Author Topic: Mk8.5 gti key battery no warning!  (Read 316 times)

Offline Skyered

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Mk8.5 gti key battery no warning!
« on: 18 November 2025, 19:13 »
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....

Offline Watts

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Re: Mk8.5 gti key battery no warning!
« Reply #1 on: 18 November 2025, 19:59 »
My 7.5 gave no warnings too.
2025 Oryx Black Edition Clubsport with Performance Pack.
Previously:
2019 Oryx 5dr TCR with Reifnitz.
2015 Tornado Red 3dr GTI PP, manual, Santiagos, Audi short shifter.

Offline MarkHowells

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Re: Mk8.5 gti key battery no warning!
« Reply #2 on: 18 November 2025, 22:30 »
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.
Current: 2024 Golf GTI 8.5. Oyster Silver metallic black, black roof, Queenstown alloys, DCC, HK, spare wheel

Gone: 2018 Golf GTI 7.5 performance pack, Atlantic Blue, Santiago alloys, DCC.
Gone: 2014 Golf R, Lapiz Blue, Vienna leather, DCC.
Gone: 2011 Golf GTi, Reflex Silver.

Offline Carlosfandango

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Re: Mk8.5 gti key battery no warning!
« Reply #3 on: 18 November 2025, 22:54 »
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.
Current -
8.5 GTI, Dolphin, Pan roof, Area view, DCC, Queenstown wheels, HUD, HK, Spare wheel.

Gone -
2022 Mk8 GTI DSG, Kings Red.
2020 BMW M135i xDrive, Storm Bay Metallic.
2016 Mk7 GTI DSG, Carbon Grey.
2010 Mk6 GTI Manual, Carbon Grey.
2009 Mk6 GTI DSG, Black Pearl.
2008 Mk5 GT sport DSG, Glacier White.
2003 Mk4 R32, Reflex Silver.
2002 Mk4 GTI, Indigo blue pearl.
1991 AX GT.
1984 Mk1 XR2.
Plus many more.

Offline DSGboy

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Re: Mk8.5 gti key battery no warning!
« Reply #4 on: 18 November 2025, 23:25 »
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.
Gone. Mk6 GTI DSG, 2012 ,5dr , DPB, 18’s, Leather, Dynaudio, Cruise, DAB, Auto Mirrors, Storage Pack, TPMS.
Current. Mk7.5 R DSG, 2019, 5dr, DPB,  Pretorias, Leather, Memory Seat,  Climate Screen, Rear Camera, Black Caps

Offline ar899

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Re: Mk8.5 gti key battery no warning!
« Reply #5 on: Today at 12:20 »
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.

Online fredgroves

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Re: Mk8.5 gti key battery no warning!
« Reply #6 on: Today at 12:32 »
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.
Current: Mk8 GTI DSG, Adelaides, DCC, HUD, HK, Winter Pack, Rear Camera.. Aka "HMS Weasel"

Gone: 2017 Mk7.5 GTD,manual, NavPro
Gone: 2014 Mk7 GTD, manual, NavPro, DCC

Offline JoeGTI

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Re: Mk8.5 gti key battery no warning!
« Reply #7 on: Today at 13:12 »
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.
MK8.5 GTI Clubsport. Moonstone grey. Queenstown 19’s. DCC. Harmon Kardon sound. Pano roof.