Key FOB battery?

[chow]

Hey guys,

I've had my AC for a year and a half now and the key fob batteries are dying. The dashboard indicates that I have 25% of my battery life left. I was wondering what battery and where do I pry the key fob to open it up/replace the battery?

Thanks

[dl_yeunuoc]

CR2032 for the battery

[08Coupe]

Pull out the spare key and use a small flat head screwdriver to split the remote in half, then replace the CR2032 battery (I got mine at radio shack $4.99)...Then snap back together.

[tommytheduck]

Anyone think it's BS how quick the battery dies? Mine is giving the same indication after only 9 months of ownership. I had a MB for 6 years and that battery never died. Unfortunately, that was the most reliable part of the car...

Oh yeah, and the Bluetooth connectivity stopped working. That's not a function of the keyfob is it? I don't think so, maybe a coincidence.

[adidas2go]

I would have your bluetooth reciever checked out. I think the key is bluetooth too. Or maybe radio frequency? I'm not sure

[generic808]

Well, the OP is located in Toronto so I'm sure the cold had something to do with the short battery life. Something to consider would be if the FOB was left out in the cold for an extended period of time. My car is 1.5 years old and my daily FOB is still going strong. I just shipped my car from Hawaii to Seattle and it was sitting at the dock in 20 degree weather for 2 weeks with the spare on the dashboard, and when I picked it up, the battery was dead but my daily FOB is functioning perfectly.

Just something to consider.

[rabbitz]

yea i just got the warning yesterday too... had my car for about 4 months only.. didnt know the battery would run out that fast

[hangtime23]

yea i just got the warning yesterday too... had my car for about 4 months only.. didnt know the battery would run out that fast

so I had my primary key fob battery give the warning about a month ago, so I switched to my backup key fob (which I have never used before). Now, just one month later, I'm getting the low battery warning again? What's up with that, does the battery leak its charge over time or something?

[spockrock]

I have my coupe for over a year and I have not had to change the batteries on either fob for over a year.

[rjdmmfl1]

Well, the OP is located in Toronto so I'm sure the cold had something to do with the short battery life. Something to consider would be if the FOB was left out in the cold for an extended period of time. My car is 1.5 years old and my daily FOB is still going strong. I just shipped my car from Hawaii to Seattle and it was sitting at the dock in 20 degree weather for 2 weeks with the spare on the dashboard, and when I picked it up, the battery was dead but my daily FOB is functioning perfectly.

Just something to consider.

when did you pop back in Generic..

Yeah, my wife's car just hit the 1.5 year mark, and its time to change her battery!

[hangtime23]

when did you pop back in Generic..

Yeah, my wife's car just hit the 1.5 year mark, and its time to change her battery!

I'm at about the 1.5 year mark now too...so I guess it's about the right time for the primary key fob battery to be replaced. But what doesn't make sense to me is that my secondary key fob died so quickly when it's never been used before.

[rjdmmfl1]

I'm at about the 1.5 year mark now too...so I guess it's about the right time for the primary key fob battery to be replaced. But what doesn't make sense to me is that my secondary key fob died so quickly when it's never been used before.

to understand this, you must think about discharge and the way a battery works... in the same device, it is not unheard of for betteries to last longer under conditions of "slight use" vs "non use"

of course this doesn't apply to things like digital cameras that gobble up power the secoind they are turned on!

[LongBeachCoupe]

so I had my primary key fob battery give the warning about a month ago, so I switched to my backup key fob (which I have never used before). Now, just one month later, I'm getting the low battery warning again? What's up with that, does the battery leak its charge over time or something?

Same thing happend to me... when i saw this thread pop up again today, i figured i should go to radioshack... $6.49 for the damn battery... Easy as cake to install... anyone want a custom title should do a detailed writeup!

Im punching myself in the leg till i cant feel it anymore... a quick ebay search yields results of TWENTY packs... DELIVERED from a USA seller for $5!

[motaman]

Anyone think it's BS how quick the battery dies? Mine is giving the same indication after only 9 months of ownership. I had a MB for 6 years and that battery never died.

Our key fobs are different from most...remember they are i-keys.

They are constantly transmitting a low-power radio signal; this is how the car knows it is you (or someone with your fob) trying to open your trunk, unlock your door, or start the engine. It is a much lower level signal than, say, pushing the unlock button - look at the difference in range - but it is a draw on the battery 24/7.

Key fobs that are not i-keys only transmit when a button is pressed. My Silverado key fobs have the batteries in them from over six years ago, and both of them still work fine.

There is also the tendency for buttons on our fobs to get pressed while the fob is in one's pocket (or possibly purse - I don't know for sure on this one). The buttons are not recessed at all. How many times has your panic alarm gone off or your doors locked while you were vacuuming your car or something? If you are sitting at your desk or dinner table or whatever, what is the chance you are holding the unlock button down inside your pocket, draining the fob battery?

[hangtime23]

Same thing happend to me... when i saw this thread pop up again today, i figured i should go to radioshack... $6.49 for the damn battery... Easy as cake to install... anyone want a custom title should do a detailed writeup!

Im punching myself in the leg till i cant feel it anymore... a quick ebay search yields results of TWENTY packs... DELIVERED from a USA seller for $5!

Here's an even better deal on the batteries - $3.67 for a pack of 20 shipped!!!http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.751

[JBRO69]

I guess I'm confused because the battery is rechargeable. When I get the message that the battery is low I just stick it in the key holder in to the left of the wheel and the charge symbol goes away. Are people saying that it is no longer re-charging?

[phobs]

The key port does not recharge the battery. It's sole purpose is to allow you to start your engine when your key fob is almost dead of battery. When your battery is low, replace it!

[LongBeachCoupe]

Here's an even better deal on the batteries - $3.67 for a pack of 20 shipped!!!http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.751

Please note that DealExtreme comes from ASIA and takes 2 weeks, and isnt the highest quality stuff (although i buy lots of stuff from them lol)...

The EBAY auctions are from US sellers

[hangtime23]

Please note that DealExtreme comes from ASIA and takes 2 weeks, and isnt the highest quality stuff (although i buy lots of stuff from them lol)...

The EBAY auctions are from US sellers

The only thing about the ebay auctions is it looks like they don't ship to Canada...or at least they don't mention anything about shipping to Canada, so dealextreme may be a better option for us Canadians.

[JBRO69]

The key port does not recharge the battery. It's sole purpose is to allow you to start your engine when your key fob is almost dead of battery. When your battery is low, replace it!

Then I guess mine is recharging by magic. I was told today it uses inductive charging. No physical contacts. My guess is that inductive charging is quite slow so most people are probably giving up trying to recharge it after trying it on a short drive.

[LinkNuc]

Mine crapped the bed too about 18 months. Walmart has 2 Rayovac Lithium for 4.37 + tax

[BlackNWhite]

Then I guess mine is recharging by magic. I was told today it uses inductive charging. No physical contacts. My guess is that inductive charging is quite slow so most people are probably giving up trying to recharge it after trying it on a short drive.

No... IT DOESN'T CHARGE. Read the manual, it specifically states it in there, IT DOESN'T CHARGE.

[JBRO69]

No... IT DOESN'T CHARGE. Read the manual, it specifically states it in there, IT DOESN'T CHARGE.

Why read the manual when I have access to the engineers and techs at the Nissan Technical Center in Farmington Hills Michigan? That and I've had a D42A coupe (Altima Coupe to you guys) since it first went into production in Smyrna (I was there for the launch) in July of 07. Mine is recharging after a year and half and hasn't needed a battery change.

Granted, the manual does tell you how to change the battery and that it doesn't recharge in the port. This was most likely carryover text from the Altima Sedan (L42A 4 door) and wasn't updated in time for the coupe. Either that, or Nissan wants you to buy batteries from them.

Bottom line is, mine is recharging. No question about it. The low battery indicator has come on and I've placed the key fob into the slot in the dash and the low charge indicator doesn't come on next time. I didn't specifically ask, but perhaps this was part of the tech package upgrade only. Try it yourself.


Modified by JBRO69 at 5:14 PM 1/25/2009

[Ferguson]

This WOULD be magic then... CR2032 batteries are not rechargeable.

[Viper5000]

[LinkNuc]

Wow, I think your Nissan buddies are pulling one over on you. But Ferguson, they do make rechargable button cells now...including the CR2032

http://www.onlybatteries.com/s...14676

I agree with this

Inductive charging...I almost fell out of my chair! If this is true please take a pic of your FOB slot's inside I have to see this!

[JBRO69]

Inductive charging...I almost fell out of my chair! If this is true please take a pic of your FOB slot's inside I have to see this!

If you thought that was strange then check this out:

http://www.free-press-release.....html

I have no desire to go out into the dark Michigan winter night to take you a picture of the slot. But bear in mind that inductive charging is used in things like toothbrushes and electric razors already. There are are no contacts in the slots, thus they are water proof and avoid the chance of electrical shock.

Also, Nissan engineers don't have a sense of humor (at least with us Americans)

[LinkNuc]

I'm not disputing that inductive charging exists. Just not in the A/C. And I just replaced my fob battery Friday it is NOT a rechargable battery, it is a plain old Panasonic CR2032 made in Indonesia. Want to solve this quick, pop open your fob and look at the battery...then let us know if you still think that the A/C is recharging you fob/.

[phobs]

I stuck my electric toothbrush in the slot and it started to charge and the low charge indicator went away!

[JBRO69]

Yes, interesting. Why isn't my battery dead yet? But . . . two separate dealers told me the same thing, the key fob is rechargeable and it hasn't died after 18 months. Perhaps it's due.

As for the engineers at Nissan this gives me good ammo to go back to them and ask what they are talking about. I've been checking out inductive charging tonight and I'm kinda hooked on the subject right now. New to me and I love new. Perhaps the guy is confused with all the projects he's been working on and let a new feature slip. I'll get back with them and report back (if I'm allowed per my confidentially agreement).