Keyless entry doesn't like the cold

[Ross Johnson]

Currenty travelling around tasmania and have been having trouble with keyless entry. Evenings and mornings doesnt want to work. Thought it might be battery but seems to be problem with both keys. Wondering if it might be the cold. Its bloody chilly down here. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[Ratbag]

Gidday Ross

Currenty travelling around tasmania and have been having trouble with keyless entry. Evenings and mornings doesnt want to work. Thought it might be battery but seems to be problem with both keys. Wondering if it might be the cold. Its bloody chilly down here. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Does it improve if you pre-warm the key by holding it in your hand for a bit?

Camera batteries do this when it gets very cold. The older (and colder ... ) the battery, the more the effect.

Apparently, you can just put a fresh battery into the key without the need for re-programming (according to my Fox owner's manual). I would suggest doing this one key at a time ...

Depending on usage, it is possible that the battery is just approaching its use-by date. Quite coincidentally in both keys.

I have three chipped keys (SWMBO has one, I have one, and the third lives in my camera bag), plus one un-chipped key in a Key-tainer on the car so that I can open the car if I ever manage to lock the car with my keys in it. Seems to be pretty near impossible to do, AFAICT.

BTW, that key-tainer has hung on through some very serious off-roading.

Be thankful you don't own a Camry. There is no provision at all to change the battery. The key is glued/welded shut ...

 

[mr turbo]

Does it improve if you pre-warm the key by holding it in your hand for a bit?

Apparently, you can just put a fresh battery into the key without the need for re-programming (according to my Fox owner's manual). I would suggest doing this one key at a time ...

Depending on usage, it is possible that the battery is just approaching its use-by date. Quite coincidentally in both keys.

I found the hand warming on my key (MY05) worked to a certain degree.

I also found that the more you use the key, the longer the battery will last on them. Yes it's strange, but true. So it could just be a coincidence that they have both gone at the same time.

I'd agree with Ratbag, with the changing of the battery, do just the one & see how it goes.
And changing the battery is very easy too, just take the old one out, put a new one in & you're right to go. No re-programming is needed.

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[Kevin]

Yes, it's the cold & I have experienced this problem when in the snow. A member from another forum found that replacing with the original battery brand supplied by Subaru worked well - Panasonic CR1620