Low battery key

[DanD]

Dash occasionally and randomly displays message "Low Battery Key" (I can't remember the exact wording) when I switch the car off. 

The Battery in the keyfob was replaced about 6 months ago, and I disable the keyfob is disabled over night. The key is my trouser pocket when driving.

Has anyone experienced such problem, or could it just be that I got a duff Battery when it was replaced at the dealers?

[OldTrout]

Dan,

My experience with button cells is that they are sometimes exhausted when you get them. They do have a limited shelf life and you may get old stock.

However, 6 months is not good enough and a decent dealer should replace for nothing if the dealer is conveniently near. Good PR costs a lot more than a button cell.

If not, they can be bought on-line or elsewhere for about a £1 and then DIY. It is a very simple task although you will need a tiny screw driver.

John

[DanD]

Thanks John.

I am confident that my friendly dealer will replace the Battery at no cost: they have never charged me for replacement batteries in the past and I can't see why they would under the circumstances.

The reason for my post is that I was wondering whether this may be symptomatic of another problem that I am not aware of, especially because I use the car every day, but only get this message 2-3 times a week.

[as13]

I wonder how power is drawing from the Battery everytime you disable and reactivate the fob? I understand for added security for disable the fob.
I did see somewhere completely turning your TV off and back on uses more power than on standby (as a comparison).

Sent from my Mi MIX 2S using Tapatalk

[Farqui]

My wife's key Battery is low, is often in her handbag and we don't get the warning every time we start the engine.

I refreshed my Battery a while ago and never get the warning when its just me in the car.

I really must get around to swapping out her Battery before I regret it.

[rayaans]

Probably a bad Battery to be honest. I cba going to the dealers for it so just ordered maxell ones which last well, had no issues. Only bought 2 though because they have a short expiry date but we have two Lexus so they get used up in 2 years anyway

[DanD]

15 hours ago, rayaans said:

Probably a bad battery to be honest. I cba going to the dealers for it so just ordered maxell ones which last well, had no issues. Only bought 2 though because they have a short expiry date but we have two Lexus so they get used up in 2 years anyway

Is it just a matter of swapping the Battery, or do you have to re-initialise windows etc?

EDIT: I have just checked the manual (online), and while it shows how to replace the Battery (CR2032), it does not mention anything about having to re-initialise the windows, etc. I'll assume that it's not required.

[rayaans]

30 minutes ago, DanD said:

Is it just a matter of swapping the battery, or do you have to re-initialise windows etc?

EDIT: I have just checked the manual (online), and while it shows how to replace the battery (CR2032), it does not mention anything about having to re-initialise the windows, etc. I'll assume that it's not required.

Just a straight swap. Takes less than 30 seconds after you've done it once or twice

[wharfhouse]

Coincidently I have found the same on my IS 300h - if the fob is in my right hand trouser pocket, usually also with my wallet, I occasionally get the low Battery key message. However, I can have it in a coat on the back seat and never get the warning - in the end I put it down to just that particular position and maybe the body shielding the signal - until I see the warning more frequently won't worry about changing the Battery yet.

[sheri1]

Not to be condescending to everyone, but I don't really know what all the fuss is about with this issue.  Yes I agree that you can buy a dud Battery and they do have a shelf life so may not be fully charged when you buy them.  However, I just bought a pack of two CR2032 cell batteries from buyabattery.co.uk for the huge sum of £1.95 plus delivery, so £3.20 in total, and the Battery change took about 30 seconds per fob.

Check the link:

https://www.buyabattery.co.uk/vw-key-battery-3v-duracell-lithium-2032-cr2032-pack-of-2.html

[jbi507]

3 hours ago, sheri1 said:

Not to be condescending to everyone, but I don't really know what all the fuss is about with this issue.  Yes I agree that you can buy a dud battery and they do have a shelf life so may not be fully charged when you buy them.  However, I just bought a pack of two CR2032 cell batteries from buyabattery.co.uk for the huge sum of £1.95 plus delivery, so £3.20 in total, and the battery change took about 30 seconds per fob.

Check the link:

https://www.buyabattery.co.uk/vw-key-battery-3v-duracell-lithium-2032-cr2032-pack-of-2.html

Maybe people just need an excuse to visit their dealership and have a free coffee, along with their free Battery replacement. While looking at the next car they plan to change to.. Or is that lexus's plan... 🤔 

[DanD]

On 7/19/2019 at 10:33 AM, sheri1 said:

Not to be condescending to everyone, but I don't really know what all the fuss is about with this issue.  Yes I agree that you can buy a dud battery and they do have a shelf life so may not be fully charged when you buy them.  However, I just bought a pack of two CR2032 cell batteries from buyabattery.co.uk for the huge sum of £1.95 plus delivery, so £3.20 in total, and the battery change took about 30 seconds per fob.

Check the link:

https://www.buyabattery.co.uk/vw-key-battery-3v-duracell-lithium-2032-cr2032-pack-of-2.html

Fuss? Who is making a fuss?

I know that batteries have a shelf life. My question is straight forward, or at least I thought so: I get the warning "low battery", but only occasionally. All I want to know is whether it could be related to a bigger issue than the Battery, given that it was replaced less than 6 months ago.