« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: Battery-eating fob.  (Read 8130 times)

Offline Scaerio

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 11932
  • Carma: +193/-127
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2013 Volvo C30 T5; all my exes: 2005 Suzuki Aerio SE, '02 Renault Clio, '93 Volvo 850 GLT, '78 MB W-123 230
Battery-eating fob.
« on: April 16, 2018, 09:07:22 pm »
About 6 months ago I replaced the battery in the C30’s fob, and now it’s dead.   Has anyone else experienced this? 
« Last Edit: April 17, 2018, 01:05:21 am by Scaerio »
Logged
I'd rather be car-poor than house-poor...

Offline Ex-airbalancer

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 40151
  • Carma: +729/-1584
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2011 Silverado 1500 LTZ ext ended cab , 2013 Lexus RX-350 F Sport
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2018, 07:30:37 am »
Quote from: Scaerio on April 16, 2018, 09:07:22 pm
About 6 months ago I replaced the battery in the C30’s fob, and now it’s dead.   Has anyone else experienced this?
My trucks is almost 7 years old , never had a problem yet
Logged

Offline tortoise

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 14953
  • Carma: +235/-453
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2018, 09:12:59 am »
Fob eats batteries?  That explains a lot.
Logged
Only the slow and dim know where they're going in life, and seldom is it worth the trip. - Tom Robbins.

Offline sailor723

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 15583
  • Carma: +416/-1000
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: '17 BMW X5 Xdrive35i, '11 BMW 328iXdrive,
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2018, 10:29:40 am »
Well, I have noticed much shorter battery life on cars that have proximity keys but ours last longer than that.....maybe 18 months or so?
Logged
Old Jag convertible...one itch I won't have to scratch again.

Offline Fobroader

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 35364
  • Carma: +1423/-2113
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2022 Honda Ridgeline, 2021 Lexus GX460, 2018 Kawasaki Versys X300
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2018, 10:31:46 am »
Quote from: tortoise on April 17, 2018, 09:12:59 am
Fob eats batteries?  That explains a lot.

I prefer lead paint chips good sir  ;D
Logged
Lighten up Francis.....

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 28596
  • Carma: +1376/-1726
  • Gender: Male
  • Ramblin' man
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2017 KTM DUKE 390, 2019 VW Jetta GLI 35th Anniversary
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2018, 11:52:20 am »
^ :rofl2: :rofl2:
Logged
On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

H. L. Mencken

Online Gurgie

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 14236
  • Carma: +308/-516
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2019 Honda Passport Touring, 2006 SLK 55 AMG
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2018, 11:54:42 am »
Quote from: Fobroader on April 17, 2018, 10:31:46 am
Quote from: tortoise on April 17, 2018, 09:12:59 am
Fob eats batteries?  That explains a lot.

I prefer lead paint chips good sir  ;D
That can be arranged [emoji16]

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

Logged
You live everyday. You only die once....

Offline blur911

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 13621
  • Carma: +242/-779
  • Nasty Weasel
    • View Profile
  • Cars: and bikes by age:BMW, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki, Suzuki, Mazda, Jaguar, Kawasaki, Porsche, GMC, Suzuki
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2018, 12:48:51 pm »
I recently read an article somewhere, might have been here, about batteries in fobs dying because they were stored too closely to the vehicle and kept "talking" to it.
Stash them at the other end of the house and see
Logged
Mr Pickypants

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 28596
  • Carma: +1376/-1726
  • Gender: Male
  • Ramblin' man
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2017 KTM DUKE 390, 2019 VW Jetta GLI 35th Anniversary
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2018, 12:51:20 pm »
^ I've heard the same thing. It sounds plausible, at least.
Logged

Offline Fobroader

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 35364
  • Carma: +1423/-2113
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2022 Honda Ridgeline, 2021 Lexus GX460, 2018 Kawasaki Versys X300
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2018, 12:53:05 pm »
Someone said something about building a Faraday cage or something. Seems a bit overkill.
Logged

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 28596
  • Carma: +1376/-1726
  • Gender: Male
  • Ramblin' man
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2017 KTM DUKE 390, 2019 VW Jetta GLI 35th Anniversary
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2018, 01:01:55 pm »
A person could make a Faraday cage out of hardware cloth, but it'd be ugly to look at.

Keeping the keys in an old metal canister would be sufficient, I'd guess.
Logged

Online Gurgie

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 14236
  • Carma: +308/-516
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2019 Honda Passport Touring, 2006 SLK 55 AMG
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2018, 02:57:17 pm »
Scaerio lives in a condo, the key fob should be plenty far from the car itself, so I don't think it would be talking to the car thru all the layers of concrete. Maybe while it's in his pocket or murse the buttons are getting pushed on causing it to activate & then use the battery?

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

Logged

Offline tortoise

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 14953
  • Carma: +235/-453
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2018, 03:02:44 pm »
I'm going to go with an old/faulty battery.
Logged

Offline Noto

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 13563
  • Carma: +774/-2131
  • This forum is making me almost as bitter as SirO
    • View Profile
  • Cars: '23 Mazda CX-50 Turbo; '11 Fozzie XT
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #13 on: April 17, 2018, 03:15:44 pm »
Could be a faulty unit.

With one of the previous Mazda keys my MIL had, it chewed through batteries every few months on one of the two fobs.  We figured it's because we kept using it (and not the other - it was a backup), but then one day she swapped to the "backup" fob because the primary died and she didn't have time to replace the battery (she didn't get around to it for about a year and a half...).  The "backup" lasted the entire life of the lease (about 2.5 years).

I suspect the fob itself is culprit.  See if Volvo will honour any sort of warranty for it (doubt it), or swap to using a backup one if you have an additional.
Logged

Offline EV Dan

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 13653
  • Carma: +480/-383
    • View Profile
  • Cars: '21 Venzaurus
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #14 on: April 17, 2018, 03:16:46 pm »
Quote from: Scaerio on April 16, 2018, 09:07:22 pm
About 6 months ago I replaced the battery in the C30’s fob, and now it’s dead.   Has anyone else experienced this?

Did you get it at a dollar store by any chance?  ;) Because that's exactly how long their "button" batteries last. I prefer buying Energizer, Maxell or Duracel from MEC or else any big box store which carries these brands.
Logged
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach the man to fish and he wakes you up at 5 in the morning.

Offline Ex-airbalancer

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 40151
  • Carma: +729/-1584
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2011 Silverado 1500 LTZ ext ended cab , 2013 Lexus RX-350 F Sport
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #15 on: April 17, 2018, 03:18:46 pm »
Quote from: EV Dan on April 17, 2018, 03:16:46 pm
Quote from: Scaerio on April 16, 2018, 09:07:22 pm
About 6 months ago I replaced the battery in the C30’s fob, and now it’s dead.   Has anyone else experienced this?

Did you get it at a dollar store by any chance?  ;) Because that's exactly how long their "button" batteries last. I prefer buying Energizer, Maxell or Duracel from MEC or else any big box store which carries these brands.
Prince Auto batteries are pretty good
Logged

Offline rrocket

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 75728
  • Carma: +1253/-7197
    • View Profile
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #16 on: April 17, 2018, 03:56:46 pm »
Quote from: Sir Osis of Liver on April 17, 2018, 12:51:20 pm
^ I've heard the same thing. It sounds plausible, at least.
But what's that magical distance?

My keyless is a proximity key and activates the puddle lights as you approach. About a couple meters away. It would have to be pretty close IMO. And even then, it you don't unlock the car in X time, it deactivates.
Logged
How fast is my 911?  Supras sh*t on on me all the time...in reverse..with blown turbos  :( ...

Offline Scaerio

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 11932
  • Carma: +193/-127
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2013 Volvo C30 T5; all my exes: 2005 Suzuki Aerio SE, '02 Renault Clio, '93 Volvo 850 GLT, '78 MB W-123 230
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #17 on: April 17, 2018, 04:28:35 pm »
Quote from: Gurgie on April 17, 2018, 02:57:17 pm
Scaerio lives in a condo, the key fob should be plenty far from the car itself, so I don't think it would be talking to the car thru all the layers of concrete. Maybe while it's in his pocket or murse the buttons are getting pushed on causing it to activate & then use the battery?

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

I can open and lock the car from the 14th floor... 

Read something online about moisture getting in and possibly causing short circuit.  Also suggested a cleaning, plus the point about buttons being stuck.  THe other one is working fine for now, and is still on the battery I bought well over a year ago.

And kudos on the use of "murse" - you get bonus points for paying attention.  ;D
Logged

Online Gurgie

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 14236
  • Carma: +308/-516
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2019 Honda Passport Touring, 2006 SLK 55 AMG
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #18 on: April 17, 2018, 08:57:30 pm »
Quote from: Scaerio on April 17, 2018, 04:28:35 pm
Quote from: Gurgie on April 17, 2018, 02:57:17 pm
Scaerio lives in a condo, the key fob should be plenty far from the car itself, so I don't think it would be talking to the car thru all the layers of concrete. Maybe while it's in his pocket or murse the buttons are getting pushed on causing it to activate & then use the battery?

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

I can open and lock the car from the 14th floor... 

Read something online about moisture getting in and possibly causing short circuit.  Also suggested a cleaning, plus the point about buttons being stuck.  THe other one is working fine for now, and is still on the battery I bought well over a year ago.

And kudos on the use of "murse" - you get bonus points for paying attention.  ;D
I ain't no fool [emoji6]

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

Logged

Offline Noto

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 13563
  • Carma: +774/-2131
  • This forum is making me almost as bitter as SirO
    • View Profile
  • Cars: '23 Mazda CX-50 Turbo; '11 Fozzie XT
Re: Battery-eating fob.
« Reply #19 on: April 17, 2018, 09:50:45 pm »
Went completely over my head.  Definitely didn't read closely enough.

I do love the term though!!
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »