GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk8 => Topic started by: Skyered on 18 November 2025, 19:13
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Having owned 2 previous golfs (gtd & gti) i was used to getting a warning when my key fob batteries were low. Generally speaking you need to replace the batteries in the key fobs every year being keyless cars. However now having a mk8.5 gti there was no warning.....the key simply died. Doing a search using the built in manual for the car it simply says the key fob battery needs changing when it becomes unresponsive...going to keep spare batteries cr2032 and a small screwdriver in future in the car but is this another cost cutting exercise by vw? Or am i missing something....
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My 7.5 gave no warnings too.
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That's strange because I had a warning when my battery was low. I ignored it for a while and it stopped warming me, but then I had an email from my local VW dealer asking me to call them as my vehicle has a standing alarm.
The VW dealer called because I have set them up as my authorised workshop in my VW app.
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You don’t need a screwdriver, simply pull the emergency key from the fob and use it to push the rear cover off through the gap left from where the key was.
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My 2019 R gave the required Key fob Low Battery recently. Renata CR2032 to the rescue.
Shame I didn’t respond equally swiftly when our Hive thermostat warned. Cold showers for spouse are never welcomed.
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No wonder fob batteries going quicker these days. Press once for drivers door, another for other doors, yet another for the boot. What ever was wrong with press once to open, press again to close.... Another example of car technology solving a problem that didn't exist.
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No wonder fob batteries going quicker these days. Press once for drivers door, another for other doors, yet another for the boot. What ever was wrong with press once to open, press again to close.... Another example of car technology solving a problem that didn't exist.
Only if you've got those security measures turned on.... me I've got keyless set, it just opens all of the doors and the boot or just the boot if I walk up to the rear.
Its not the button pressing anyway, its the UWB ranging signal its pinging all of the time that kills it.
And on the Mk8 you do get a low bat warning, but only sometimes - not constantly, not even when its really struggling. Guess the mechanism it uses for determining it is a bit flakey. I've had it go flat several times with zero warnings at all.
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I had to change my MK8.5 key fob battery within about 7-8 months of ownership. I definitely had the warning in the dash about it. I was seeing the warning intermittently flash up for weeks before I got around to replacing it.
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I keep my key in a faraday pouch, just over a year of owning my current 8.5 and it’s not required a new battery. As mentioned above, it’s the range signal thing ‘talking’ to the car that kills the key battery, the faraday pouch stops that happening, especially if your key is kept in range between drives. My previous mk8 needed a key battery twice in quick succession until I realised the key was being woken up by my hall table moving as I walked past it, this made the key talk to the car, which also made the coming home lights on the car activate, all of this stopped by using a faraday pouch.
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(https://i.postimg.cc/Hnz6zQFC/IMG-3653.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YL4NqmpX)
At just over 4 months old I had this warning pop up today.
Faraday pouch required I think!
In a fraction under 5 years of mk8 & 8.5 ownership I’ve had a mixture of batteries lasting ages then failing without warning, and gradual deterioration with warning messages flashed up.
I’ve tried a variety of batteries too, Panasonic (OEM) & Duracell seem to last reasonably well.
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Had the low battery message on mine today at 8 months old. Used to get 2 years plus on the 7.5!
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I keep a spare battery in the glove compartment now. I had my key give up on me once. Never again. You'd be surprised (maybe not) the feeling of helplessness a dead key fob induces.
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I keep a spare battery in the glove compartment now. I had my key give up on me once. Never again. You'd be surprised (maybe not) the feeling of helplessness a dead key fob induces.
Had that too and agreed, it wasn't a great experience! Strange thing though was as I opened the car with the manual key, setting off the alarm which went for quite a while whilst I faffed about trying to stop it, not one person checked that I wasn't stealing it. Maybe they were VW owners too...
Got three spares now given how quickly they wear out.
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Had the low battery message on mine today at 8 months old. Used to get 2 years plus on the 7.5!
Just checked the date of my last post here, 30th November. That’s when my warning came on.
Today is somewhere around 20th Feb and I’ve still not changed the battery and the warning is still illuminated. I do have a few spare batteries but decided to perform an experiment to see how long the battery takes to fully expire. I’d like to claim it’s because it’s not good (understatement) to throw perfectly serviceable batteries in the rubbish but it’s mostly because I just forget as soon as I park up and throw the keys in a drawer at home (in a faraday pouch)
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Perhaps VW is sponsored by Panasonic batteries! Given the grief if they do suddenly give in, averagely happy to lose a couple of months for the peace of mind.
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I had the low battery warning come on the other day on my 8.5 Gti. I changed the battery today with a Panasonic 2032. The fob then didn't work. I then fitted the old battery and it still didn't work so I again fitted the new one. The new one still wasn't working so after a while on Google trying various methods to sync the key nothing worked. The red light didn't work either if I pushed the lock and unlock button. I was then stumped. A while later I removed the new battery then refitted it and then it worked as it should. I don't understand what happened. The battery previously was fitted correctly 100%. I read on other forums etc some people had the same problem as me. Has anyone else experienced this??
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The 8.5 should charge your key battery in the middle cup holder, there's a little symbol on the bottom, pop it in there and I'm sure it charges, could be wrong tho :)
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The 8.5 should charge your key battery in the middle cup holder, there's a little symbol on the bottom, pop it in there and I'm sure it charges, could be wrong tho :)
I think you must have dreamt that, that is purely a symbol to show us plebs where to place the key when we are driving in case we don't want to keep it on our person as it doesn't have an ignition slot. There is no way to charge a non rechargeable battery inside the key by placing it on that symbol on the mat.
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The 8.5 should charge your key battery in the middle cup holder, there's a little symbol on the bottom, pop it in there and I'm sure it charges, could be wrong tho :)
I think you must have dreamt that, that is purely a symbol to show us plebs where to place the key when we are driving in case we don't want to keep it on our person as it doesn't have an ignition slot. There is no way to charge a non rechargeable battery inside the key by placing it on that symbol on the mat.
Agreed it is not for charging but I think it's where you have to put the key when the battery has expired to start the car. It used to be on the steering column in the position where you would insert the key in a non keyless car.
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I think you’re right, as I was typing it it didn’t make sense to me, I’ll go stand in the corner and think about what I’ve done :)