Change key battery

Author
Discussion

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,982 posts

166 months

Monday 12th October 2020
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I've got a 2014 VW Golf. It isn't keyless entry.

I had the 'change key battery' warning pop up when starting and stopping driving. I changed the battery and it went away. It then came back again. Changed the battery and it went before coming back again.

Friday the key stopped working. Had to manually lock the car.

Got a new battery and still doesn't work. The red light on the key when you press it doesn't work either.

Swapped to the spare key and still getting the 'change key battery' when starting and stopping. But the remote locking works.

Does anyone have any ideas? The main key is now dead even with a new battery.

Sticks.

9,016 posts

258 months

Wednesday 14th October 2020
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I don't know if this will do it but nothing to lose I guess. https://www.programyourkeys.com/Program_Car_Keys_-...

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,982 posts

166 months

Monday 11th October 2021
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Update…

Actually got around to replacing the battery from Timpsons rather than Tesco and both now work fine with no errors. Dodgy battery perhaps.

voram

5,111 posts

41 months

Monday 11th October 2021
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Sounds bizarre. What battery do those keys require?

The reason I ask is sometimes button cell batteries can be same shape but different chemistry. Like AA and other batteries.

(and different chemistry will have a slightly different voltage and/or current capacity.)

Sheepshanks

35,069 posts

126 months

Tuesday 12th October 2021
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We have a SEAT with keyless fobs and they're a bit of nightmare because, with keyless, you don't see the low battery warning on the dash.

Lots of reports on VAG forums of people having to try multiple batteries before one works, or it works but only lasts a short time.

Don't know what the problem is - people suggest many of the batteries are fakes, but we had one changed by a dealer that only lasted 2 months. It's a bit odd that the original batteries seem to last a couple of years then whatever is used afterwards doesn't even make 12mths. Could be quality control on the aftermarket supplied batteries is crap.

Adrian E

3,260 posts

183 months

Thursday 14th October 2021
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I buy Duracell batteries for these sort of button cells, usually from the same eBay seller, and find that they are good for just over a year. When I take the car in for a service I generally aim to change the remote batteries around the same time. On the Golf (2015 with keyless) you do get a low battery warning, but it can be masked/quickly replaced if your particular routine on getting into the car means e.g. the door is still open so that message stays on the screen

As per post above, worth checking the correct cells are being replaced, if it's possible someone has previously fitted the wrong type. There's some very similar sized cells that generally just vary in thickness based on spec which might account for issues more quickly than you expect.

eccles

13,816 posts

229 months

Saturday 16th October 2021
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Sheepshanks said:
We have a SEAT with keyless fobs and they're a bit of nightmare because, with keyless, you don't see the low battery warning on the dash.

Lots of reports on VAG forums of people having to try multiple batteries before one works, or it works but only lasts a short time.

Don't know what the problem is - people suggest many of the batteries are fakes, but we had one changed by a dealer that only lasted 2 months. It's a bit odd that the original batteries seem to last a couple of years then whatever is used afterwards doesn't even make 12mths. Could be quality control on the aftermarket supplied batteries is crap.
I just got rid of a 2019 Ateca, that showed a low key battery warning on the dash. Most of the forums seen to indicate a key battery life of around 18 months, which is when mine needed changing.

ST565NP

620 posts

89 months

Saturday 16th October 2021
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OP, in my experience, only Duracell, Panasonic and similar brand name batteries do not make problems.
When you try using cheap ones, usually there are all sort of problems.

tenmantaylor

406 posts

105 months

Saturday 16th October 2021
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Just buy a big multi pack from amazon, work out 20-50p each.