I had a strange thing happen last weekend

[RedlandRanger]

A little background - I go hiking frequently and don't want to lose my keys while hiking and be stuck, so I have a hitch safe where I put my key fob when I'm hiking. It works great. Last weekend I went hiking and when we got back to the truck I took out the fob and pressed the unlock button and it was dead. It was pretty cold where we were (probably right around freezing). I warmed it up for a few minutes and it started working. I doubt this is a truck battery issue (although I'm closing in on 5 years on the original battery). I'm thinking I probably need to change out the battery in the fob. Does anyone else have a different suggestion or idea on the cause?

It was a bit concerning - we were in a rather remote spot with no one else around and no cell service (although I do have my Garmin GPS communicator in an emergency).

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[Motorpsychology]

Is sounds like the fob battery ws just too cold to fire at first. The button battery inside is replaceable and you're probably due for a new one. Not sure which fob you have, but isn't there an emergency key blade tucked in the fob?
You may want to have the truck battery load tested to see what condition it's in. Any big box automotive store will do this for free. If you replace the truck battery be sure to have the battery maintenance system reset.
As the OEM battery gets older, the BMS changes the rate of charge, and may over charge a new battery if not reset.

 

[Grumpaw]

Were/are batteries in fob the original ???
If so, probably the problem.
I change my fob and wife's Subi fobs batteries every 2 years just as a maintaince change, whether needed or not.....cheap insurance.

 

[RedlandRanger]

Is sounds like the fob battery ws just too cold to fire at first. The button battery inside is replaceable and you're probably due for a new one. Not sure which fob you have, but isn't there an emergency key blade tucked in the fob?
You may want to have the truck battery load tested to see what condition it's in. Any big box automotive store will do this for free. If you replace the truck battery be sure to have the battery maintenance system reset.
As the OEM battery gets older, the BMS changes the rate of charge, and may over charge a new battery if not reset.

I have the Lariat with the HUGE fob - and yes, there is a key blade in the fob, however I have to remove that (I leave that piece in the truck) so the fob will fit in the hitch safe. I may re-think that approach. If this happens again, if I had the blade I could get in the truck and put the dead fob in the cup holder and it should start up.

I have a new truck battery waiting - I got that deal posted here a while back - I couldn't pass it up and I know mine will need to be replaced soon. I will probably do it anyway, just as a precaution - I know weak batteries can do all sorts of strange things with all the electronics.

My thought it that this was caused by an old fob battery that doesn't work as well in the cold and changing it for a new one should probably fix it. Thanks for confirming.

 

[RedlandRanger]

Were/are batteries in fob the original ???
If so, probably the problem.
I change my fob and wife's Subi fobs batteries every 2 years just as a maintaince change, whether needed or not.....cheap insurance.

Yep, all batteries (fob and truck) are all original.

Time for a new one......

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Hey Rob, this is straight from the Official Energizer Bunny Handbook…

 

[Grumpaw]

Wise is the Bunny.....he knows all, see's all, and is an expert in the ways of "The Battery" !!!

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Wise is the Bunny.....he knows all, see's all, and is an expert in the ways of "The Battery" !!!

And that’s only Page 4!

 

[RedlandRanger]

Hey Rob, this is straight from the Official Energizer Bunny Handbook…

Wow - thanks for posting this. I was out again today and it wasn't as cold as last week, but first press again did nothing - I held it in my hands for a few seconds and then the locks unlocked. It certainly appears I need to replace the battery soon.

Does anyone happen to know what number I need? I can split it open, but if anyone knows off the top of their head, it would mean I only have to open it once.

 

[Grumpaw]

It's a CR 2032

 

[RedlandRanger]

It's a CR 2032

Thank you!

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Steve is right - CR 2032…

Pics or it didn’t happen, right?

 

[Jhbryaniv]

So, what if you did the opposite going forward.

Put the key blade in the hitch safe, and the fob in the truck? (maybe in a Faraday like bag).

Just a thought...

 

[RedlandRanger]

Not that I didn't believe you, but you guys got me wondering if all the fobs took the same battery. I opened mine up and apparently the answer is NO:

It appears the Lariat fob uses a CR2450

 

[RedlandRanger]

So, what if you did the opposite going forward.

Put the key blade in the hitch safe, and the fob in the truck? (maybe in a Faraday like bag).

Just a thought...

Today I put the key blade (with my other keys) on a clip in a special pocket in my pack so that if this happened again I could at least get in the truck and it should start by using the fob in the cup holder. I think I'm going to continue doing that going forward.

This all started a number of years ago with my old Ranger - I went on a hike and somewhere on the hike I lost the key. Fortunately, I had put one of those "hide a key" things underneath on the frame so we were able to go home. Since where I hike there is almost never anyone else there and typically there is no cell service I try and be especially careful.

Edit: I think I tested leaving the fob in the truck, thinking you could unlock the truck if it was in the console or something, but you can't - it is VERY directional it appears. If the fob is in the truck, you can't unlock it using the touch sensor. If you DID get in the truck however you would be able to start it up.

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