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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: CookieMonsterGTi on 22 September 2021, 11:24

Title: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: CookieMonsterGTi on 22 September 2021, 11:24
So today I got to the shops, got out the car and couldn't lock the car with the fob.  It was completely dead.  I had to put the key next to the steering column to start it up again.

Didn't fancy prising the door handle off to lock the car with the key so went back home to get the spare.

Is there no low battery warning light for this or did I just completely miss it?  Seems it could lead to a right PITA situation.

My previous BMW would indicate it was low battery but continue to be operation to lock/unlock, today it worked - then didn't.  No warning.
Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: SRGTD on 22 September 2021, 11:55
I think there may have been on early mk7’s. I can recall some forum members over the years saying they did get a low fob battery warning but it seems there’s no warning on later cars. With keyless entry - I think all TCR’s were keyless(?) - the fob batteries seem to last around a year on average, so it might be worth keeping a spare battery in the car and another in your wallet so you’ve got a spare to hand when it happens next time. Alternatively, consider just changing the battery every 12 months - both key fobs even if you only use one on your keys because with keyless, I believe the key fobs continually communicate with the car.
Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: CookieMonsterGTi on 22 September 2021, 12:54
Thanks.

Have put a spare in the car.

Very odd that there is no warning at all though.

The last battery in my BMW (also keyless must have lasted a good 5 years or so).  Maybe the VW one just drains more  :undecided:
Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: Carbon VW on 22 September 2021, 13:45
My early Mk7 GTi gives a low battery warning on the dash at every startup when battery is low. I just keep a spare battery in the glovebox for emergencies
Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: CookieMonsterGTi on 22 September 2021, 14:58
I know I haven't used the care for a couple of weeks so maybe it went past the point of being low to just dead and I didn't notice the message today....?

Either way I don't think I trust it now and will carry a spare with me.
Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: Rudedog on 22 September 2021, 15:17
When this happened to me it was only two months after I picked my car up, when I mentioned it to my dealership they were convinced that I should have seen a message pop up in the AID but I 100% didn't.... I guess like a lot of things it must have changed by model year although I can't think why VW would want to delete it.

As I've found the fob can be very temperamental with the brand of battery, even with new ones.
Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: CookieMonsterGTi on 22 September 2021, 16:53
I got a Duracell as it was the only one in the shop.  Panasonic was what I took out.

Will see how it goes but would have expected a battery to be a battery... 
Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: SRGTD on 22 September 2021, 17:31
Will see how it goes but would have expected a battery to be a battery... 

There are lots of batteries out there that are of dubious quality and origin when they appear to be the genuine article; probably more of a risk of getting fakes if they’re bought from certain large online websites. Also worth checking the expiry date if buying them in, say, a supermarket.

I have a spare battery in my wallet and another in the car - both with long expiry dates, but I don’t know if they deteriorate more quickly over time if kept in a car where temperature variations can be quite extreme. No doubt I’ll find out before too long, as current fob battery has been in the key fob for just over a year.
Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: Pixwix on 25 September 2021, 17:36
Happened to me a couple of times.. definitely don’t get a warning on my 16 plate.. caught me out first time. Spare batteries in every orifice now.
Actually taking the bit off to expose the keyhole in the door isn’t as bad as I thought.
Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: AGB on 26 September 2021, 15:10
So today I got to the shops, got out the car and couldn't lock the car with the fob.  It was completely dead.  I had to put the key next to the steering column to start it up again.

Didn't fancy prising the door handle off to lock the car with the key so went back home to get the spare.

Is there no low battery warning light for this or did I just completely miss it?  Seems it could lead to a right PITA situation.

My previous BMW would indicate it was low battery but continue to be operation to lock/unlock, today it worked - then didn't.  No warning.

We had the same with my wife's TCR. The key flashed red. She ignored it. I told her to replace it. It failed when we were out. I had to pop the cover, open with the manual key and place the key fob next to the steering column to start. All with the alarm going off which endeared us to all nearby.

When you get the red light flash on the key, put a new battery in as it's in its death throes. You should also get a low battery warning on the central display on the instrumentation at startup.
Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: CookieMonsterGTi on 26 September 2021, 21:09
To be honest I didn’t notice the light on the key as usually just goes straight in the pocket due to keyless.

That said, I’m pretty sure I didn’t get a dash message.

Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: neepy7.5 on 27 September 2021, 09:15
I get a warning pop up on the dash when I turn the ignition on telling me the key battery is low, had to replace the battery twice on my 68 plate.
Title: Re: Is there a warning for this?
Post by: Catnapper on 28 September 2021, 12:30
I too get a warining on my dashboard & also on the infotaiment system under Car status.
Replaced mine twice in 4 years