Author Topic: Is there a warning for this?  (Read 1465 times)

Offline CookieMonsterGTi

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Is there a warning for this?
« 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.
Pure Grey GTI TCR 5 Door DSG
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Offline SRGTD

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Re: Is there a warning for this?
« Reply #1 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.
2020 Polo GTI Plus; Pure White, DSG (because they all are)
Gone but not forgotten;
2016 Polo GTI; Blue Silk
2011 mk6 Golf GTD; Carbon Grey
2007 mk5 Golf GT (2.0 170bhp TDI version); Deep Black Pearl
2002  mk4 Golf GTI (the 150 bhp diesel version); Deep Black Pearl

Offline CookieMonsterGTi

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Re: Is there a warning for this?
« Reply #2 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:
Pure Grey GTI TCR 5 Door DSG
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Offline Carbon VW

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Re: Is there a warning for this?
« Reply #3 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
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Offline CookieMonsterGTi

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Re: Is there a warning for this?
« Reply #4 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.
Pure Grey GTI TCR 5 Door DSG
19" 'Reifnitz' Alloys Including DCC
Climate Windscreen
Panoramic Sunroof
90% Rear Tinted Glass

Offline Rudedog

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Re: Is there a warning for this?
« Reply #5 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.
2019 Golf GTi PP DSG, Isaac Blue.

Offline CookieMonsterGTi

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Re: Is there a warning for this?
« Reply #6 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... 
Pure Grey GTI TCR 5 Door DSG
19" 'Reifnitz' Alloys Including DCC
Climate Windscreen
Panoramic Sunroof
90% Rear Tinted Glass

Offline SRGTD

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Re: Is there a warning for this?
« Reply #7 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.
2020 Polo GTI Plus; Pure White, DSG (because they all are)
Gone but not forgotten;
2016 Polo GTI; Blue Silk
2011 mk6 Golf GTD; Carbon Grey
2007 mk5 Golf GT (2.0 170bhp TDI version); Deep Black Pearl
2002  mk4 Golf GTI (the 150 bhp diesel version); Deep Black Pearl

Offline Pixwix

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Re: Is there a warning for this?
« Reply #8 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.

Offline AGB

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Re: Is there a warning for this?
« Reply #9 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.
MK7 Clubsport S, 981 Cayman GT4, MK7.5 GTI TCR