Perhaps my post was confusing. I don't yet have any top-to-bottom remotes. I do have three side-by-side button remotes (two that came with my 1994 850t wagon, and the new one I bought for mom's 1995 850 wagon). All three prgram into my car's alarm system fine. None of them program into my mom's 1995 850. Her 850 supposedly had remotes (though the previous, second, owner never had them so they don't know what they looked like). Keyless entry and alarm are in an option group on her window sticker so I'm sure it should work. The LED on the dash is the same as my car too, FWIW.

I tried programming into her car several times, and confirmed the process (and that the remote is okay) on my car.

My query here for advice is prior to trying to order a different type remote for her car. Starting to sound to me like maybe I need to be troubleshooting the remote receiver module? Any advice there? (Any fail codes/test modes for this?)

I'll keep the extra remote, it is new and with the way my wife looses car keys ;-)