Anyone know how  long a fob battery lasts before needing replacement? How do I change it?

I saw a video on line which seemed awfully fiddly involving a long thin screwdriver and much twisting. Why are these things so complicated? Do we get a warning of impending flat  fob battery?

I read we can use the emergency key to gain access if locked out. It said to put the emergency key next to the start/stop button and the car will open. How do we do that if we are locked out?.

 

I bought a 2023 Karoq and wonder if I made a mistake, what with the constant updates etc.

 

There a lock near the keyless sensor on the handle: You need to remove the smaller cover. Inside the fob, there a small key to open the car. Then the car should start even if the fob battery is dead, as it uses something like a NFC sensor to start which has not to be necessarily powered

Thanks for this. After searching, I see a small rectangular hole underneath the handle. Is that where I insert the probe from the fob?

When you say remove the smaller cover, do you mean the cover at the left hand end of the handle? How does it come off?

Do we get a warning if the battery is low?

Thanks again for helping.

A battery lasts as long as a battery lasts. Someone using the car multiple times a day obviously won't get the same use as someone using the car a couple of times a week.

There should be a low battery warning on the car's display to prompt a battery change. But given that the Panasonic batteries that are fitted at the factory cost around £1, probably easier to just replace it annually or at whatever point you choose.

You can open the back of the fob by withdrawing the emergency key around 50% & using that to push against the battery cover. You need to press a button on the fob after removing the old & before inserting the new. Like most things, harder the first time you try it. 😉

As above, you pry the cover off the door handle to access the manual lock, which the emergency key fits.

Not sure what's changed but I think the warning is better now. It comes up when the ignition is on before the car starts, but the trouble with keyless start is it flashed past that stage very quickly. However I think the warning shows better now - we've had it recently in our Karoq, Kamiq and SEAT Ateca.

Daughter used to run the Ateca (2018 model) and that did go through a phase of the fob just dying and it always seemed to happen when she got to work. She became a dab hand at popping the lock cover off (there's a hole underneath for the key blade to go in) and getting in (the alarm will go off) and starting the car (which stops the alarm). But since I had the car (18mths) it's told me it needs a new battery - did it a few weeks ago.

On the Kamiq that can be opened from the Skoda App. The daughter that drives that keeps a spare battery in the glove box just in case.

Edited yesterday at 11:061 day by Rory

Thanks to all for taking the trouble to help. Why oh why can't we go back to a simple key to access and start?

If the little red light on the fob doesn't flash then reach for the 2032's before it lets you down - I test for the flashing light before each service inasmuch as the dealer picks up on it and offers to do the change for a kings ransom.........

@Cqrmine if you read the handbook most of your queries are explained there. Page 23.

20 hours ago, Cqrmine said:

Anyone know how  long a fob battery lasts before needing replacement?

Just over two years on mine! Car new in Oct 24 and just started getting the 'Replace key battery warning' . Car not used frequently (I'm retired) , just two to three times a week.

Already had Panasonic CR2032 spare batteries, replaced the one in my key , I guess the other key (which hardly gets used) will need replacing soon. Tried using the key blade to open the key as described in the manual but couldn't get it to work. Found post on here showing exactly how to use small flat bladed screwdriver to release cover easily!

I too tried to follow the manual instructions to access the battery (page 24) and it didn't work. Where did you see the instructions with the flat bladed screwdriver to open the cover?

16 hours ago, Berisford said:

If the little red light on the fob doesn't flash then reach for the 2032's before it lets you down - I test for the flashing light before each service inasmuch as the dealer picks up on it and offers to do the change for a kings ransom.........

They charge for changing the battery???? Of all the robbing *****

8 hours ago, sussamb said:

@Cqrmine if you read the handbook most of your queries are explained there. Page 23.

I looked at pages 23 and 24 and they don't work for me.

@Cqrmine here's the post https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/436650-kessy-key-fob-battery-change/

go down to about the 4th post and it shows a picture of the inside of the key and the small tab that you are trying to free with the screwdriver

No need for screwdrivers, which is probably as well given you're unlikely to have one in your pocket if the battery suddenly fails. Release the emergency key & withdraw just enough until the black plastic clears the case. Then with the fob in your left hand, gripped between thumb & knuckle of the forefinger (thumb under the key to brace), grip the key by the plastic part in the same way. Then exert a snapping motion upwards on the key & the blade will pop the cover off.

As I said originally, harder the first time but easier thereafter.

24 minutes ago, Rbz5416 said:

As I said originally, harder the first time but easier thereafter.

that's because using the key blade forces the cover off damaging the catch. Using a screwdriver actually releases the catch properly and so doesnt damage it

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by NottsIan

24 minutes ago, NottsIan said:

that's because using the key blade forces the cover off damaging the catch. Using a screwdriver actually releases the catch properly and so doesnt damage it

It's the official way & doesn't damage anything. 😉

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Rbz5416