Blatto Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Had my 2019 Fiesta ST-Line 140 from new in October 2019, Just clocked up 20,000 miles this morning. Started car up to come home from work and it showed up an error message on the dash saying " Key Fob battery low, replace battery soon" I've never had a battery on a key fob run out on me before, and I certainly wouldn't expect it a car only 16 Months old. Got the spare key out when I got home, which has never been used and that also gives the same error message. So it's either a bug of some sort, both batteries have run low at exactly the same time (seems unlikely) or there is some built in obsolescence which falsely prompts you to replace the batteries. Anyone seen this before, and is there any way of resetting the error message? I haven't checked the user manual yet but I'm assuming you can still start the car with a key if the battery does die? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Batteries do deplete over time even if not used. Just put 2 batteries and don't over think it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatto Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 Well it may be that simple but since my previous car ran 3 years without a battery replacement and the car before that over 10 years I'd be surprised they would have run out by now. And to get both to run out on exactly the same day seems a bit unlikely. I don't want the hassle of working out what batteries I need, how to fit them without destroying the key fob and spending £10 + delivery on something that might not be necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pragmatix Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 I've just done mine for the 2nd time in 3 years it's very simple to do and the battery is pennies to buy just a standard 2032, the spare which rarely gets used has also been changed. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobr Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Even if the key fobs are not used they are still constantly giving off a signal. If they were both renewed at the same time then they would probably start to go flat at the same time. As Pete says, it a simple job and, if you're not sure, there are plenty of guides on Youtube. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 2duracells £1.70 + 30 seconds of your time. May be a pick or small screwdriver to flick the old battery out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatto Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 The reason I was concerned on doing it myself was due to the experience I had with my old Citroen. The battery lasted 10 years but when it finally went I decided to do it myself as it looked pretty easy. Inserted a flat bladed screwdriver and twisted carefully to prise the cover open and the circuit board inside just fell out along with a metal clip that held the battery in place. Couldn't get it to go back together again and Citroen quoted me well over £150 to get another one. Might just have been shoddy Citroen quality but I didn't want to repeat that experience with this one. I realise batteries have a shelf life even when not used but they must be using pretty cheap and nasty ones now if they are flat after 16 months. All of those type of batteries are sold with a minimum 5 year lifespan in my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
statts Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 I had the same thing happen to me. Replaced both batteries in both fobs all sorted. That was the first thing to go, then I needed a tyre, then MOT, then brake pads. However the car has not cost me a lot in the last 3 years so I could expect wear and tear items to start going and needing to be replaced. My car is 6.5 years old and brilliant so no complaints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatto Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 Just remembered I had a pack of those batteries I bought for some PC bios replacements. Pack is dated to July 2025. Just watched a you tube video and put one in. Still giving the same error unfortunately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FezMan Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 My dash started showing the error, had it for a few months before I got around to getting the spare key which also showed the same message. Incredibly easy to replace the battery though and they're only a couple of quid, just make sure you get the right battery (CR2032) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neb_engineer Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 7 hours ago, Blatto said: Had my 2019 Fiesta ST-Line 140 from new in October 2019, Just clocked up 20,000 miles this morning. Started car up to come home from work and it showed up an error message on the dash saying " Key Fob battery low, replace battery soon" I've never had a battery on a key fob run out on me before, and I certainly wouldn't expect it a car only 16 Months old. Got the spare key out when I got home, which has never been used and that also gives the same error message. So it's either a bug of some sort, both batteries have run low at exactly the same time (seems unlikely) or there is some built in obsolescence which falsely prompts you to replace the batteries. Anyone seen this before, and is there any way of resetting the error message? I haven't checked the user manual yet but I'm assuming you can still start the car with a key if the battery does die? The batteries in car keys for cars with keyless ignition tend to not last long, I have to replace the battery in my mum's nissan micra k12 key every 14 months (yes a car from 2003 has keyless ignition) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aguycalledmal01 Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 I have tried Duracell in the past with the same result. I now use Panasonic cr2032 . If you search the web you will see many posts about this and some button cells are not as good as others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FezMan Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 25 minutes ago, aguycalledmal01 said: I have tried Duracell in the past with the same result. I now use Panasonic cr2032 . If you search the web you will see many posts about this and some button cells are not as good as others. if the make of battery actually makes a difference (strange if so) I have Energizer in mine and another Kuga which worked perfectly....although OP has used that so its a strange one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim H Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Mine flashed up the day before a service, so had it changed then. Unless previous owner changed it, it lasted about 2 1/2 years. Was charged over £8! 😮 Lost count how many times I've changed on my Mother's Fabia. Both cars have keyless start. I don't think I ever changed the one in previous car (mk1 Fabia) in 13 years of ownership and bought it 2 year old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatto Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 Might be the keyless ignition that's making them last less time I suppose. Put my new Energizer batteries dated as OK until July 2025 into my main key and the backup key and opened the car and then started it, I'm still getting the error with both fobs with the new batteries. The original was a Panasonic battery. Found a pack of 2 Duracells on my Weekly shop at the supermarket on the way home tonight so will try those in the morning just in case my energiser ones aren't working. Incidently they are dated as OK until September 2030. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatto Posted January 28, 2021 Author Share Posted January 28, 2021 I put the new duracells in this morning but was still getting the same battery low warning. Did a bit more searching online at lunchtime and found a suggestion of unlocking and locking the doors 3 times with the key fob. As unlikely as it sounds, that seems to have fixed the fault 🙂 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FezMan Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 3 minutes ago, Blatto said: I put the new duracells in this morning but was still getting the same battery low warning. Did a bit more searching online at lunchtime and found a suggestion of unlocking and locking the doors 3 times with the key fob. As unlikely as it sounds, that seems to have fixed the fault 🙂 Good to hear! A bit like how to reset the one touch window up/down if it ever stops working js to pretty much just put the window up and down about 4 times 🤣 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatto Posted January 28, 2021 Author Share Posted January 28, 2021 Yeah would be good if they put a list of these fixes in the manual 🙂 I put the original panasonic battery back in the spare key and that works fine now also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pragmatix Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 26 minutes ago, Blatto said: I put the new duracells in this morning but was still getting the same battery low warning. Did a bit more searching online at lunchtime and found a suggestion of unlocking and locking the doors 3 times with the key fob. As unlikely as it sounds, that seems to have fixed the fault 🙂 Yes it needs to communicate with the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatto Posted January 28, 2021 Author Share Posted January 28, 2021 You'd think communicating with it once to open the door would be enough though. 🤷♂️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neb_engineer Posted January 29, 2021 Share Posted January 29, 2021 21 hours ago, FezMan said: Good to hear! A bit like how to reset the one touch window up/down if it ever stops working js to pretty much just put the window up and down about 4 times 🤣 well with that its just making the car relearn the up and down limit of the window Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick65 Posted January 29, 2021 Share Posted January 29, 2021 Just had my 2019 ST in today for it’s second service. Ford recommend replacing key fob battery every two years at a cost of £9.95 fitted, I declined sod paying that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FezMan Posted January 29, 2021 Share Posted January 29, 2021 23 hours ago, Blatto said: I put the new duracells in this morning but was still getting the same battery low warning. Did a bit more searching online at lunchtime and found a suggestion of unlocking and locking the doors 3 times with the key fob. As unlikely as it sounds, that seems to have fixed the fault 🙂 So I actually got my car back from the garage today after it having a new battery put in due to the old one being confirmed as faulty First thing I saw when I got in? Key battery low (wasn't when it went into the garage) Got home and did the lock/unlock 3 time thing and low and behold my key battery is now fully charged 😅 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatto Posted January 29, 2021 Author Share Posted January 29, 2021 Oh well, I found the solution to my own problem, just in time for you too 🙂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelsiethekid Posted September 29, 2021 Share Posted September 29, 2021 Hi Been reading these posts. Have ford fiesta active x. dashboard said battery low - only had the car a month. replaced the battery with duracell v3 CR2032 - now fob won't work. Seen here about locking and unlocking the car. But how do you do that on a keyless car. I don't want to pay Fords rip off prices to sort out thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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