Ford Repair: 03 Ford Taurus, remote keyless entry, ford taurus

Question
I recently replaced the battery on my 03 Ford Taurus...a week or so later, if I push any button on the remote keyless entry, it pops the trunk and sets off the alarm.  I have no idea if the new battery has anything to do with this, but I thought I should mention it.  I took it to the dealership and they say there is a problem with the BCM (body control module/ECU) and it's not covered under my warranty.  Is there any way around spending the $600 for the dealership to fix it (like reconnecting the battery) or am I stuck with using the key to lock and unlock the car?!?  Thanks Jason

Answer
The first thing I would try is a different remote.  Junkyards usually have hundreds of them laying around so it would be cheap to try, or just get a new one for around $20.  If you've already tried a different remote, the problem is most likely the BCM.  $600 is quite high, it wouldn't hurt to shop around.  A small, reputable shop may be able to install a good used BCM to keep the cost reasonable.  In any case, a replacement BCM would probably have to be reprogrammed at a dealer so that your car can use it.  Reprogramming costs about $60 here but it all depends on the dealer and how much time it takes.  Hope this helps,
Jason