2009 Dodge Challenger R/T: Key Fob Not Detected

Keys work just as well or even better...no battery to mess with!

Hmmm... me thinks I like my old fashioned ignition and key that you have to physically turn. Has worked 100% of them time and has never failed on me. (except for that poorly cut key from Wally World).

Interesting. We have to cars with keyless go and we've never had an issue.

This key fob not found is an ongoing issue with the challengers that have the push button start option. It is a KNOWN problem that has been effecting a good percentage of cars with the push button start.

Dodge (from what I have heard) has finally identified the problem and some of the guys I talked to with this problem said their cars are now working properly after dodge replaced the PEM (passive entry module).

The only problem is that they have changed so many they are now back ordered. You might want to go to the dealer in the morning and put yours on order or just leave the button off until you get it fixed.

key fob battery?

Not a battery issue.

I went to the dealer with the same issue on my InfernoRed 2009 R/T 6Speed. They tried to reprogram the keys and could not. They ordered 2 new keys. I'll mention the PEM and see what they say.

I work for Chrysler - at the Chrysler Tech Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan. For the past 5-6 years, engineering was forced to remove content and basically cheapen up each vehicle. Without making excuses, this directive was handed down by the former German management (Dr. Z.). And, as expected, Chrysler leadership did not stand up to the German "influence".
Considering the key FOB issue, here's what happened; engineering designed a great system. Management then asked engineering to reduce cost. The only way to reduce cost was to design a new PEM as cheaply as possible - squeeze the supplier for a reduced piece price. Yet, as money was saved to engineer a cheap system, money is being spent to correct the system.

RE: Former German management cheapens Chrysler cars - Besides their poor reliability, and being expensive to fix, this is another reason to never buy a Mercedes of any kind.

My 2009 Challenger R/T has had two electronic issues: 1. The air bag light came on for a few seconds during freeway cruising (3000 miles) and 2. The battery / charging system warning light came on during freeway cruising (4000 miles) and stayed on. Light did not come back after a restart. The stored trouble code indicated an alternator field circuit issue. Don't know if there was really a problem, but now at 5000 miles no reoccurrence.

In general, the more electronics in a car, the more trouble. That is why I opt for the minimum in car electronics and hope for the best. Car & Driver did a 40K long term test of a Toyota Tundra, and three times the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree with all warning lights on and cruise control inoperative. The dealer could find nothing wrong, cleared the codes, and they were good to go until it happened again. So even with Toyota these electronic issues occur.

The Ground Mobile environment cars and trucks see is an extremely tough environment, and electronics need to have good design and extensive environmental and accelerated life testing.

Comment on what guvnor2 wrote- "Yet, as money was saved to engineer a cheap system, money is being spent to correct the system."

This statement is so true as it costs at least 10 times more to fix a problem found during production or warranty than it does to fix during design / testing. Yet management often takes this route to make the quarterly numbers look good and get the bonuses; the long term reliability issues will be someone else's problem.

Well, when these problems, caused by Chrysler's leadership, affect customers, it will not be long until customers no longer buy Chrysler products.
This alone erases any short term gains.

Don't misunderstand me. The Challenger is one of Chrysler best products in a long time. As is the new Dodge Ram. These vehicles are the result of a few Chrysler leaders who put a stop to the madness that has plagued Chrysler during the dark days of DCX. However, there are still a few leftover parts from the MCM (Material Cost Mangement) mandate that may cause headaches for drivers. Hopefully, Chrysler will allow their American engineering staff to correct these problems.

I've read this entire Challenger long term/daily driver blog and actual useful information is far and few between. Sure, some people will be using this as their secondary "toy car" and head up to the winery for the weekend, but for those of us who are actually looking to use it as a daily driver without the perfect california weather (northern states/mid-atlantic states), I'd like to see a blog post of real-life experience about how it handles in the rain, long commutes, etc... you know, the long term daily driver kind of stuff.

Also, it's been mentioned once before in the walk around, but I noticed it again when the exhaust was discussed, there is an unusually high amount of rust on the components. My 3+ year old Ridgeline has less rust on it. Is this a sign of things to come?

I love the styling of this car, but I would probably opt for the automatic RT (commuting). It's a shame that the automatic wasn't long-term tested.

evens2k-I commute with my 2009 Challenger R/T 5spd autostick here in Alaska. I bought mine in January and use it year round. The traction control works great if you take your time, which you should in winter weather anyway. The back seat is useless for people, but quite roomy for stuff. With the MDS and VVT the mileage is about 18-20 city and I got about 28 on a 600 mile trip to Fairbanks. By the way, it is one sweet cruiser. It has great suspension, power and seat positioning. As a daily commuter it is almost too good looking, or just strange to the other drivers. I fear getting hit by someone trying to get a look. Having it parked out front of my office makes for quite the conversation piece for most people coming in. We only have about 35 here in Anchorage, so I seldom see another for days at a time. The only fault to come to light is that my iphone will not U-Connect where my Krzr did. Software issue to be mended by either Chrysler or Apple, no one wants to take blame for problem. I miss that hands free use.

I like the last comment on driving a Challenger in Alaska. I live in Buffalo and wouldn't think about driving it out here due to salt, other drivers and real wheel issues in snow. I give you some kudos for doing it in Alaska.

Also, why haven't we seen any more Challenger posts. I'm going through withdrawal!!!

Thanks for the info guys I also commute with my 2009 R/T automatic here in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Placerville. Like sabre52270 I won't drive it in the snow, but I have in the rain. They use sand on the roads here.

I had an incident in the parking lot of the grocery store that left me feeling like an idiot. My car wouldn't recognize the key fob at all and when I opened it with the key the alarm went off. If you have to use the key make sure you can pop the button on the dash and insert the key quickly. The dealer said it was a synchronization problem(?) and inserting the key fob in the dash puts them back in sync.

But I also have the KEY FOB NOT DETECTED issue when the car has been sitting in hot weather, usually anything over about 85 degrees. When I took it to the dealer they said it was an antennae failure, they replaced it and when I went to pick it up it had been sitting in the hot sun and did the same thing again. I think they thought I was making it up.
This time they replaced both antennaes (there are 2) and the computer module for the remote starting system or so they said.
And yes, it's still doing it, I've been told the engineers are working on it.
I have noted: It does it when it's been sitting all day in the HOT sun.
It doesn't do it when you've been running the air conditioner.
It is a "heat" issue.

I'll have to find out if they changed the PEM.

This is the third Challenger that I've owned, I had a '72 and a '73 both 340's and this by far has been the best even with the starting issue. I can honestly say there's nothing else like having a "HOT" car, it definately turns heads!!!