• General Motors has offered keyless remotes since 1989.Business Travel Essentials image by ne_fall_photos from Fotolia.com
  
  Remote keyless systems were introduced on American vehicles in 1983. General Motors began offering the keyless remote as a standard feature on all of its W-class cars in 1989, starting with the Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Pontiac Grand Prix. Over the years, the differences in GM keyless remotes have been slight, but today they can vary quite a bit, depending on the price of the car. The newest remotes come with highly specialized sensors and come standard with remote start capabilities. The vast majority of General Motors keyless remotes come with the same standardized four-button configuration they originally featured in the late 1980s.
  
  

Standard GM Keyless Remotes

• GM issues a standard remote with most cars that come with four buttons: lock, unlock, panic and trunk release. These remotes are durable and can last for several years before a battery needs to be replaced or the functions stop working properly. These remotes use transponder technology that emits a specialized frequency for your particular car and are available through numerous outlets for replacement.
  
  

Luxury Remotes

• Cadillac and cars within the same price range have a top-of-the-line keyless remote that has an LED display screen which monitors every system, including tire pressure, odometer reading, fuel level and even radio settings. This remote has the standard teardrop shape of the standard GM remote, but it is inverted to accommodate the LED screen and an unlock and lock button, a panic button and a remote start. It will also adjust the mirrors with your own personal settings and automatically unlock the doors as you approach. This remote is available as an option.
  
  

Sports Car Remotes

• Corvette and other high-end GM sports car models use keyless entry and do not have a standardized key. GM warns that losing your key fob will make it difficult to get into your car and operate the start button, which has replaced a standardized ignition. This means that the Corvette key fob contains a key that only can be used for the glove compartment and for the trunk lid if power is lost to the car. The remote can be operated from more than 100 feet away. This key fits inside of the key fob and can be accessed only if it is pulled from the inside. The fob is curved and has buttons for panic, unlock/lock and trunk release. Original late 1980s remotes for the Corvette included only a single lock/unlock button and a trunk release -- duplicates of which are available for purchase. OnStar applications that are operated from your mobile phone are also available for this vehicle and include remote starting.
  
  

Mid-Sized GM Remotes

• Recent GM mid-list cars such as the Terrain come with a switchblade remote that flips the key out of the center of the fob with the press of a button, which in turn makes the key fob and key unite. It comes with a remote start, unlock and lock buttons, trunk release and panic button. These key fobs are more suspect to malfunction than the standardized keyless remotes, but are still compact and useful. They work effectively more than 100 feet away from the vehicle.
  
  

OnStar Keyless Entry

• A new development within GM is the application of Bluetooth and OnStar technology to keyless remote entry. It will not only allow you to unlock and lock your car remotely, but the application also will allow you to access vehicle information such as fuel level and range, remaining oil life and fuel economy. The new application will also allow you to start the vehicle. It will store the vehicle identification number and summon an OnStar representative if problems occur while you are driving.