Hi All,

I have a '05 Magna which seems to lose its remote FOB settings randomly. I've changed the battery many times and tried both remotes, but 80% of the time it won't unlock/lock the car...

Any ideas?

Josh :)

The battery cradle in the remote breaks which causes it to intermittently loose power and reset itself. Next time you have one apart check by moving the cradle to see if one of the pins is broken. You can try to put a small peice of cardboard or something behind the battery to help it keep the connection, but it will still happen from time to time, it will need to be re soldered. If your good with electronics you could do it yourself, I sent mine away to an old member who repaired mine.

The battery cradle in the remote breaks which causes it to intermittently loose power and reset itself. Next time you have one apart check by moving the cradle to see if one of the pins is broken. You can try to put a small peice of cardboard or something behind the battery to help it keep the connection, but it will still happen from time to time, it will need to be re soldered. If your good with electronics you could do it yourself, I sent mine away to an old member who repaired mine.
There's your answer in 1. Mine was doing that recently, it was driving me nuts resetting it every 2nd day, I thought a battery change might fix it so I opened it up and the whole thing fell apart lol. Up for a new one now. :>(

Not necessarily (http://martybugs.net/magna/remote.cgi)

Managed to fix a few using the method in the link above. Took about 10 mins or so per remote.

Interesting. Mine's cactus too (gunky crap from the red & green buttons has fouled the unlock microswitch) and I'll be getting a replacement soon, but I've changed the battery at least once and also have the disconnected battery holder issue and never had to reset the fob. Possibly it needs to be disconnected for a while to lose it's setting?

Interesting. Mine's cactus too (gunky crap from the red & green buttons has fouled the unlock microswitch) and I'll be getting a replacement soon, but I've changed the battery at least once and also have the disconnected battery holder issue and never had to reset the fob. Possibly it needs to be disconnected for a while to lose it's setting?

Had a similar problem with one of my remotes. (gunk from the red and green buttons). Cleaned in and under the microswitches with CRC contact cleaner and a small artists paintbrush. Now good as gold again.

I had 3 remotes between 2 Magnas at one stage, but even after fixing them they still turned out to be unreliable. Use the key now, I'm too lazy to fix them again and already have 2 remotes for 2 Lancers in my pocket, don't really want to carry three around all the time. lol
Mr Minute has them for about $85 IIRC.

Had a similar problem with one of my remotes. (gunk from the red and green buttons). Cleaned in and under the microswitches with CRC contact cleaner and a small artists paintbrush. Now good as gold again.

Tried the contact cleaner but not with a little brush, think I'll give it another go. MadMax, do Mr Minit stock OEM, or are they an aftermarket version, and if so are they any good? Do you know if you can get OEM fobs from Mitsu without having to take out a second mortgage?

Tried the contact cleaner but not with a little brush, think I'll give it another go. MadMax, do Mr Minit stock OEM, or are they an aftermarket version, and if so are they any good? Do you know if you can get OEM fobs from Mitsu without having to take out a second mortgage?

They may well be Chinese copies, but the ones I've seen were under glass so no "hands on" looking possible. I'd ask to be allowed to handle one to check, and ask for warranty.
Mitsu price? No idea myself, anyone else?

If I bought a new one, I'd open it up and put some araldite on the two posts that solder the battery holder to the little board. You just need to drop your keys, go to use the remote, and go "Oh, fRk! Not again!"

They may well be Chinese copies, but the ones I've seen were under glass so no "hands on" looking possible. I'd ask to be allowed to handle one to check, and ask for warranty.
Mitsu price? No idea myself, anyone else?

If I bought a new one, I'd open it up and put some araldite on the two posts that solder the battery holder to the little board. You just need to drop your keys, go to use the remote, and go "Oh, fRk! Not again!"

Cheers MM, I'll check them out, and the Araldite idea is a very good one. I've managed to free up the worst switch (unlock) to some extent, needs a fairly hefty squeeze but it is working. Re-soldered the battery holder while I was in there and I was planning to swap the panic-button switch (never used) with the open switch but my iron's too big and awkward for that job. I think I'll chase up a new one anyway starting with Mitsu and possibly ending with Mr Minit depending on price.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MAGNA-REMOTE-KEYLESS-ENTRY-NEW-GENUINE-MITSUBISHI-TH-TW-KH-KW-VERADA-1999-2005-/151300628836?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item233a386164

I have seen the micro swithes too for sale.

Just FYI, Dealer (Eastside Mitsubishi in Knox, Vic) advised they have many fobs in stock at $84.50. Haven't checked out Mr Minit's ones but since the price is the same it's a no brainer to go OEM. My 'fix' with contact cleaner and a brush didn't last and the unlock button is stuffed again, it looks like it's not a very effective solvent for whatever that gunk is, maybe because it evaporates so quickly. Metho might fix it... or f$#k it for good!