The remote does not always control the light or fan. The light on the remote does not always come on with button depression?

http://remotecodelist.com/remotes/magnavox/magnavox.htm lists the code for your device as possibly being 1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, or 1005. Of course, you also have the option of using the remote controller's "Code Search" button. With Codes:
Turn on the DVD/VCR unit directly. Continue to depress the remote controller's "Code Search" button for about ten seconds, release, & the light on the remote controller should stay on. Enter the four-digit code (1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, or 1005) for the DVD/VCR unit. The remote controller's light should go off. Press the remote controller's power button, & when the DVD/VCR unit turns off, then you will know that the remote controller has been correctly programmed.

Without Codes:

With the DVD/VCR unit on, continue to depress the remote controller's "Code Search" button for about ten seconds, release, & the light on the remote controller should stay on. Continue to tap the remote controller's UP or DOWN channel button ONLY UNTIL the DVD/VCR unit responds. Then, press the power button on the remote controller once the channel has changed. If the DVD/VCR unit shuts off, then press the power button again to turn it back on. If the DVD/VCR unit turns on, then the remote controller has been correctly programmed. Otherwise, repeat this whole process until the remote controller is correctly programmed.

The part # you need is 85662-01-000. Maybe you can find it somewhere in cyberspace.

How about the remote can they be replaced? I just got the same fn from a friend that has been in box for 20yrs. All works fine but Im worried about remote going bad.

My Hunter Remote does not have a Reverse button and can't find the manual

unplug the fan then remove the batteries from the remote then plug the fan back in and, reinstall the batteries; this resets the fan control

The remote is a Hampton Bay remote that should dim the light and fan on and off. I replaced the battery and do not have a red light when I press the button. Light and fan does not turn off with remote.

If you press and hold the light button, it will step up in brightness to max then back down to dark. Then when you press the button briefly it will turn off and then press button briefly again it will turn on at the intensity you had it at last. So if you are one tick from off you may not notice it is "on" because it is dark. A second possibility is that you replaced the bulbs with a compact flourescent and they are not always happy with adjustable brightness, often they will be on or off, no middle ground. I recommend sticking with old school bulbs in the fan.

You could pick up an IR tester. Your local electronics hobby store should have them. Also, you sound as if you have some electronics ability, you could do a search on the net and find a electronics hobby site and build yourself a tester. This is what I did. Now, in my 27 years of electronics I have never seen a bad IR section of a remote. the most common problem is broken solder connections. remotes get dropped, tossed, stepped on, etc... Open the unit up and look for bad solder connections. They do not have to have a physical break to be bad! If they are grey instead of shiny or if you see a ring around the lead then the connection is bad. Reflow all connections and clean all contacts. I would think that will get it back to a working conditon.