On the car dashboard display, a while ago a message told Ray that his key fob battery was low. The message only came up once, then about a month later it came up again. The fob was working as it should, so I doubted the message. Just days ago while using my own fob, the same message came up. Ray's fob had a lot more use than mine.
I think the car is nearly three years old. I suppose the fob batteries could be failing. I'd heard car dealerships places charge a bomb to replace fob batteries. We had one battery of the correct size, CR2032. I decided to change my fob battery.
But how to? There aren't screws to undo but YouTube to the rescue. I had the appropriate small screwdriver to do the job of just jamming it into the where the two halves of the shell meet, twisting it to lever off one half, then lever off the battery cover, flick the battery out still using the screwdriver, and Bob's your mother's brother.
Beaming with success I bought another two batteries, the smallest pack, at the supermarket and replaced Ray's key fob battery too.
So, I am not expecting to see that message again for a few years. However, this comes with the proviso that my battery replacement really is successful, as I haven't driven the car since.
Later, by the time this is published, I have driven the car once and both fob units are working.
Just out of perhaps interest, something I didn't know when we bought the car. That is how the car unlocks and locks. The fob needs to be with you. You put your hand on either the driver or passenger door handle as if to open it, the car unlocks and you can then pull the handle to open the door. The car locks as you walk away from the car and the fob goes out of range. However, sometimes if you do things a bit differently from the normal open the door, get out and walk away, the locking won't activate. So I always look back to check the exterior mirrors have folded in, which tells me the car has locked. It does beep but not that loudly.
This morning the car is seeing its doctors. When the electric tail gate unlocks before it lifts, it is making a loud and alarming cracking noise. Google tells me it is a known issue so it should be an easy fix and under warranty. While it is being fixed, I will walk a short distance to a new Coles supermarket to buy a few things, frozen broccoli, soda water and cocktail tomatoes. This sounds all so simple. Why do I think it won't be.
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Oh for the days of keys and door locks. Unnecessary tech tends to put me off rather than encourage me to buy, but you can't get away from it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good feeling when you successfully mend something that at first seems difficult. I recently changed the inside barrel of a water tap, and replaced a broken seat slat of a garden bench, both more straightforwardly than expected.
Tasker, it is the jobs that 'will just take a couple of minutes', that ending up being the hardest. Some things are so easy to fix, yet people won't even consider doing it themselves.
DeleteWell done on replacing the fob battery. Tricky little buggers, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteJB, anything with button batteries and my shaky hands is tricky.
DeleteI have had varying success with replacing these batteries, partly because the inner bits of the fob can fly across the room. But once you get them installed they work for a long time.
ReplyDeleteBoud, I know what you mean and I am now much more careful disassembling to make sure I know how things go back together.
DeleteGood on you for finding out how to replace the battery.
ReplyDeleteI have the old fashioned fob where I push a button to lock and unlock; I trust that!
Bob, the remote still has the open and lock buttons, with a tailgate open button, but it is easier to do it at the car.
Deletewalking is good for mood and health.
ReplyDeleteRoentare, you'll be pleased to know I did a good bit today.
DeleteI applaud you for changing the batteries Andrew but why the hell do they have to make it so devilishly difficult for car owners? Oh...I just had an idea - they like to rip us off!
ReplyDeleteYou said it YP, yet we tolerate with just mumbling among ourselves.
Delete"Known issues" annoy me. If it is known, did it show up in the original test model and why wasn't it fixed right then before mass production?
ReplyDeleteRiver, I don't believe it did show up. No car maker wants to allow a fault go past production. But it is a fault and with a 7 year warranty, it is being fixed, at the cost of a few hours of my life.
DeleteMy fob is starting to go. I have to aim directly at the door lock whereas in the past I could aim it at the trunk and it would still open,
ReplyDeleteKirk, you better start looking for your key, perhaps within the remote. Or, replace the batteries.
DeleteYours is a very fancy fob. Mine just has 3 wee buttons. On, off and alarm, which is useful for a woman.
ReplyDeleteBut well done on the battery biz.
I do hope your day went as planned but I think you jinxed it.
XO
WWW
WWW, I haven't hear of the alarm button. My remote has 3 buttons but the third is to open the tailgate. You are so right, I did jinx it.
DeleteHimself has always replaced the fob batteries. Daylight robbery at a dealership. Which one do you take yours to?
ReplyDeleteCity Mazda, Merlot. Maybe called Fishermans Bend now, but I'd say Port Melbourne. The apartment towers in the area under construction are extraordinary.
DeleteWhere there is a will there is a way Andrew.
ReplyDeleteWe can start our car from inside the house, ok idea when it's in the garage.
Margaret, I was trying to brag but you topped me. I heard that in Canada pretty well all cars have the remote starting to warm them up before they are driven.
DeleteYou are a clever one fixing the fobs. I went to Mazda and had it done.
ReplyDeleteDiane, battery cost, about $10. What did it cost?
DeleteI have had dealers replace the batteries for free and had them charge $20. Replacement key fobs are expensive, the VW only had one key when I bought it (used) and the second one was about $300 including the set up cost.
ReplyDeleteTP, wow, $300! I think you can now buy generic ones elsewhere and they can be tuned to your car.
DeleteOur previous car (2017) had the automatic trunk opener and I don't know how many times it came down on John's head! The new one does not have an automatic trunk, you have to open it manually.
ReplyDeleteJackie, only once did I press the button when my head wasn't clear. It just missed.
DeleteMy fob is hiding somewhere in my purse but I have replaced the battery twice. Found how to do it on you tube too. Hope the day went okay, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteWell done Pat. You really wonder why it is not simpler, well it is once you know.
DeleteThe whole car tech thing scares me witless as I am so tech unsavvy.
ReplyDeleteWe've been thinking about changing our car.......all the young sales guys start rabbiting on about how great all the tech is and I just switch off...I want to get from a to b , safely and in reasonable comfort. And when I asked about sat nav systems, every time the answer was the same " well of course there's sat nav but everyone uses their phone now as Google maps are much better........I guess I really do need to update myself 😀 Moan over.
Ps I've always wondered how those key fob batteries were replaced.
Alison in Wales x
I get you Allison. The warning beeping using used to alarm Ray so much. He switched off what he could. Yes, as the salesman said, in car sat nav is not user friendly, and I use Google Maps in the car. Also, the sat nav does not automatically update, unlike Google Maps.
DeleteGood job, Andrew! We had ours replaced and yes it did cost a bomb.
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Sandra, as I thought.
DeleteVery enterprising to replace the batteries in a key fob! I never thought to do such a thing. (But I don't think I ever had the batteries die, either.)
ReplyDeleteSteve, yes if they aren't flat, why bother. But then ours weren't flat, I just took notice of the dashboard message, which may have been true or maybe not.
DeleteGood luck. Re: quick fixes: if it is quick, the cars not fixed. If the car IS fixed, it isn't quick. Just a thing we noticed.
ReplyDeleteDebby, you are probably right about that. What I thought was simple turned out to me less than simple.
DeleteBesides the fact that I didn't know what a fob is, (now I know through the comments) I never had problems. I close my door, walk a a few steps, and then lock it. I learn every day ! I even learned archery and almost shot the cook who was coming out of the kitchen!
ReplyDeleteGattina, we are more likely to say remote rather than fob, but others do say fob.
DeleteI also learned that car fobs have a key hidden inside of them, in case the electrical craps out I guess.
ReplyDeleteActually Pixie, I just checked mine and it doesn't have a key. Our last car did. I should find out what to do if something goes wrong, before it goes wrong.
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