Key Fob Battery warning? Take heed!

[MFT]

So last night after a meeting, with the temperature dropping to freezing, I found myself in the unfortunate position of standing outside of my car with my fancy advance key locked inside the trunk.

I usually keep the key in my coat so it is on me whenever I get into the car, but with the warmer weather I did not wear a coat yesterday and so absentmindedly put the key in my briefcase when I got to the meeting. Coming out of the meeting, I put my briefcase in the trunk (which unlocked for me since I had the key outside the car) and then closed the trunk, with the car promptly locking itself upon closing.

Now, my understanding is that the advance key is not supposed to allow you to lock yourself out of the car/trunk, but I had been getting an intermittent key fob "low battery" warning recently, so I suspect that this played a role in leaving me stranded waiting for CAA to come break into my car.

Lesson: If your key fob battery is low, don't procrastinate and replace it ASAP!

[toerag]

[13S4]

That sucks man! I've actually tried to close my key int he trunk and it just pops open. Definitely something to do with the battery.

[dygital]

I had a key low battery warning light randomly one night a few weeks ago and it came up again the next day after that. However, I didn't change the battery and just left it and more than a month later, the battery is still going strong.

[blackfunk]

With Audi's half assed implimentation of the smart key I'm suprised you don't have the use the remote to lock the truck.

[shadycrew31]

I wish I had an advanced key :(.

[blackfunk]

I wish I had an advanced key :(.

Believe me you're not missing much. Can't tell you how many times I have to use the actual key fob to unlock the car because its been sitting for a couple of days and apparently that part of the system gets powered down. Or the sensor needs to grab the handle or hold the button down for several seconds because it can't read the key. Or how you can't lock the car while its running unless you use the mechnical key. Its the single thing I hate the most about the car.

[mecheng]

Believe me you're not missing much. Can't tell you how many times I have to use the actual key fob to unlock the car because its been sitting for a couple of days and apparently that part of the system gets powered down. Or the sensor needs to grab the handle or hold the button down for several seconds because it can't read the key. Or how you can't lock the car while its running unless you use the mechnical key. Its the single thing I hate the most about the car.

Then yours is malfunctioning, because mine is an absolute cherry.

[ob_1jr]

I love my advanced key. It works great most of the time. Sometimes it takes a few seconds to unlock the door, but that is when I am not standing facing the car and the key is in the far pocket. I also see it not working as good if the car is dirty vs clean.

[blackfunk]

Then yours is malfunctioning, because mine is an absolute cherry.

Remote battery, and car battery have both been changed. Fact is it doesn't always work. If the key is on the far side of my body and I'm holding my kid its most likely not going to work the first time out. A simple button would work. Lexus, BMW and Infiniti do it better. By miles.

[fignewton]

Toerag, that's from Fawlty Towers, right? That's one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Had tears running down my face, prob cause I used to have a 1961 Mini Cooper S.
Fig

[RickFLS4]

Believe me you're not missing much. Can't tell you how many times I have to use the actual key fob to unlock the car because its been sitting for a couple of days and apparently that part of the system gets powered down. Or the sensor needs to grab the handle or hold the button down for several seconds because it can't read the key. Or how you can't lock the car while its running unless you use the mechnical key. Its the single thing I hate the most about the car.

I had an issue with my key fob / system powering down. I have had very rare occasions where the door needs a second or two after grabbing the handle to unlock though (had the same with my last Lexus also). I don't really have a need to lock the doors with the car running so I can't comment on that issue.

[Pilfer]

I love advanced key, I pretty much use the fob to open the car but lock it frequently by touching the sensor on the door handle and almost always use the start button.


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[levigarrett]

Then yours is malfunctioning, because mine is an absolute cherry.

Agreed. Mine works perfectly. I also travel for a living and leave my car in the garage for days and I have no issues upon my return. My system works very well.

[MFT]

I had a key low battery warning light randomly one night a few weeks ago and it came up again the next day after that. However, I didn't change the battery and just left it and more than a month later, the battery is still going strong.

Mine had been giving a warning intermittently for about a month (some days a warning would pop up on the dash when trying to start the car and some days not). So it seems that it will still work but dies a slow death...and then leaves you stranded by locking you out of the car!

[BigBluu]

Or how you can't lock the car while its running unless you use the mechnical key.

Why/when would you want/need to do this? I wish my Q had advanced key.

[Akatsuki...]

How often are you guys replacing batteries? Both my keys had the low battery indicator within two years of ownership.

I also noticed if i had my phone in the same pocket or nearby my key it doesnt really work properly all the time

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[RickFLS4]

How often are you guys replacing batteries? Both my keys had the low battery indicator within two years of ownership.

I also noticed if i had my phone in the same pocket or nearby my key it doesnt really work properly all the time

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Coincidentally I replaced mine last week when it started to give warnings. I got the car in August 2012 so about 20 mos. I thought it was a kinda short life but not a big deal.

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[RickFLS4]

Why/when would you want/need to do this? I wish my Q had advanced key.

I once left my dog in a previous car with the a/c on when I ran into a store but then thought twice about ever doing it again when I realized (duh) someone could just break a window and take off with my car and my dog. No offense to OP, but even though the smart key shouldn't let you lock your key in the trunk I also avoid ever putting my key in the trunk out of habit since I started driving before smart keys.

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[99ebpsi24]

Can't tell you how many times I have to use the actual key fob to unlock the car because its been sitting for a couple of days and apparently that part of the system gets powered down. Its the single thing I hate the most about the car.

Both my s4 and my a4 have the advance key and will "power down" as you describe. However this is only after sitting for a week or more. I rotate the cars often and if I leave them sit for a week or so I will have to use the key fob button to actually unlock the cars. Once I've started the car the door sensors work without hiccup though. I have to disagree though, the advance key is an absolute must.

[mantech4]

I love the advance key even more after driving a loaner Q5 that didn't have it. It is really a marvel. Sorry that happened to you OP.

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[Toecutter]

Believe me you're not missing much. Can't tell you how many times I have to use the actual key fob to unlock the car because its been sitting for a couple of days and apparently that part of the system gets powered down. Or the sensor needs to grab the handle or hold the button down for several seconds because it can't read the key. Or how you can't lock the car while its running unless you use the mechnical key. Its the single thing I hate the most about the car.

I think yours is malfunctioning. What year is your car?

[blackfunk]

Its a 2012 its not that its obiviously broken but twice a week at least it flat out wont find the key even after being driven in the morning or the day prior. As to why I'd want the car running I can think of a couple of reasons, but sometimes I run into a store and its cold/warm and the misses is in the back with the baby and she locks the doors I now have to take the keys out of my pocket to unlock the doors. In the morning its easier to bring the car around front an leave it running so I can load the baby, I now have to choose either leave the car running and unlocked and risk it not being there when I come back out - which is what I end up doing - or, lock it and put the baby down go around to the drivers side and unlock the door. With former BMW's\Lexus\Infiniti I could lock/open the doors with the car running and the key in my pocket. And most importantly I could NOT lock the keys in the car because the car was smart enough to know the key was in the car.

[jauri]

you moved to PA?

I wish I had an advanced key :(.

[Toecutter]

Its a 2012 its not that its obiviously broken but twice a week at least it flat out wont find the key even after being driven in the morning or the day prior. As to why I'd want the car running I can think of a couple of reasons, but sometimes I run into a store and its cold/warm and the misses is in the back with the baby and she locks the doors I now have to take the keys out of my pocket to unlock the doors. In the morning its easier to bring the car around front an leave it running so I can load the baby, I now have to choose either leave the car running and unlocked and risk it not being there when I come back out - which is what I end up doing - or, lock it and put the baby down go around to the drivers side and unlock the door. With former BMW's\Lexus\Infiniti I could lock/open the doors with the car running and the key in my pocket. And most importantly I could NOT lock the keys in the car because the car was smart enough to know the key was in the car.

Something here does not make sense.

[RickFLS4]

Something here does not make sense.

Yes, not finding the key 2x per week doesn't sound right. Most of the rest sounds like complications due to specific circumstances or settings. For example, if the car is off and locked not sure why there would be a need to put the baby down to go around to the driver's door to unlock another door. I only have a briefcase to put in the backseat but just walk up to the car and open the locked back door by grabbing the door handle.

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[MNB5Tuner]

For whatever it is worth, if you have advanced key you can start your vehicle then lock it while its running by a simple setting change in vag com (taking the key with you obviously). I did it for a buddy with a PTS Jetta

[ob_1jr]

You happen to remember the change? I just went through pretty much every setting on my car the other night and didnt see anything about advanced key other than being installed.

[raudiace4]

Advanced key is awesome! I recently learned you can also lock the car without using the buttons... I was under the impression it was only unlock with the touch sensors.. after an entire year of owning the car.

[blackfunk]

Something here does not make sense.

What doesn't make sense? My home is on the passenger side of a busy street so I'd rather not walk into the street with the car seat to unlock the door in addition the car seat is behind the passenger seat.

Yes, not finding the key 2x per week doesn't sound right. Most of the rest sounds like complications due to specific circumstances or settings. For example, if the car is off and locked not sure why there would be a need to put the baby down to go around to the driver's door to unlock another door. I only have a briefcase to put in the backseat but just walk up to the car and open the locked back door by grabbing the door handle.

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I leave the car running, if I want to lock it then I need to upon my return put the car seat down and go back to the drivers side to manually unlock using the keys.

For whatever it is worth, if you have advanced key you can start your vehicle then lock it while its running by a simple setting change in vag com (taking the key with you obviously). I did it for a buddy with a PTS Jetta

Please post it up. I started a thread awhile back asking about this and no one knew of any work around.

In this case the smart key serves only two functions, unlocking/locking the car and starting/turning it off without removing the key from my person. If I'd never had other cars that went the extra mile by allowing me to lock the doors with the car running maybe I would like it but as I've stated even a lowly altima allows you to lock the doors while stepping out of the car while its running.

[blackfunk]

Advanced key is awesome! I recently learned you can also lock the car without using the buttons... I was under the impression it was only unlock with the touch sensors.. after an entire year of owning the car.

Please post up. Share the knowledge.

[raudiace4]

Please post up. Share the knowledge.

With the key fob in your pocket you can walk up to your car and unlock, same thing when you get out. Key fob in pocket, close door and touch the door sensor it should lock the car. I always used to press lock on the key fob, no need to take it out of your pockets or jackets!

[blackfunk]

^ With the car running?

[jpbadonk]

Remote battery, and car battery have both been changed. Fact is it doesn't always work. If the key is on the far side of my body and I'm holding my kid its most likely not going to work the first time out. A simple button would work. Lexus, BMW and Infiniti do it better. By miles.

BMW? Not on the X5 ... drives my wife nuts. I thought it was an unnecessary option that I didn't want to pay for, but that's what was on the lot when I bought the S4. Now I love it. Works greeat for me. When going biking, I put the key in my hydration pack and have no issues locking/unlocking with the pack on my back.

[MNB5Tuner]

You happen to remember the change? I just went through pretty much every setting on my car the other night and didnt see anything about advanced key other than being installed.

If I could get somebody to provide me with a B8/B8.5 I would be more than happy to take a screenshot step by step. Pretty sure it was under central electronics, either that or central convenience.

When I was done, he could leave the key in his pocket, unlock the door with the handle, start up the car, then leave the car running and hit the lock button on his keyfob as he walked away. I don't know if the door handle locked the vehicle while running as well

[blackfunk]

BMW? Not on the X5 ... drives my wife nuts. I thought it was an unnecessary option that I didn't want to pay for, but that's what was on the lot when I bought the S4. Now I love it. Works greeat for me. When going biking, I put the key in my hydration pack and have no issues locking/unlocking with the pack on my back.

Might be different on the 2013 -X6? Seems unlikely though. I can leave that running and lock/unlock the doors.

[blackfunk]

If I could get somebody to provide me with a B8/B8.5 I would be more than happy to take a screenshot step by step. Pretty sure it was under central electronics, either that or central convenience.

When I was done, he could leave the key in his pocket, unlock the door with the handle, start up the car, then leave the car running and hit the lock button on his keyfob as he walked away. I don't know if the door handle locked the vehicle while running as well

This is making a VAG cable seem necessary now LOL.

[raudiace4]

^ With the car running?

Haven't tried it with car running. Probably not. VAG com is necessary.

[jpbadonk]

Might be different on the 2013 -X6? Seems unlikely though. I can leave that running and lock/unlock the doors.

With the X5, simply unlocking with the key in your pocket is a 50/50 on the first try. Probably 99/1 on the S4. Have not tried to lock it after it has been started. And I still haven't figured out the key-fob action for the rear hatch. BMW electronics are shameful for a $60K+ luxury vehicle.

[raudiace4]

With the X5, simply unlocking with the key in your pocket is a 50/50 on the first try. Probably 99/1 on the S4. Have not tried to lock it after it has been started. And I still haven't figured out the key-fob action for the rear hatch. BMW electronics are shameful for a $60K+ luxury vehicle.

Wow.