ECUTek BT Dongle and Key Fob Range
 

So recently I've found out that my ECUTek Bluetooth Dongle is the cause of my Intelligent key range problems. Dynosty was able to replicate this problem on their cars, and with every dongle they had in stock. When I posted up this finding, it turned out I wasn't the only one, in this thread, there were at least two others with this problem.

I'd like to see how many others are actually seeing this range reduction. Your phone does need to be paired to the device, at least that's what I found in my testing. Depending on environment conditions, I found range could be cut down to a few feet (literally) to sometimes still getting 15-25 feet (which is still very usable). However unplugging the dongle usually doubles this range.

I've reached out to ECUTek, who at the time had not heard of this issue. My initial suggestion is to just shutdown the dongle (at least the Bluetooth radio) when the car is off, via a firmware update. They are still looking into this at the moment to see if this is possible. Unfortunately complicating the matter their fobs are a different frequency, and cars RHD.

This is my car today:
https://youtu.be/KdURtrS_5QM

Typically I get basically nothing from the rear, I have to be standing almost on top of the spoiler for the key to work, and one parking spot over for from the sides.

At ECUTek's Request I did order an OBDII extension cable to try and replicate the RHD positioning of the dongle. Interestingly enough for the first testing positioning seems to have a pretty big effect.

Almost zero effect on range here:

https://www.cdmfabrication.com/bbpic...utekbtrhd2.jpg

Some effect on range here, but not as bad as on the left hand side of the car. It was starting to sprinkle so I had to cut my testing short today:

https://www.cdmfabrication.com/bbpic...utekbtrhd1.jpg

THANK YOU!!!

I had installed a new motor with my BP kit and also.. ordered the ecutek BT at the same time.. I thought during my teardown and install maybe I cut an antenna or something. I literally have to bump my fob up to the handle in my pocket for my handle button to work for lock and unlock and even the trunk. I have had instances where I have to turn my body to the other side when the fob is in the other pocket opposite of the car body. I also have next to nothing for fob range for lock and unlock 10 feet away from the car. I am thinking low fob battery plus this ecutek BT is the cause so thank you!

I will walk out to the car and unplug the ecutek BT and try this later with updated results.

Interesting, I don't have any range issue with any of the ones I have sold/installed. No complaints from anyone - quite a surprise indeed.

I believe weather conditions may play a role here as well. So perhaps in your area humidity and such are different that your customers are more in the "usable" range and don't notice it as much? Had my car always worked from 20-25ft I probably would have never noticed. When I started having to be within a foot for it to work, I noticed. It may also just be not everyone is affected as ECUTek hasn't replicated on their side of the pond. However their fobs are a different frequency. For those of that are affected, it's really annoying.

ECUTek wants to me try another test today, so it is actively being worked on still.

Whoa! I had no idea that was the cause of my issues! I'll try unplugging this and see what happens!

Might not be specific to the Ecutek dongle but to some bluetooth accessories in general... I have noticed a reduced range just as described in this thread - and it may have coincided with adding my OBDlink LX bluetooth module which I generally leave plugged in all the time. My car is stationary right now waiting for me to find time for some maintenance tasks.. but I am going to try unplugging it for a while to see how that affects the performance of my fob.

So I was asked to leave my phone in the car and see what happened. Today it was raining, so the humidity was 94% out at the time of this test.

https://youtu.be/oMG4n16qnoo

This time the range was about half of yesterday's test with the dongle plugged in, removed it was shorter than yesterday, but still three / four times what it was with the dongle plugged in.

So this is confirmed, as stated all of a sudden I hard to start putting my pocket with the key in it literally on the door to get the handle button/rear bumper button to function as well as needing to be about 5 feet away for the FOB to lock or unlock with the key.

I unplugged by ecutek BT and can now walk up to the car like normal and unlock with the handle button no issues and also form about 60 feet away lock/unlock.

I put the Ecutek BT back in and back to the same issues... Can anyone share with me what ecutek is doing to fix this and if there is any firmware I can get to try?

Thank in advance,

Unfortunately there is not any firmware at the moment. My hope is that they will be able to shut the Bluetooth radio off when the car shuts off, and turn it back on when the car turns back on. To me that would be the ideal solution. So far they have not said whether or not this is possible (development is supposedly looking into this).

I can tell you that they have not swept it under the rug so far, it is actively being worked on. I have almost a page worth of emails in my inbox from them about this matter. I've done everything that has been requested to, and will continue to do so.

I don't know what length of time has to do with this, but I've had the dongle plugged in for several days, and I'm back down to a few feet depending on the direction. It's also gotten really hot again to though.

It's on ECUTek's list of things to do:

Thanks for looking into the issue and keeping us updated. I personally am going to try to set up a relay to trigger the 12V to be a switched power input. It should be fairly simple to relay off of the 12v switched fuses that are right by the driver kick panel.

According to this image: (https://i.stack.imgur.com/b3kaj.png) It looks like pin 16 is the battery power. I'll see how it goes when I work on the car later tonight.

Just to update this thread, this is still actively being worked on. I must say I am very impressed with ECUTek. I was sent test firmwares, and have tested it. So far no good, but hopefully the feedback and results will give them what they need another test.

This thought had also crossed my mind.

Going to bump this to say this is not directly related to ecutek, I have a obdlink bluetooth device and experienced the exact same thing. Seems any bluetooth obd2 device plugged in will cause this.

The button on my key fob works fine, but the door button doesn't work unless i take the key out of my pocket and put right up to the window. I thought it had to do with the sound deadening i added to the doors and trunk but maybe it's the ECUTek BT Module.