(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

handy car tip

glennster

glennster

Well-known Member
if you have a newer vehicle with a fob and push button ignition, check and see if the battery is replaceable in the fob. if it goes dead, yer stuck. have a 2011 taurus in the shop right now that came in on the hook. dash code says key not recognized. put a new battery in the fob and vroom....off ya go. ford uses a cr2032 watch battery in the fob. pick up a couple extra batteries and toss em in yer glove box. cheap insurance and it will save you from getting stranded. i hate all this computer junk in these new cars.
 
How long are those fob batteries supposed to last?

The one for our Camry is 5 years old and the one for the Tundra is 12 years old and both still on the original batteries?
 
the ford ones say 2-3 years depending on use. some of them are not replaceable and you have to buy a new fob, they get spendy, 200 dollars or so and they need to be re-programmed. the cars with the push button switch and fob only have no provision for an ignition key start. lincoln has a slot in the glove box that you can slide a dead fob in and the system will scan the fob and allow the car to start and run as long as the fob is in the slot.
 
We've got a Sonata with push button. You recharge the fob in a station in the glove box. You can also sit the fob in there like you would an ignition key and push the start button. I found that out when the fob got too cold. The car couldn't recognize it but I could put the thing in that port and it worked fine. It's a real pain to have a car in the shed that you have to keep the keys in the house. Nothing makes me madder than needing some equipment at the back and having to go to the house for a key for the car that is in the way.
 
Know what I've been seeing lately? Watch batteries in jumbo packs. Not hearing aid batteries, but watch batteries. I just bought a new 2016 battery for my watch at Walmart a couple of weeks ago. But when I'm out and about, I'm seeing them in five and six packs. Its similar to trying to find two or four packs of AA, AAA, C, or D batteries. C and D you can get in four, not two, and AA and AAA seem to come in 100 packs anymore. You end up having to buy batteries that you won't get around to until they're well dead. And now watch batteries.

Mark
 
all the Fords with push button start have a spot to hold key or a slot to put in in so you can start car in those instances , just need to look in owners manual to find the spot for each different model. I prefer old fashioned keys myself .
 
Just a thought, don't know anything about these new cars, what happens when the car battery itself is completely dead and the doors are locked, how do you get in to get the hood open?
 
Ron, tell me more about the tire sentinal battery in the wheel well? I have a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee that gives a check pressure warning with no signal from the right front tire.

Thanks, Gene
 
I see all of those overdone electronics as a formula for disaster. It is getting so that you can't replace a burned out bulb without having to get the computer reflashed to recognize it. We do NOT need that level of electronics in our cars!!!

And, while I am at it, all of those fobs....
How irritating that everybody has to announce with their horns that they locked their car doors. Every car with power locks has a switch on each front door that will lock/unlock all of the doors. Quietly.

And, does anybody really think that car alarms and door locks will deter thieves? How many times I have seen a rollback driving through the parking lot at a local shopping center with a car on the back and the alarm screaming away! Does anybody challenge that? When was the last time that you saw anybody even question such a vehicle??

I see that years from now, before the "useful" life of many of these cars has been used up, they will be in junkyards because of electronic failures. IMHO, people will get sick of paying $100 for a replacement car key. They will also get tired of having to go to a dealer for every little sensor replacement to get the computer reflashed - at a C-note a clip. Most small shops will not be able to afford the tools to do this.

OK, I'm through for now.......
 
Yep, not spending the $85 for my rf tire to tell me its soft. I just clear its chiming each time when I take off.

Ross
 
On cars with "keyless" ignitions, the remote "key" fob will have a door key inside. Sometimes they are quite difficult to find!
 
We went out on a service call, late model mercedes with a dead battery. Battery is in the trunk, has a remote electric solenoid release. Unlock the door with the pass key, use the jump box on a patch cord to the cigarette lighter port to power the car up enough to release the trunk lock to access the battery to jump start the car. Sheesh!!!!!!
 
I also hate these electronic doors and fob, I've never owned the vehicle with power windows and power locks, But I bought a 99 Ford F1 50 with power everything I can't stand the key fob I'm scared to death the thing is going to lock me out of it. I used to always leave my key in my ignition on my other trucks, now I have to always make sure I have the spare key/fob in my pocket. The truck also has locks that automatically lock when you put it in gear, sometimes I hear them locking and unlocking when driving down the road? Lol. Only good thing is if the doors locked with the key inside the truck and I have the spare key I can use the key in the door to unlock it but it would not unlock by using the fob. What does fob even mean! Lol
 
Thats as bad as bad as a 06 Chevy Impala LT. If car battery goes dead and you put the key in the ignition you can't take the key out until you put a new battery in the car.
 
Bought a 2015 GMC 2500HD Pick up. Boy everything is controlled by the computer. Watch out for a bad compass module, have had 2 bad ones in first 2500 mi. Thank goodness for warranty.
 
Gene, the cars with the tpms system have a sender attached to the back side of each valve stem. They do have built in batteries. Napa sells the replacement units. You need to break down the tire to install and rebalance the tire.
 
WOW.I had no idea there was so much electronic BS/garbage on newer vehicles.Makes my old 'junk' look way more attractive.Like my old '70. Points.Thats it. My 'new' 92 has EFI and HEI. Thats enough...
 
Geez, Glennster - Thanks for the update.
Prolly won't be able to sleep tonight.
Glad I have you on speed dial!
Yer phreind,
Jim
 
Honking the horn when you lock up your car lets the thieves know there may be something worth while in that vehicle.
 
Well, guess I'm the odd one out. I love the keyless start on my car. Wish I could have had it on my truck and the house door too. Put the fob in your pocket, walk up to the car and the door unlocks, walk away and it locks after a selectable time. Never have to search for the thing ----- unless I want to start it up while I'm still in the house. Car does have a slot for the fob if necessary and the fob contains a key for the driver's door. Replaced the battery twice in 5 years, but it may also not have helped that the fob got washed with the jeans twice! Still works though. Most vehicles you can select whether it honks or not when you lock it. Mine is set to silent. Probably will come a day when I curse the thing, but for now, think it's one of the best things to come along yet. MK
 

You may be a proud owner...

This battery is part of the Valve-stem and is located inside the rim, below the Valve-stem, so the tire must be removed to get to it...
At that point, you may change the battery or replace the entire valve-stem assembly...

Ron..
 
How long do you have to physically swap out the battery before the FOB goes completely dead and the car's 'puter won't recognize it?
 
Good to hear, but that takes reading the OP manual ;-)

I wondered if Ford has something like that, because my 2010 Toyota Has a metal key in the fob to open the door manually,if the fob battery goes dead, plus the car can be started with a dead fob battery by touching the fob to the in dash power button as you push it.

Toyota also has an in dash warning display that flashes "Low fob battery" for months before it is actually low enough to quit working. Replacement battery for Honda or Toyota fobs run about $2 at interstate battery stores.
 
Read your operators manual Jay. It tells you how to de activate that automatic lock / unlock by just pushing the correct button sequence. You can set it up to work 10 different ways, lock but not unlock, unlock but not lock, lock or unlock only with the fob or many more ways. Its all in the book. and easy to do.
I set mine(11 F150) to lock / unlock only with the fob in a few minutes
 
A bunch of the newer cars don't even require you to take your keys out of your pocket, it will sense that you are close and a sensor or maybe button on the handle is all you need to unlock and get in.

Do we need to start talking about the crash avoidance systems, with proximity sensors and actual radar systems. Or adaptive speed control that slows down and resumes by itself if needed. Or blind spot monitoring systems that give warnings before you hit something, Or cars that can actually park themselves (even parallel). What about the ones that automatically call 911 when air bags deploy in an accident.

Many nice features when they work, that can be disastrous and very expensive when they fail, might even render the car useless or un-repairable. A lot of these essential parts will become obsolete in 10-15 years.
 
On my 2010 Toyota, it flashes a "fob battery low" for at least a couple of months before it is too dead to operate the car. No excuse, they were warned.
Plus the Toyota has a metal key in a slot in the side of the fob that will open the doors. Also a fob with a totally dead, or even without a fob battery installed, will start the car by touching the fob to the start button as you push it.
 
Im assuming its keyless start, but anyways, in the console or glovebox, there a port to plug the fob into to start it in a situation like that. Apparently, the owner didn't read his owners manual.
 
I think the auto companies should offer a "retro" or 'throwback" sub model pickup with none of the fancy electronics and comforts. Crank windows, rubber floors, manual trans, lever operated 4x4, etc. I think farmers , work truck buyers, fleet , municipalities and old school guys would eat it up.
 
(quoted from post at 01:59:51 02/26/15) A bunch of the newer cars don't even require you to take your keys out of your pocket, it will sense that you are close and a sensor or maybe button on the handle is all you need to unlock and get in.

Do we need to start talking about the crash avoidance systems, with proximity sensors and actual radar systems. Or adaptive speed control that slows down and resumes by itself if needed. Or blind spot monitoring systems that give warnings before you hit something, ......
Many nice features when they work, that can be disastrous and very expensive when they fail, might even render the car useless or un-repairable. A lot of these essential parts will become obsolete in 10-15 years.
Click to expand...

Yup, it's getting worse each model year. Guy at work has a new Ford (Focus?) that has the "Driver Assist" package. Has cameras by the rear-view mirror that detect if he is getting out of his lane. He changed lanes the other day without using his turn signal and it complained. As he drifted over, the steering wheel was fighting him. It kept getting worse and started shaking. It has even suggested that he pull over and have a cup of coffee. This is way too much intrusion into my life from a "car".

I remember my first introduction (2001 or so?)into the constantly changing key technology. I had bought a new Pontiac and went and got spare keys made. Put one in the ignition, turned it and started the car which immediately died. Come to find out there was a chip in the key and could only get a spare from the dealer. Now, if you lose a key (or Fob) it's usually a $200-300 problem.
 
My 2012 Nissan Altima has a key fob. I hate the thing. It's always in my pants pocket in the laundry. My battery last about 6 months to a year, but I leave it in the car quite a bit so it must be constantly sending a bluetooth type signal.

It has a key built in that slides out to open the doors and it has a slot in the dash to stick the fob in when the battery dies. Like others, my instrument panel flashes a low battery light when it is time to replace it.

Has anyone started the car with the fob and drove it without it? Will it run until you shut it off or will it die after a certain amount of time? I have been aiming to test it to see what it does.
 
(quoted from post at 14:44:57 02/27/15)
Has anyone started the car with the fob and drove it without it? Will it run until you shut it off or will it die after a certain amount of time? I have been aiming to test it to see what it does.
Click to expand...

My Nissan won't let me drive off w/o the fob on me. IIRC, it won't move out of Park.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Pete-IN
Keyless Ignition
2 3
Replies
41
Views
4K
BarnyardEngineering
BarnyardEngineering
I
Elec Club Car Gold Cart-rather long
Replies
9
Views
664
Britman
B
D
Weird truck electrical issue
2
Replies
20
Views
1K
710ltd2002
710ltd2002
Goose
A tip for all...
Replies
16
Views
1K
farmersamm
F
L
Battery Cable sizing... placing a bet
Replies
17
Views
1K
HFJ
H
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top