So a warning came up on the dash to change the keyfob battery, so I changed the battery and pressed the buttons and the red light came on (indicating it was working)...a few days later I go to drive the car and cannot unlock the car with the fob and the red light now is not working when I hit a button. So I put in a few other batteries/brands etc and still the red light does not come on. I looked around youtube and here, tried pressing a button, opening the door manually with key, then inserting key in ignition. That did not work. Is the fob now dead? I assume if a working battery is inserted then the red light should come on when pressing a button, regardless, or am I wrong? Thanks

Sounds like there's an issue with the battery or the battery contacts if there's no red light when you press the button.  Have you checked there's no protection film on the batteries and that the battery contacts are clean and actually contacting the battery?  If not give them a  rub and bend them out a but to make sure?

 

 

ok, lol, I had cleaned the contacts and checked for plastic covering on the battery before, but now I really pressed the battery around in the holder and the red light did start coming on. So I have closed the case and hope it stays working. But I suspect something is loose inside, we will see. The clips etc all look good though in there. weird. Thanks

The Boss had a similar problem with her Fabia key. I replaced the battery, but this made no difference. The car was still under warranty, so she took it back to the dealer. They put in a 3rd battery (which worked), but said that the cheap Chinese battery which I put in wasn't up to the job.

18 hours ago, KenM said:

They put in a 3rd battery (which worked), but said that the cheap Chinese battery which I put in wasn't up to the job.

 

Dealer bull****...

Double check the battery doesn't have a child protection sticker on it. 

 

I changed my key battery last month & it didn't work. After 10 minutes swearing at the keyfob, I was about to replace the new battery with another one. 

 

When I took it out I saw a small circular sticker on the top side which was preventing it from making a connection. 

 

Seems like it is something that tastes nasty to stop babies swallowing it.

Hi Guys

Similar topic, dash has just told me to change the key fob battery. They seem to last about 2-2.5 yrs but the two spares (original three key car) are also nearly gone as they are also passive searching for the car all the time etc etc

So, I'm just about to renew the batteries. Question: If I leave a spare key without a battery (seems a waste to have them dying in a draw) will they lose their settings/ memory over the two years. Don't want to have to get them re-coded, might as well leave the battery in ?

Any thoughts, what do YOU DO you save your spare key or does everybody let it die with the main key. Mine were all dead within a month of each other

 

Final thought, any preference on aftermarket batteries? The dealer re-fitted with Panasonic CS2025, although the fob say CR2032 which I assume is a long(er) life battery ?

 

Thanks in advance

My Kodiaq only has keyless start but the Swift is full keyless entry and start.  Regardless for the sake of what the batteries cost I just leave them in (I buy in bulk the cheapest CR2032s I can on ebay which work fine). 

 

If yours has a CR2025 in it the dealers has fitted the wrong type (20mm diameter and 2.5mm thick as opposed to the correct 20mm diameter and 3.2mm thick) 

Edited 10 January, 20251 yr by skomaz

I use one key until the battery low message appears, then put a new battery in it and swap to using the fob in the drawer.

31 minutes ago, skomaz said:

My Kodiaq only has keyless start but the Swift is full keyless entry and start.  Regardless for the sake of what the batteries cost I just leave them in (I buy in bulk the cheapest CR2032s I can on ebay which work fine). 

 

If yours has a CR2025 in it the dealers has fitted the wrong type (20mm diameter and 2.5mm thick as opposed to the correct 20mm diameter and 3.2mm thick) 

Thanks Skomas. Dealer fitted the lower power one, I've just ordered a pack of 2032's 👍

19 minutes ago, Stonekeeper said:

I use one key until the battery low message appears, then put a new battery in it and swap to using the fob in the drawer.

OK, sounds like a plan, thanks