electronic key operating voltage ...

Jan 28, 2016 31 Replies

My car's key takes a 2032 lithium battery. These keys are awesome: Never take the keys out of your pocket, either to open the door or to start the car.



After > half-decade of operation, suddenly without warning it stopped operating, whoa how to get stranded! Heck, I didn't even realize that my RFID required a battery!



OK, yes with its long range that should have been clear. Interesting factoid, the "dead" cell's voltage, 2.6 volts. The new 2032 cell, 3.28 volts.



Thanks, - Win

Usually, they have a mechanical key for backup. For instance, the CAR's battery could also get run down, then the remote entry wouldn't work, either.

The immobilizer is generally powered by the car's computer, and doesn't need the remote's battery to function. It just needs the remote fob to be within range of the antenna, usually on the side of the steering column.

Jon

On 28 Jan 2016 13:17:43 -0800, Winfield Hill Gave us:

That is the difference between active and passive RFID implementations.

Right, Jon, there's a little slot there for it. Dead batteries have to be immediately replaced, because otherwise you revert to the dark ages of pulling your keys out of your pocket. :-)

Thanks, - Win

Mine is good for most of a city block, but it still works mechanically if the electronics is dead.

I was loading my skis into the car and slipped and fell on ice. I couldn't find the key for the longest time; I'd smashed it into the ice with my bod, so the key was hidden in water under the ice. The water killed the electronics! Imagine making a car key that's not waterproof. It cost about $300 to buy a new key and reprogram *all* of my extra keys.

Sometimes I hate technology.

I always carry a spare valet key. This damned Audi will lock you out if you turn your back on it.

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc picosecond timing precision measurement jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com http://www.highlandtechnology.com

Mine (GM) fell into a bucket of soapy water. Quick rinse under the faucet, slosh in IPA, blow dry, pop it open to see how wet it was (get the battery out NOW!). Dry inside. All gasketed with a rubber thinger between the buttons and the switches.

Grizzly H.

my Jeep has a keyless entry. The emergency key works only for the door.. To operate the jeep with a dead FOB cell, I need to pop the lid of the push button where as there is an empty hole behind it that you insert your FOB, not the key but the FOB it self and actually turn it.

It's not a real key tumbler by any means but it works.

P.S. The emergency key needs to be reinserted in the FOB before that option works.

I normally replace my cells in both keys every 6 months.

Jamie

Here's another way: wife drives the 2 of you with her fob in her purse, she gets out without turning the engine off & you drive away. You get where you're going & turn the engine off. Except that you don't have your fob with you.

And you just parked in a tow-away zone 'cause you were only going to be a minute.

Bob

On Thu, 28 Jan 2016 19:21:26 -0500, Bob Engelhardt Gave us:

Call your own tow truck... real quick like.

It seems like they made a good business decision there.

Just like making "immobilizers" that don't really work against actual thieves, so they get to sell you another car when it gets stolen.

Oh, well, you need a tow truck anyway! Just get them to stop a your place instead of theirs.

\_(?)_

there are cars that won't necessarily unlock without 12v battery power. Great design.

NT

On 29 Jan 2016 10:10:52 GMT, Jasen Betts Gave us:

No, idiot. The truck "they" call costs hundreds of dollars. If you call the truck and merely get a short tow to a legal spot, it is a lot less costly.

On Fri, 29 Jan 2016 03:27:52 -0800 (PST), snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com Gave us:

Wouldn't matter since they will not start with a dead battery either.

It certainly does matter! It means you can't get into the vehicle any way at all, and can't access the battery any way at all. Think about that.

NT

y at all, and can't access the battery any way at all. Think >about that. "

Actually there is always a way to get under the hood by sticking your arm u p in there and manually working the hod release cable or whatever it is att ached to. there is also always a way to get into the car without breaking a window, but that requires a kit and instruction book as the methods and to ols vary from model to model. Usually guys who drive towtrucks for like AAA have these.

Regardless, you yourself is still f***ed. Even if you have the kit to get i nto your car, where is it ? In the trunk ? Hell, I have seen SUVs now with hatches that open electrically. That is stupid.

Give me a 1970 Olds, f*ck all this s*it.

They should make it warn of lo-batt, like the smoke detectors, except it honks the vehicle horn, that will get your attention.

My key died after 9 years. I thought that was pretty good, until I found that it was impossible to undo the Phillips screw holding it together after all that time.

Jeff

Can you explain? Since the immobilizer prevents the car from starting without a recognized chip within range, how do thieves steal such a car? The only ways I can think of is a tow truck, or a spare engine computer.

Jon

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