Having some a problem where we’re going to the car, opens OK, keys in the ignition and turn - then nothing, like it’s completely dead. This has happened 3 times to my partner, when I go out to take a look, put the keys in and all is ok - except, the clock has reset to 00:00. And the usual power steering dash warning light comes on after a battery disconnect (switches off after a few metres drive).

 

we have changed the battery recently (January), we previously had a smaller battery suitable for petrol which kept needing topping up, we have now added a Bosch S5 Car Battery Type 096 (yeti 2.0 4x4 tdi).

 

No obvious answers on google, likely searching for the wrong keywords - any clues what may be happening?

It sounds like you still have a battery problem.

 

Check the battery posts are clean & the connections are tight.

 

Also check the earth strap to chassis connection is the same.

Is it possible that a key fob could cause an electrical reset (my wife and I both have our own key fob for the yeti) - it’s happened again, but without putting the key in the ignition - my wife’s key fob was used to open the car and put things in the boot - she pushed the button and nothing happened to unlock the car, then walked to the drivers side of the car and tried a door and the door was unlocked, shut the door, locked the car with the fob and then unlocked the whole car with the fob and loaded the boot. I went to use the car 6hrs later, and noticed the clock was reset to the time she opened the boot. so this fault has nothing to do with putting the key in the ignition. 
 

I use the car much more than her with my key fob, and have never had this problem.
 

I'll start by saying car electrics (or increasingly electronics) is a compete dark art to me. But having been on this forum for several years one thing is clear - a drop in battery voltage can cause all sorts of strange and apparently unrelated problems and often one of the cheapest "diagnostics" is to have the battery checked by a competent technician or, where the age of the battery makes it appropriate, replace the battery.

 

With car keys now so complex in their functions  it could be that when you press the button it is doing things in the background that aren't immediately obvious. (It a bit like when you have a computer problem the best advice has always been switch it off and back on again - 90% of the time whatever was causing the problem has reset itself). So if it's only happening with your wife's key fob I think the first thing I'd do is have the battery in the suspect key fob changed - unless it's been done in the past its now eight years old. If it solves the problem a nice, cheap fix and at least if it doesn't solve the problem it is one thing you can eliminate. I would suggest just swapping keys with your wife and see what happens but if it is a key problem and you use the car much more than your wife you don't want to risk a complete loss of function and being stranded. If this is something that is happening pretty regularly you could of course both share the your key for a while and see if you still have the problem. If not you will know it is specific to her key, try a new battery and if that isn't successful buy a new key. 

 

If your wife uses your key and this still occurs even with that key I think you are left with

• garage bill to trace a mysterious fault
• change car
• change wife

Unfortunately all three options could be expensive .

 

 

^ The latter being the MOST expensive

Hi

 

This has all the hallmarks of the 12 volt supply to the car electronics being momentarily interrupted or dropping below a threshold voltage when you attempt to draw current.  As suggested, the first thing to check is the integrity of the battery connections and cables. I recommend that the battery terminal posts and the inside of the clamps should be wire brushed clean, then a very THIN smear of vaseline applied before tightening.  Faulty/loose high current connections can behave rather oddly sometimes, with vibration or even surges of current making them come and go seemingly at random.

 

The second thing to check is the health of the battery itself, which any competent garage should be able to do cheaply.  However, in my experience batteries are either OK or consistently poor rather than intermittent.

11 hours ago, Paul52 said:

 

• garage bill to trace a mysterious fault
• change car
• change wife

Unfortunately all three options could be expensive .

 

 

so, obviously that’s not something I could do, we’ve been through so much together - so I’ve now issued my divorce affidavit, thanks for the advice!

1 hour ago, Austin 7 said:

Faulty/loose high current connections can behave rather oddly sometimes, with vibration or even surges of current making them come and go seemingly at random.

so - interestingly two things - I swapped the battery in my wife’s fob for mine last week, and then it started happening to me! I checked the car battery and yes, the negative connection was loose.

 

Currently changed the batteries in both fobs and refitted both the positive and negative connections.

 

🤞🏻

 

thanks for all the time replying and tips everyone. 😁

Edited 2 May, 20215 yr by AdventureYeti