Keys Not working

[Mikee]

Hi all

For some reason both keys on the X5 have decided to stop operating the locking/unlocking 95% of the time. It seems to have happened really quickly and randomly to both keys. it now takes about 60 seconds of constant pressing of the buttons to unlock the car. I was under the impression that they are self charging and dont ever need new batteries. Is that right? Only thing I can put it down to is the missis usually drives a 30 mile a day round trip to work every day, but this week shes been off, so only been going local in the car, 2 or 3 miles max at a time. Can that really discharge a key that quickly?

Thanks

Mikee

[Ubatoid]

Although they have batterys for life, unfortunatly the life of a battery is about 10 years plus or minus. Do a search on changing the batterys, there are some really good photo stories available and the batteries are about £3 a pop on the bay.

[Sanj]

This is the link Ubatoid is talking about.

[kellyleekyle]

Hi, mine did this just before xmas, both keys started playing up together. I went on a long trip to devon, used both keys for half the journey each and then did a re programme on both keys and they worked perfectley after that, these keys dont charge up on small trips.

[jaynana]

How did u reprogramme the keys?

[snipez999]

Is the self-charging bit an urban myth though? The fob on my 5 series (comfort access so not often inserted in the dash slot) went dead and when I popped it open there was just a regular flat battery (size of an old 5p near enough) in there, which was definately not a rechargeable sort and that was on a new car so never changed by previous owner or any other such excuse. I heard that there is a small upcharge from the slot even with this type of battery but that's probably as scientifically plausible as rubbing a battery in your hands to give it more power!

[jaynana]

[quote=""snipez999""]Is the self-charging bit an urban myth though? The fob on my 5 series (comfort access so not often inserted in the dash slot) went dead and when I popped it open there was just a regular flat battery (size of an old 5p near enough) in there, which was definately not a rechargeable sort and that was on a new car so never changed by previous owner or any other such excuse. I heard that there is a small upcharge from the slot even with this type of battery but that's probably as scientifically plausible as rubbing a battery in your hands to give it more power![/quote]

U bring out a good point:
Its not just an urbun myth cos I remember in my previous 3 seriese it was written down in the user manual. It said to use each key atleast in 6 months just so that they don't run dry. I can't remember reading thiss in the X manual though.

I've also been totally foxed as the key has no +/- poles to send a current through. So I can't imagine how a key can get charged in the keyhole.

[kellyleekyle]

you programme you keys as the video shows, dont forget to do the second key within the 30 seconds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-TI1jc_nbA

[jaynana]

[quote=""kellyleekyle""]you programme you keys as the video shows, dont forget to do the second key within the 30 seconds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-TI1jc_nbA[/quote]

thx!

[snipez999]

Yeah it was in my user manual too. Though once I saw the actual battery inside I knew it was a pretty ambitious statement! They are 2 for a quid in the Pound shop.

[Ubatoid]

Dont get confused with CR2032 batteries, you do need to proper ones which I think are Panasonic rechargeble.

[Sherwood]

I had an intermittent fault on the key fobs and it took the Dealer 3 weeks to find it under warranty.

It was a poor connection / frayed wire in wire to the car lock aerial which is in the rear tailgate window frame.

It was worse in the rain and when the tailgate had been opened.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1644

[gchristofi]

as sherwood mentions, if both your keys start playing up at the same time, wire to alarm aerial is a likely culprit..... common problem on E9x 3 series too apparently..