Key battery failing after two days

[Max-Felix]

Anyone had this, apparently it was replaced (the key internals) by VW last week but still does the same...

 

[Hotel California]

Did they "pair" the keys to the car....?
Needs to be done after replacing battery in key fob

 

[WelshGas]

I think the Instructions are in the Handbook.

 

[Max-Felix]

Yes, key is paired. Worked fine. Handbook not really applicable as this is a faulty key it seems. It was 'replaced' by VW two days before we picked it up. Worked fine for a couple of days then - dead. New battery Tuesday - worked fine. This morning dead!

Range VWCC this morning, first warranty 'repair' showing on their system. Been escalated to 'senior manager' - call back within 24 hrs - we shall see.....!

 

[Alan]

Now there's a strange thing,I thought my key fob was on the blink last week
Went around the van 3 times pressing the fob trying to get in
It wasn't till I was confronted by a panicking Frenchman that I realized it wasn't my van
Hope you get it sorted soon
Incidentally I have wondered what the average life span is for the battery in the key fob?

Alan

 

[WelshGas]

Now there's a strange thing,I thought my key fob was on the blink last week
Went around the van 3 times pressing the fob trying to get in
It wasn't till I was confronted by a panicking Frenchman that I realized it wasn't my van
Hope you get it sorted soon
Incidentally I have wondered what the average life span is for the battery in the key fob?

Alan

About 3 to 4 years. Does also depend on use. Low usage could give you 5 years. I tend to swop the key fobs around every year and renew both batteries at 3 years regardless.
Having experienced a flat remote battery, it does a lot more than just unlock the door.

 

[AlisonF]

@Dottie posted something on a thread about her keys not working and it turned out to be that they were stored next to something (a boiler) with a magnet in it which rendered the keys useless... could this be relevant?

 

[vmaxkiddy]

Key remotes can be "blocked" by various radio frequencies too. Both intentionally, by using a jammer, or from innocent things like TV sender boxes, traffic lights, weather stations etc. I seem to remember they work on 433Mhz. When it happens again, try holding the key fob under the wheel arch, so it's shielded from external interference , like a Faraday cage.

 

[Max-Felix]

Will try but I think it's a battery drain issue as puting a new battery in makes it work again (for a couple of days). The replaced battery does not work so it's not like 'restarting' the power to the key is fixing it.

And surprise - 30 hrs on from my promised call back from VW still nothing...

 

[Loz]

Will try but I think it's a battery drain issue as puting a new battery in makes it work again (for a couple of days). The replaced battery does not work so it's not like 'restarting' the power to the key is fixing it.

And surprise - 30 hrs on from my promised call back from VW still nothing...

Perhaps it is to do with where you store the key it is being woken up (like it is when you put the key in the ignition a coil around the lock calls the key to check its code) Try wrapping it in tinfoil for a few days and see if it holds it charge.

 

[Max-Felix]

Is anyone from SMG Tonbridge on this forum, they are my local VW dealer - if you can sort me a new key under warranty by the middle of next week that would be great.

 

[Ashley B]

Hi... wondered if you ever got to the bottom of this, this is exactly whats started happening to my key! Thank you!

 

[sidepod]

That must be a thread-resurrection record? Not quite 10years.

 

[Souter]

Replaced one battery in main key a week or so after picking up my Cali. It had been a demo model since last September so hardly surprising that it needed doing. Easy to replace battery and carry spares in van(just in case)

 

[TripleBee]

I didn't know there was a battery in the key?
I think I must have a nuclear power plant in my keys. Still working fine for over 30 meters, even for opening and closing the front side windows, after 16 years.
Never had to change the battery.

 

[temporarysecretary]

Hi... wondered if you ever got to the bottom of this, this is exactly whats started happening to my key! Thank you!

Thought its worth sharing this after a big thread revival.

I had an issue with key batteries before and its because I bought expensive duracell batteries. They came with an anti child coating that makes them taste like paracetamol. This coating makes an inconsistent contact with the terminals. I swapped back to a strip of cheap ones off ebay and this resolved it.

 

[Ashley B]

Thought its worth sharing this after a big thread revival.

I had an issue with key batteries before and its because I bought expensive duracell batteries. They came with an anti child coating that makes them taste like paracetamol. This coating makes an inconsistent contact with the terminals. I swapped back to a strip of cheap ones off ebay and this resolved iHi, thanks for your comments... I would seem I got water into my key, and once it dried out the issue seems to have resolved itself.

Interesting about the battery brand, thoughts for the future!