Recent mobile key range poor when walking up to my car

[plasmo]

I’m not sure why, but recently (last month or so), my Model 3 stays in sentry mode when I walk up to it. My iPhone mobile is in my front pocket and have never had any issues before unlocking the car.
Now I have to take out my phone from the pocket and hold it or sometimes wait for 10-15 seconds to have the car unlock. This is exceptionally bad because it is cold now in Chicago and my family is often waiting for me to unlock the door when we are freezing outside the parked car.

I first thought it was due to the new cold weather but not sure. Could it be due to the new iPhone 11 pro max (I think it worked fine when I first got it).

Has anyone else noticed this decreased Bluetooth range when approaching the car?

 

[xdcthedoc]

I have a one plus phone and exactly same as you. Takes FAR too long to recognise me.

 

[plasmo]

I have a one plus phone and exactly same as you. Takes FAR too long to recognise me.

Was this working pretty well about 2-3 months ago, and now there is a noticeable change? Mine was working perfectly in the past.

 

[pk44FG]

Same with me. mine is an old iphone, but never had to wait near the door as I am doing now. Something seems to have changed in the recent software updates or something. Sometimes it wakes up fine, other times, I have to go to my bluetooth settings and ask the phone to connect to tesla.. i am resolved to blaming my phone because i like my car better

 

[xdcthedoc]

Was this working pretty well about 2-3 months ago, and now there is a noticeable change? Mine was working perfectly in the past.

I cant say it was perfect ever - but only had the car for a month or two.

 

[plasmo]

I cant say it was perfect ever - but only had the car for a month or two.

I've had mine for more than a year. THere were initial hiccups in the beginning, but for a long while it was perfect, and I never had to think about unlocking the car. Now the problem is quite frequent. Yes, I also think it was something with a recent software update...

 

[njsrikar]

I have the same issue. I have been using the same phone (Pixel 2) since I got my car back in 2018 and never had this issue until a few weeks ago. I also turned off battery optimization for the app on my phone, no change.

The fact that it's happening with different phones as stated above (both iOS and Android) makes me think it's a recent software update that is causing this.

 

[themillaz]

My iPhone 8 used to work perfectly and now I have to open the Tesla app to get it to unlock the car. I haven't updated my iOS software recently either so I feel like the change is something in the Tesla software?

 

[ngogas]

I deleted the app. Cleared al Bluetooth and delete the key by phone entry in the car. Download the app again and reset it up. Works great now.

 

[plasmo]

I deleted the app. Cleared al Bluetooth and delete the key by phone entry in the car. Download the app again and reset it up. Works great now.

Good Idea. Will try this later today after work and report back.

 

[xdcthedoc]

Good Idea. Will try this later today after work and report back.

Please do report!

 

[Fresnel]

I've been having the same problem. It worked great up until a week or two ago. The car usually unlocks when i take the phone out of my pocket.

 

[sbtz]

Here's a thread where people have been discussing this same issue: LINK

 

[SGM1980]

I have the same issue. I have been using the same phone (Pixel 2) since I got my car back in 2018 and never had this issue until a few weeks ago. I also turned off battery optimization for the app on my phone, no change.

The fact that it's happening with different phones as stated above (both iOS and Android) makes me think it's a recent software update that is causing this.

I just got the car so i thought there was something wrong with my pixel. The phone key had maybe worked one time in the 36 hours I've owned the car.

I'll try uninstalling the app like suggested above.

 

[Big Earl]

This seems to be a bug that was introduced with one of the recent software versions. I've noticed it on 36.2.4. Waking the phone up allows the car to unlock.

 

[NOLADriver]

Yup, totally agree. I had a three year old iPhone and just updated to the new one and the problem followed. If I walk up to the car and it wont unlock I have to wake up my phone and it unlocks the doors. Not fun to do with ur other hand full.

 

[Kiwiadventure]

My iPhone X will not open doors only after my M3 totally shuts down overnight in past 2-3 weeks. If I wake the car up before going down stairs to the garage it's ok.

 

[plasmo]

Please do report!

I reinstalled the Tesla app and re-paired it, but still have the same issue as before.

 

[xdcthedoc]

I reinstalled the Tesla app and re-paired it, but still have the same issue as before.

Thanks.

Saves me bothering.

Come on Tesla... get this fixed... must be due to an update in past 2-3 months?

 

[VT_EE]

I have noticed the same. When the Tesla does not unlock, I twist my body so the phone is closer to the car (I keep the phone in my left front pants pocket). This works immediately and every time. It is odd that the majority of the time, I do not have to this.