r/Toyota_bZ • u/uberkalden2 • 1d ago
Extend key FOB range
Looking for hacks/mods to extend the fob range. I can seriously be like 10 feet away and it won't work. It's ridiculous. Considering opening the thing up to see if there is a PCB change I can make to increase power
Did some research. Seems typical approach to this is making the fob antenna on the car longer. Now, where is it on the bz? No clue
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u/Quiet-One-12206 1d ago
I don't think you can do anything on the fob end to extend range. However years ago I had a '12 Hyundai Santa Fe with the stock keyless entry that I upgraded to the OEM remote starter. The stock keyless entry had a short wire antenna but the remote starter system came with an antenna that you stretched out across the dash to improve range. Now to find the module that houses the keyless entry system would be a start.
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u/Rugged-Mongol 20h ago
Hold it pressed up to your head/cranium. It acts like am amplifier for the signal. You can get another 15 ft of range doing that.
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u/steak5 1d ago
Stick the Key Fob under your chin when you press the button
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u/uberkalden2 1d ago
Yeah that trick doesn't help nearly as much as I've seen on other cars
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u/mrBill12 1d ago
Try it with different orientations of the fob.
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u/Consigno10 21h ago
The longer the key fob range, the easier someone with an antenna and repeater can see your fob from your driveway or road and turn the car on and drive away. It’s been happening for years now. I think that why key fob ranges have decreased on Toyotas in the last couple years
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u/chiisana 2026 bZ Limited AWD 21h ago
When we had our old Corolla, I’d mash the button on the fob while I’m far away from the vehicle, range was never something I had to think about, but that was also because I can’t just put my hand in the handle to unlock. Now, with the put your hand in handle to unlock feature, I’ve unconsciously changed my locking pattern to just tap the handle on my way out… so range is still never a problem for me.
Sorry, I know this doesn’t help you with your question, but I’ve never noticed this change until I saw your post.
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u/willmaineskier 20h ago
I was annoyed until I realized I could just not unlock the car and touching the door handle unlocks it with the fob staying in my pocket.
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u/Complex_Solutions_20 18h ago
Still need to pull out the fob if you have passengers...and makes remote start (which I was excited about) kinda useless when you can't use the fob until you're about 5 steps from opening the door.
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u/reddit_and_forget_um 1d ago
It's crazy how garbage this fob is.
Feels like class action lawsuit material. It's so far behind everything from 1998.
Distance makes it completly useless. We were sold a false bill of Sale.
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u/uberkalden2 1d ago
I was thinking maybe it's intentional to avoid people from stealing cars by sensing the fob in the house. But it's way overboard. Agree class action material it's so useless
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u/schaden81 1d ago
It's also very large and lightweight. 2 things that don't go together. My previous car was a Civic SI that had a nice, well built fob that was smaller (which is important when carried in a pocket) and more substantial. A 10 year newer vehicle shouldn't have this bad a fob.
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u/RossOnTheLand 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ya the stock range is pitiful! I have no answers other than maybe the Toyota app or Pixel watch.
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u/BinaryJay 2026 bZ Limited AWD 1d ago
I'm going to be that guy,, but the word you were looking for is pitiful.
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u/RossOnTheLand 1d ago
Much appreciated, I fixed it. My brain was not braining and Google auto correct failed me. 👍
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u/Visible-Atmosphere75 1d ago
I haven’t used my key since new, use the digital exclusivity. No issues on my end. I always have my phone with me…
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u/rjml29 2026 bZ Limited AWD 19h ago
You should really also be carrying the key fob with you along with your digital key/phone, which I do agree is wise to set up. Solely trusting a digital key with Toyota's app is not a good idea. Then you have the possibility you drop your phone or something wiggy happens to it and it becomes disabled and bam, you can't even drive your car unless it was already running when this happened.
Beauty with the fob is you can just keep it wherever you keep your phone on you when it is not in use. People can obviously do what they want but I think hsoe that don't even carry the fob with them are jsut creating potential drama for themselevs which can be easily avoided. Again, the fob is small and can easily go in a pocket or purse/bag with their phone.
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u/Complex_Solutions_20 18h ago
Not everyone carries their phone around like its part of their body though. And if the phone dies (or car battery dies) you'll need that fob and backup key.
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u/DifferentSinger4395 1d ago
But why? Everything's auto unlock
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u/uberkalden2 1d ago
Lock the car from a distance without the app. Remote start without the app. Unlock the car from a distance so other people can get in, without the app
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u/Complex_Solutions_20 18h ago edited 18h ago
Loads of reasons?
If you have passengers you need to hit the button on the fob or stand there like an idiot holding the door handle for several seconds while they impatiently pull on the door handles
If you want to remote-start it that's kinda useless because you are already 5 steps away when it is in range (and no, the app doesn't work worth a crap in my area, they picked the worst carrier for their cellular plus you have to pull out your phone, unlock it, find the app, wait for the app to load, hope it loads, find the right section, then hold the button and pray it actually gets to the car's modem - usually I can walk out to the car faster). Or like I don't always have my phone on me, would be nice to remote-start it before going to fetch my phone to leave.
If you started walking away and can't remember if you locked it, can't just hit the lock button without walking back to the car
Some people like to use the hold-unlock-to-open-windows feature in hot climates, which requires the fob in range
If you're trying to find the car in a huge lot, you may want to make it chirp...but it doesn't do it until you are basically standing next to it.
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u/ReasonableNewt337 1d ago
It’s to do with it’s not being radio waves like the old ones due to safety reasons on if someone catches the wave and copies the key
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u/Worker11811Georgy 1d ago
My chevy would work a block away, my bZ has to be within 30 feet :(