM out to get programmed I believe they install the parts into a mule car . They have a full size car that doesn't have any body work every harness all the computers are right in front of you. It's a skeleton when we have wiring problems they can go out this car and tell us exactly what color wires and location is .
One time I had a problem and I was able to face time my technical support . I'm not sure they have a laptop that is capable of programming the VCM and keys I will ask

JCMorrill

· #14 · Jul 29, 2015

That last part was purely my speculation. So, I am most likely wrong. But, I'll let you know if I get my car back in days or if it's weeks!

JCMorrill

· #15 · Jul 29, 2015

Just got an email from Corey. I dropped my car at his shop yesterday morning. Today he says I have two working keys!! Mr. Brown was able to do the trick. And, I didn't have to do without the car for an extra week!

JCMorrill

· #16 · Jul 31, 2015

Follow up. Car back from Corey in 4 days (with a battery module replaced). Both remotes working! No cost to me!!

So, I bought it in January with no local CSP and a risk of ever getting parts. Got it for less than half the (new) price with only 2400 miles on it. All of the service bulletins done ... but with 2 modules that needed replacing (that I did not know at the time) , and only one working key.

Now I have Fisker providing parts, 2 working keys, a fully functional HV battery, and a CSP who lives 10 minutes from me. One who has worked on my car 4 times, replaced 2 modules, updated the software, and programmed a new key fob. And, I have never had to pay him a dime (except for the Clear Bra work I had him get done while he had it last time). Gonna drop off a "beer tip" to him and his team this weekend!

But, I gotta tell you. I'm just about as stoked as can be about my car and how the situation really has turned around.

Most of the time on the Forums, we hear about the problems people are having. And, it's fabulous all the information sharing that goes on. But, I thought I'd share a happy tale!

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Harleyguy

· #17 · Aug 2, 2015

Are you a second owner or original owner ? I don't know who programmed your remotes but I can tell you no one from Fisker was at the shop and there isn't an engineering laptop that programs the remotes . They program remotes the same way as Joe and myself do but its a lot easier for them to program the remotes . The important thing here is they are working .
What I find interesting is the battery module repair . The cost to replace two module parts and labor if buying the modules from Fisker is a lot more then the warranty money covers . Did you know you has two failing modules ?

JCMorrill

· #18 · Aug 2, 2015 (Edited)

I don't know what to say, Adam. I wasn't there. I didn't witness it. But, I tend also not to be credulous.

Corey told me they plugged the VCM into Rob's engineer's laptop (don't know if that means they took it out and did it on a bench or hooked a laptop to my car). He described it as "that laptop's software was able to poke values into parts of the VCM's memory, and that got the keys to work." And, they do work! This was after 2 prior failed attempts to get that same key fob (that you sent me/Scottsdale Ferrar months back!) to program. Not trying to spread any wrong information. But, I'm certainly not making ____ {crap} up!

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