How Long Should The Battery In A D4 Smartkey Fob Last?

[Celtoid]

My D4 is an Aug 2009 build...I believe one of the first to come to Oz, around October 2009. Both Fobs have gone flat in that timeframe.

Is that normal?

I don't have an HSE or the initiation-less entry option that is available...just the standard press the button, doors open..."oh hello, I see the Smartkey" function.

Ideas anybody...is this a warranty issue?

Cheers,

Kev.

[stig0000]

warrenty??? for a $1.50 battery,,, batterys go flat,

tecnicly yes but worth the effert,, no,

they "state" 16 yrs battery life, but that is the battery maker,, so should realy take it up with them tecnicly,?

[101RRS]

Have they taken the auto charge facility out of the D4s. In my RRS, D3 equivalent the fob batteries are rechargeable and are charged by the car when the key is in the ignition so like all rechargeable batteries should be good for over 1000 recharges.

Garry

[jonesy63]

Have they taken the auto charge facility out of the D4s. In my RRS, D3 equivalent the fob batteries are rechargeable and are charged by the car when the key is in the ignition so like all rechargeable batteries should be good for over 1000 recharges.

Garry
Gary - yes, the D4 has a start/stop button, so the keys don't get charged like in the D3.

[Celtoid]

Gary - yes, the D4 has a start/stop button, so the keys don't get charged like in the D3.

Which is part of the problem, cause the fob constantly 'talks' to the car.

The one I used all the time went flat in about 14 months and the spare went flat only a few months after I started using it.

To Stig0000's point.....I didn't realise anything on a LR was that cheap.....LOL!!!! :)

Also being 'new', I've never attempted pulling the fob apart....so figured it would need a unique (read money-making) LR tool...I know....cynical....LOL!!!!

However, less than 2 years versus 16........might just make that phone call!

Knowing my luck, I'd change it....start having all sorts of issues with the car and LR will say, "too bad dude, you blew the warranty" :mad:

Thanks for the input.

Cheers,

Kev.

[stig0000]

Youl be rite mate... just simply change the bat... theres nothing you can stuff up...

But 2 yrs sounds about right... even less if you got keyless entry...

[elsey]

My D4 is abt 18 months old, the spare key that my wife carries and has only used a couple of times went flat last month where as the one that I use all of the time is still working fine.

$3.00 something for a pack of two, I changed the flat one and I now keep the spare one in the Disco. Even if you could claim it on warranty it really is not worth the trip to the dealer or the phone call to try and have it replaced.

Lou...

[Celtoid]

My D4 is abt 18 months old, the spare key that my wife carries and has only used a couple of times went flat last month where as the one that I use all of the time is still working fine.

$3.00 something for a pack of two, I changed the flat one and I now keep the spare one in the Disco. Even if you could claim it on warranty it really is not worth the trip to the dealer or the phone call to try and have it replaced.

Lou...

Don't you think they'll wash my car while it's there....That's worth the trip....LOL!!! :)

I loved the way my last one went from "Battery Low" to "smart key not found" inside one hour.....when I was two hours in, on a four hour trip. It just topped what had been a dismal week-long camping trip, with my son breaking his elbow and shattering his wrist on day two. Thank god I was actually driving back to Brisbane when the key went flat....would have been interesting if it had happened on the way to camping, at the start of the week.....:mad:

Great idea keeping the spare in the glovebox.

Anyway, I digress.....

Flea-bay for the batteries or off LR?

And the million dollar question....how do you actually change them.....am I gonna have to read the handbook? ;)

Thanks,

Kev.

[PAT303]

Are they still Panasonic?,if so save yourself some greef and buy that type only. Pat

[stig0000]

il try me best over the net, hold the key with buttons facing you, pull the top of the key ( silver bit) to the right and let it slide out( this is to get the blade side out), then there is a lil black trim then the left side silver bit,, push this black bit down and at the same time pull the left silver trim, it is alot harder to unclip then the right side, once you brake ur nail and the trim is haning, down near the hing is a lil black cap, pull this and htere is your battery, i hope this makes sence:D:D

[jonesy63]

I loved the way my last one went from "Battery Low" to "smart key not found" inside one hour.

Hey Kev - that makes the idea of having a fresh spare keyfob battery in the glovebox really important before heading to the outback!

[Pedro_The_Swift]

can you still get in the car if the battery is flat?

just thinking about keeping the spare inside the car---;)

[Celtoid]

il try me best over the net, hold the key with buttons facing you, pull the top of the key ( silver bit) to the right and let it slide out( this is to get the blade side out), then there is a lil black trim then the left side silver bit,, push this black bit down and at the same time pull the left silver trim, it is alot harder to unclip then the right side, once you brake ur nail and the trim is haning, down near the hing is a lil black cap, pull this and htere is your battery, i hope this makes sence:D:D

Yeah mate, perfect sense. I was fiddling with the fob today and figured that it had to be something to do with splitting the other side of the case.....but was a bit reluctant to apply too much force.

I'll give it a crack....I'm now guessing the batteries are COTS....get them anywhere?

Cheers mate.

Kev.

[Celtoid]

Hey Kev - that makes the idea of having a fresh spare keyfob battery in the glovebox really important before heading to the outback!

Yup sure does.

Trap for young players....like myself. I was thinking how much a screw-up it would be to be in the middle of nowhere and get a flat battery.

I assumed you'd get a week or so warning....I assumed wrong.

Cheers,

Kev.

[Celtoid]

can you still get in the car if the battery is flat?

just thinking about keeping the spare inside the car---;)


Yeah mate, you can. The 'blade' that Stig0000 is talking about, is a manual key.

Cheers,

Kev.

[stig0000]

Yeah mate, you can. The 'blade' that Stig0000 is talking about, is a manual key.

Cheers,

Kev.

and to start with a dead key,, under the steering colem on the right top side youl feel 3/4 lines,, put the key there with buttons down and BAM she starts,,

[roamer]

Yeah, but Nick would the alarm be screaming till you got the battery in.
and would the alarm stop if you used that spot under the steering wheel ?


Cheers Ken

[stig0000]

it gose off, and once the car starts it stops,, iv tryed it with no battery at all in the key,

[Celtoid]

it gose off, and once the car starts it stops,, iv tryed it with no battery at all in the key,

What the.....no battery in the key fob?.....it must still have been holding some charge, otherwise what would be the point of the security system. How would the car 'know' that there is a fob there...the right fob for that car?

I imagine there is something still held within the fob, like mobile phones and PCs show accurate time when switched on, even after the battery/power has been removed.....the reason you can change the battery and not have to re-code the car.

That's my punt anyway....LOL!!!!

[bbyer]

Yeah mate, perfect sense. I was fiddling with the fob today and figured that it had to be something to do with splitting the other side of the case.....but was a bit reluctant to apply too much force.
I'll give it a crack....I'm now guessing the batteries are COTS....get them anywhere? Cheers mate. Kev.

Re the "real" key set up for the D4, as it still looks like a D3 key but with an old style replaceable battery, I wonder if one can order a D4 key from Land Rover and have them code it for a D3?

If so, this would solve the problem of the rechargeable battery circuit failing by eliminating the requirement for a rechargeable battery. It just seems to me that if we can un complicate some of the D3 systems, maybe a guy could get at least 15 years out of the vehicle.

These vehicles are getting too much like a cell phone - when it quits, you throw it away.

[PAT303]

Or they could do the L322 thing and have a small flat plain emergency key that you keep in your wallet to start the vehicle. Pat

[roamer]

Or they could do the L322 thing and have a small flat plain emergency key that you keep in your wallet to start the vehicle. Pat



Trouble with that Pat is there is no keyhole to put it into.

[PAT303]

Well that could be an issue!!. Pat

[stig0000]

Or they could do the L322 thing and have a small flat plain emergency key that you keep in your wallet to start the vehicle. Pat

you cant start a LM with just the plastic key, ;) u at least need the real key next to the barrel