2000 Subaru Outback Fob foibles

I recently bought a used Subaru Outback and couldn't be happier. That
was until both keyless entry FOBs seemed to be on their way out. I'm
looking for any help diagnosing this trouble.

Both of the remotes are showing the same problem of flickering their
LED instead of brightly lighting when a button is pressed. Either
button, anytime. Sometimes they work on the first try, other times it
takes up to a hundred presses for the doors to lock or unlock.

I've replaced both remotes batteries with new ones. I didn't
necessarily clean the contacts, but I did spin the batteries which
usually removes corrosion, before closing the remotes up again. One of
the remotes had been displaying this problem for a while. I thought it
may have been used more by the previous owners, but now that both of
them are doing the same thing I'm starting to wonder what the bigger
issue here is.

Thanks for reading and I thank anyone for their help in advance.

Truly,

Rob Smith

> Both of the remotes are showing the same problem of flickering their
> LED instead of brightly lighting when a button is pressed. Either
> button, anytime. Sometimes they work on the first try, other times it
> takes up to a hundred presses for the doors to lock or unlock.
>

I had a similar problem with my '99...maybe it's the same. The battery
holder bracket broke its solder connection to the circuit board.
Electrically I couldn't see how this mattered, but when I resoldered
it, the remote worked perfectly...until one of the kids used it to open
the car, and they aren't so subtle with the pressure...lots of
re-solders. I eventually shoved a couple slices of tape in the remote,
on top of the battery holder, to take up the space.

If you aren't good with a soldering iron, fine someone who is...it's an
easy job once you've seen it done.

BTW...six solid transmissions from the remote will reset the receiver,
and then it works.

-John O