D3 Key problems.

[Disco-tastic]

One of our keys has started to have issues - it will sometimes unlock, then lock straight away. Sometimes it will unlock as normal, but then when you try to lock it the car thinks a doors open and beeps. Then when you open the car the alarm goes off.

The second key seems to work just fine.

I had thought it might be a low battery or a sticking button. Anyone else had this issue?

The keys are glued shut pretty well so it seems I will be breaking the case to take it apart. Any tips there?

Thanks

Dan

[vee8auto]

the symptoms sound erratic but just guessing I suspect they might be related to a failing battery. Best practice is to keep both keys regularly used in order to keep cycling the batteries.

Regardless, the battery might be at the end of its life. In which case a bit of open-heart surgery is required.

You can buy the replacement cases easily off ebay. I bought 2 and the best quality one came from the UK ebay.

There are a few how-to guides on YouTube, which I found helpful and also good info on Disco3.co.UK website.

My advice is to use a Dremel (style ) tool to cut it open, and to buy the Gel version of superglue, I think Loctite do a Gel version.

I cant recall which battery is used and its possibly a solder to the circuit board style.

[Disco-tastic]

Thanks vee8auto

It is the key that's used everyday, and I think the case (or at least the buttons) has been replaced once already.

Do you remember what battery they need? I'd like to get the case and battery together before I destroy the old case.

Cheers

Dan

[goofyr]

This is the battery you need, it needs to be soldered on. VL2330 Panasonic Rechargeable Button Coin Battery 3V 50mAh For Land Rover Range 4683812404332 | eBay (https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0'mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2 F292230776140)

[Disco-tastic]

Thanks goofyr

Just checked this key case and it comes with a battery too.

Fob Remote Key Case Shell 3 Buttons With VL2330 Battery For Land Rover Discovery 6930401903195 | eBay (https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0'mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2 F112899804402)
This is the battery you need, it needs to be soldered on. VL2330 Panasonic Rechargeable Button Coin Battery 3V 50mAh For Land Rover Range 4683812404332 | eBay (https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0'mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2 F292230776140)

[loanrangie]

Dan, you have prompted me to start using my spare key before it dies, i have a spare shell to swap over but will see how the battery lasts before i do in case i need a new one.

[Disco-tastic]

Dan, you have prompted me to start using my spare key before it dies, i have a spare shell to swap over but will see how the battery lasts before i do in case i need a new one.Haha glad I could help Nick!

I have ordered the replacement case with battery (photos show it as a Panasonic battery) and it should be here before the end of the week. Hopefully the new battery fixes it!

[Disco-tastic]

Finally got the key swapped. When I opened the old case there was what appeared to be condensation, but after sitting there for a week it hadn't evaporated so not sure what it was.

Once I cleaned said residue off the circuit the key seemed to work fine, but I figured I may as well change the battery over. Long story short, my soldering iron was having a hard time heating up solder wick to draw the solder out. Literally took over an hour to desolder the battery. Took about 2mins to solder the new one in.

Thankfully it all works as it should and I didn't bugger it up!

Cheers

Dan

[vee8auto]

...When I opened the old case there was what appeared to be condensation, but after sitting there for a week it hadn't evaporated so not sure what it was. ....

Dan

'condensation' was most likely the acidic weepage that comes out of a failing battery.

Needs to be cleaned well, with something like a printed circuit board cleaner spray from somewhere like Jaycar, etc.
Note - Dont use any old solvent on a valuable printed circuit board. Make the effort to get a dedicated product.

[Disco-tastic]

'condensation' was most likely the acidic weepage that comes out of a failing battery.

Needs to be cleaned well, with something like a printed circuit board cleaner spray from somewhere like Jaycar, etc.
Note - Dont use any old solvent on a valuable printed circuit board. Make the effort to get a dedicated product.The battery I removed looked to be in fine condition - no swelling or anything.

There was a fine mist over the circuit which I dabbed clean with a cloth - is it worth pulling it apart and cleaning or will such a small amount be OK?

[vee8auto]

You have to destroy the case to pull it apart, so It's not worth it now I reckon.

Generally the pcb and all the components are coated with some sort of sealant coating so its probably ok.

But.... if down the track it plays silly-buggers I would get a new case and open it and give it a good clean and check the soldered connections to make sure there is no obvious degradation.

These units are expensive and problematic to get a full replacement so its worth the effort to maintain them ourselves.

Silicone spray is the only thing I would recommend to use without carving the case open so as a halfway measure you could drill a hole in the case (provided you had an old case and could see where you can safely drill an access hole for the spray nozzle) and spray some silicone spray in there.

[Disco-tastic]

Cases are like $10, so if you think its worth doing properly I'd rather do it properly. Can you recommend a suitable cleaner? I already have some silicon spray I can coat it with later.

[vee8auto]

like I mentioned previously, dedicated printed circuit board cleaner is all you should use on printed circuit boards. I wont upload my resume but that advice is reliable.
for example:
Electronic Circuit Board Cleaner Spray Can | Jaycar Electronics (https://www.jaycar.com.au/electronic-circuit-board-cleaner-spray-can/p/NA1008)

and they mention a fact that is all wrapped up in my advice and that is the ability of the product to clean off the flux residue from soldering.

[nismine01]

Question, can the "key" be replaced from the new case or does it have to be cut to suit?

Cheers

Mike

[Disco-tastic]

Question, can the "key" be replaced from the new case or does it have to be cut to suit?

Cheers

MikeI could just swap the key over.