When to replace fob battery?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 176
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From: Princeton NJ
When to replace fob battery?
It seems that my primary fob battery is getting a bit weak after replacing it only a year ago. I decided to use fob #2 until I got a new battery. #2 didn't work at all. I couldn't even open the door. Both batteries are about one year old. I'll get new batteries but my question is, how often should the fob batteries be replaced? Is it normal that they'd only last one year?
Thanks
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
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From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
No, one year or less is not typical. GM says they should last about 3 years. I got 4 years on the previous ones I had.
It's possible that you got some old or bad batteries. Another possibility is that your fob has something depressed inside of it that's holding a circuit all the time.
It's possible that you got some old or bad batteries. Another possibility is that your fob has something depressed inside of it that's holding a circuit all the time.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,026
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Most people seem to get long life from their fob batteries, but not me.
We drive the car a lot, ~15k miles/year.
It's set for passive locking, so every time I need to get something out of the car in the garage, it takes a fob signal (passive unlocking for me) to open the door.
I've never got a full year from a fob battery, whatever the brand. More typical is 6 months, and sometimes only 4 months.
For me, the warning is when I start to get an occasional "No Fob Detected" when trying to start or shut down, or passive unlocking starts glitching and I need to use the actual Unlock button on the fob. So I replace the battery and get on with life.
We drive the car a lot, ~15k miles/year.
It's set for passive locking, so every time I need to get something out of the car in the garage, it takes a fob signal (passive unlocking for me) to open the door.
I've never got a full year from a fob battery, whatever the brand. More typical is 6 months, and sometimes only 4 months.
For me, the warning is when I start to get an occasional "No Fob Detected" when trying to start or shut down, or passive unlocking starts glitching and I need to use the actual Unlock button on the fob. So I replace the battery and get on with life.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Most people seem to get long life from their fob batteries, but not me.
We drive the car a lot, ~15k miles/year.
It's set for passive locking, so every time I need to get something out of the car in the garage, it takes a fob signal (passive unlocking for me) to open the door.
I've never got a full year from a fob battery, whatever the brand. More typical is 6 months, and sometimes only 4 months.
For me, the warning is when I start to get an occasional "No Fob Detected" when trying to start or shut down, or passive unlocking starts glitching and I need to use the actual Unlock button on the fob. So I replace the battery and get on with life.
We drive the car a lot, ~15k miles/year.
It's set for passive locking, so every time I need to get something out of the car in the garage, it takes a fob signal (passive unlocking for me) to open the door.
I've never got a full year from a fob battery, whatever the brand. More typical is 6 months, and sometimes only 4 months.
For me, the warning is when I start to get an occasional "No Fob Detected" when trying to start or shut down, or passive unlocking starts glitching and I need to use the actual Unlock button on the fob. So I replace the battery and get on with life.
With passive locking, your fob only has to be close to the door handle to allow your pull on the door handle to do the unlocking of the door.
"No fob detected" can come from strong external electronic signals near your car from exterior nearby sources.
But batteries are cheap enough, so that's a good reason not to pursue the issue if you don't want to.
Up until about a year ago, I was driving my DD C6 about 8K miles a year. Shouldn't be that much difference in how long the fob batteries last. My car stays locked when I'm not driving it.
Last edited by Vette_DD; Aug 25, 2015 at 09:38 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 141
Mine are still working flawlessly after 2 and half years so far.
The batteries in my previous 2004 GTO were still working perfectly when I sold it and those were 8~9 years old. (no passive locking/unlocking though) and those for some reason GM decided to go with soldered in batteries that were supposedly non user replaceable .
More like, when they start giving you problems.
The batteries in my previous 2004 GTO were still working perfectly when I sold it and those were 8~9 years old. (no passive locking/unlocking though) and those for some reason GM decided to go with soldered in batteries that were supposedly non user replaceable .
More like, when they start giving you problems.
Last edited by Grimlock13; Aug 25, 2015 at 04:14 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,667
Likes: 159
My FOB batteries have never been replaced, and it has been a 7 days a week daily driver since February 2011.
I will replace them when I start having issues either entering or starting the car, I have a couple available, because I know I am on borrowed time.
I will replace them when I start having issues either entering or starting the car, I have a couple available, because I know I am on borrowed time.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
You've either got something wrong with the fob or something is pressing on your fob when you're not really using it.
"No fob detected" can come from strong external electronic signals near your car from exterior nearby sources.
But batteries are cheap enough, so that's a good reason not to pursue the issue if you don't want to.
With passive locking, your fob only has to be close to the door handle to allow your pull on the door handle to do the unlocking of the door.
Up until about a year ago, I was driving my DD C6 about 8K miles a year. Shouldn't be that much difference in how long the fob batteries last. My car stays locked when I'm not driving it.
"No fob detected" can come from strong external electronic signals near your car from exterior nearby sources.
But batteries are cheap enough, so that's a good reason not to pursue the issue if you don't want to.
With passive locking, your fob only has to be close to the door handle to allow your pull on the door handle to do the unlocking of the door.
Up until about a year ago, I was driving my DD C6 about 8K miles a year. Shouldn't be that much difference in how long the fob batteries last. My car stays locked when I'm not driving it.
My "problem" happens in any location, even with the fob removed from my pocket, so it doesn't seem to be an interference issue. I also have covered the buttons on my fob with stiff plastic, to prevent accidental button pushing which is annoying and does indeed drain the battery.
"Passive" locking and unlocking aren't quite as passive as most people think, they still hit the fob with a signal. When you walk up to the locked car and press the door tab, the car then sends a signal "is there a correct fob nearby?" The fob must respond "Yes" before the car will unlock.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 106
From: Newburgh,IN
I have yet to meet a battery of any kind that did not start out strong, eventually get weak and create problems, and then go **** up at a very inopportune time. Trying to figure out when the darn things are going to die is futile speculation at best.
Ergo, I replace those dinky, cheap fob batteries every two years and live problem free.
As for the car's battery, after three years of blissful service I keep an eye open for any sign of weakness and use my battery tester as required. Once I notice any sign of weakness, that sucker is history. Out with the old and in with a new one. The last thing I try to do is milk the life out of those things. It simply isn't worth it to me to be left stuck somewhere with a dead battery.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
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From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
"Passive" locking and unlocking aren't quite as passive as most people think, they still hit the fob with a signal. When you walk up to the locked car and press the door tab, the car then sends a signal "is there a correct fob nearby?" The fob must respond "Yes" before the car will unlock.
As I indicated, as cheap as fob batteries are, it would probably be easier just to go with the way things are.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,026
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 176
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From: Princeton NJ
Thanks!
thanks for all the quick replies and discussion. I guess I'll just buy some fresh batteries and not worry about it for another year. In the meantime I'll just keep driving this fabulous car. 😃
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
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https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 361
From: TX
You've probably done it before, but just in case, here's a DIY that may help if your fob is shaped like the one I have (2009).
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html
It helps if you leave it out in the sun for an hour to warm it up before you start trying to open it. Even under the best circumstances, you still have about a 50/50 chance of breaking it when you open it.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 77
From: Louisville KY
It seems that my primary fob battery is getting a bit weak after replacing it only a year ago. I decided to use fob #2 until I got a new battery. #2 didn't work at all. I couldn't even open the door. Both batteries are about one year old. I'll get new batteries but my question is, how often should the fob batteries be replaced? Is it normal that they'd only last one year?
Thanks
Thanks