if your car key fob fails,can I pass on this tip

We are miles away from any shops, but I order the batteries from Amazon and always have a couple of spares.
Generic batteries are fine, they don’t have to be for your particular model of car.

Thanks for that useful tip.

I too keep a stash of batteries for watches, scales etc and car keys in the house, all obtained from Poundland and Home Bargains!
Garages charge a fortune to change them.

I learned this the hard way about 35 years ago. My car alarm activated, I couldn’t turn it off and I had to drive to the dealership with the alarm wailing. Of course, I passed a police car in slow traffic and I still remember being scared they would arrest me for stealing the car. The dealership guy changed the battery for me…

Yes I always go to Timpsons.

Our lovely garage changes them for free

I didn’t realise, but isn’t it possible to open the door manually ?

It comes up on our dashboard when the battery is low so we know when to change it. Like Marydoll we keep a stash at home. We changed ours at the weekend as our son who is using our car said mum the car needs a new battery thinking the actual battery was flat.

A problem I have with changing many batteries is getting the thing open!

crazyH

I didn’t realise, but isn’t it possible to open the door manually ?

I was miles away from home /shops when my key fob battery stopped working. I rang the breakdown service people and a very kind gentleman explained that I could open the car door by putting the key in the lock. I felt such an idiot, but at the same time, immense relief!!!
The car at the time was a Skoda Fabia. I don't know if this works with later models, but it's worth a try.

crazyH

I didn’t realise, but isn’t it possible to open the door manually ?

I can use the flip out “key” if the fob battery fails.
Can’t everybody?

I too have a Fabia- we share the same good taste!

My car key failed to flash and open the doors just recently. But it still works as a key when inserted in the lock. Anyway, I have a spare that still works so am using that now. So, if I take the old one to Timpson's they can fix it?
I'm not sure if i am talking about the same kind of key as above, am i?

Where the fob has a key, as pointed out, it will open the door but many modern cars don’t have a key, just the remote device.

We don’t have to put the key in ours. The key fob just has to be in the car. Amusingly when you leave the car with the key in your pocket a message comes up on the dashboard ‘ the key fob is leaving the vehicle’. Bit like Elvis

Oh. Thanks Siope. My car is quite old so the key is not one of these newer remote ones then.

We’ve just had this issue and changed the batteries in both the fobs. Our car still has a key hole which saved the day. I think the cold spell didn’t help. We’ve also changed the house smoke detector batteries at the same time.

I’ve got a lifetime free battery replacement card for my car keys from Timpson. You pay a bit more the first time, but they then replace your battery free every time it fails.

You might have a key hidden inside the fob. You have to lever the fob open and there is a folding key inside. Didn’t know this until our battery failed miles from anywhere on a Sunday, luckily a friend knew.

Some automatic car locks could be activated by other signals. This might have changed but check. A friend visited it was a quick call and did not lock her car doors. We had a delivery and when she went out her car was locked, though she had brought the keys into the house.
We were really puzzled a workman nearby came and asked if we had a certain kind of wireless doorbell. I said yes he said the bell being pushed would have activated the car which was parked near. She kept her keys unlocked the door and I pressed our bell and her car locked. We changed our bell after that.

Wow, I didn’t know that about the wireless doorbells. I did know about the hidden key inside your fob though as I had to use it on my Renault once. Be aware though that it can activate the alarm but that will stop once you start the car. I’ve got a Hyundai now which has battery fob and a very obvious key which also starts the car, I will get some spare batteries once I find out the size.

Very helpful. Thank you. I’ve been using the spare since the other one failed a few months ago. Can’t get the key fob open but at least I now know where to get batteries. The key still opened the car when the battery failed

I thought I had a battery problem. Car 5 months old key wouldn't work. Had batteries in house. Tried key with new battery still didn't work. Got the other key worked fine. Drove to deaker to tell them problem with key. They tested, no joy. Got their head technicial to check. He looked at faulty key and declared it was wrong key. I had been given two keys when collecting brand new car and one was for a model approx 8 years old! Had only used the one key. Taken 3 months to get a replacement. Batteries are easy to change in keys.

As well as having a key hidden inside the fob, cars with no key hole also usually have a hidden key hole inside the handle. There should be a tiny symbol on the handle and you just move that section to reveal the key hole.