Key battery empty

emax · Dec 14, 2023

Interesting: The car apparently receives information about the battery status from the key.

What else is exchanged when unlocking the car? It would be interesting to see if it is actually possible to start the car with a weak battery.

To test it, the battery should be removed from the key. Does anyone know how to do this?

TD5-90 · Dec 14, 2023

Jean Mercier said:
On the other hand, the key should function even without batteries in the old fashioned mechanical way, therefore I don't want to carry a spare, and sure not IN the car.

If it worked mechanically (to open the door) you could well keep your spare in the car.

Tazzieman · Dec 14, 2023

ECrider said:
might not fit in the voluminous glove box though

It does. I have 2 in there , plus my OBD reader , winch controller and owner manual. Still room for peccary gloves and a muesli bar

NoAge Hunter · Dec 14, 2023

emax said:
Interesting: The car apparently receives information about the battery status from the key.

What else is exchanged when unlocking the car? It would be interesting to see if it is actually possible to start the car with a weak battery.

To test it, the battery should be removed from the key. Does anyone know how to do this?

FlyingTexan · Dec 14, 2023

Tazzieman said:
Might explode and destroy your pleather gloves?

Well in the case of my LR that key fob is like $1200

Fab · Dec 14, 2023

I've popped the back of the key off with a screwdriver and removed the battery.
The car starts and drives as always.
Also no message on the screen.

NoAge Hunter · Dec 14, 2023

emax said:
Interesting: The car apparently receives information about the battery status from the key.

What else is exchanged when unlocking the car? It would be interesting to see if it is actually possible to start the car with a weak battery.

To test it, the battery should be removed from the key. Does anyone know how to do this?

Knowing how to remove the battery? This is rather simple. Put a screwdriver or something similar in this hole (see red arrow) and turn it to open the key. Than you will see the battery.

Fab said:
I've popped the back of the key off with a screwdriver and removed the battery.
The car starts and drives as always.
Also no message on the screen.

That is fascinating! How can the system telling that the „battery is close to be empty“ but not detect, that there is not even a battery?

I tested as well and fan confirm, car starts normal without the battery.

Next tests is to make a copy of the key without any electronic inside and see, if than the immobilizer react or not.
Will try it next week.

Tazzieman · Dec 14, 2023

FlyingTexan said:
Well in the case of my LR that key fob is like $1200

Well on a positive note , it'd be more if you chose the Swarovski enhanced version , which I'm sure a few Floridans flash at the golf club

OGrid · Dec 15, 2023

FlyingTexan said:
Well in the case of my LR that key fob is like $1200

I asked my dealer the price of an additional key - approx $1000 AUD.

ORSO · Dec 15, 2023

Ok, but if the alarm is armed, how can you switch off it?

Fab · Dec 15, 2023

ORSO said:
Ok, but if the alarm is armed, how can you switch off it?

Unlock the door? With the key?

ORSO · Dec 15, 2023

ok so without the remote control with just the key does opening the door disarm the immobilizer?

hope not otherwise it would be child's play to steal it

Fab · Dec 15, 2023

Only for you, of course, I'll try tomorrow.
The neighbours are 200 mtr. away, and used to funny noises coming from our place

I will try by rocking the car.
If I lock the dogs in, they can do whatever they like, without starting the alarm, so that doesn’t help.
Any suggestions on how to start the alarm otherwise?

Logsplitter · Dec 15, 2023

Fab said:
Only for you, of course, I'll try tomorrow.
The neighbours are 200 mtr. away, and used to funny noises coming from our place
I will try by rocking the car.
If I lock the dogs in, they can do whatever they like, without starting the alarm, so that doesn’t help.
Any suggestions on how to start the alarm otherwise?

I set my alarm off by jacking the vehicle up when locked

Fab · Dec 16, 2023

I have not been able to trigger the alarm.
Not by rocking, nor by locking the dogs in and holding the neighbours cat at the window.
And I'm not going to jack up the car to trigger the alarm.
Maybe I need a software update, mine is still from the beginning of WWII.
The panic button works though.

Have a nice weekend, Fabio

ORSO · Dec 16, 2023

I don't understand, if simply by picking the lock on the door and the key block inside you have to start the car, what is the immobilizer for?

Eric · Dec 16, 2023

Fab said:
I have not been able to trigger the alarm.
Not by rocking, nor by locking the dogs in and holding the neighbours cat at the window.
And I'm not going to jack up the car to trigger the alarm.
Maybe I need a software update, mine is still from the beginning of WWII.
The panic button works though.

Have a nice weekend, Fabio

No cats were harmed in the making of this experiment

FlyingTexan · Dec 17, 2023

ORSO said:
I don't understand, if simply by picking the lock on the door and the key block inside you have to start the car, what is the immobilizer for?

The battery in the key fob isn’t required to drive but that doesn’t mean the key itself isn’t a programmed key. My Fords/chevy/gmc’s in years past had a small chip in the key. That chip is separate and send signal to the engine to start when inserted.

LWA55DAL · Apr 23, 2024

In my general experience - all of the recent keys are what are referred to as “transponder” keys so they have a chip in them and it generally not dependent on the remote battery. With actual key applications the battery can be completely dead and the car will start because the chip/transponder is close enough to the ignition to recognize the key. In keyless applications even when the battery is dead in the remote you can also start the vehicle, but the key has to by physically close the button to pick up the chip/transponder. I am working to track down the key manufacturer in hopes of getting just a key with the chip/transponder so I have same spare keys for the vehicle. The rumor is that the key is the same key used in a Peugeot and if that is the case - then there are options that don’t require the buttons or the remote and you should be able to open the doors and start the car.

emax · Sep 15, 2024

LWA55DAL said:
I am working to track down the key manufacturer in hopes of getting just a key with the chip/transponder

Are there any News about this?

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