Stupidity at its best

[chic0821]

As per the title, got the "change key fob battery " message (car was in for a service a month ago with a service plan & thought they would have done it, as in the past they had, & left a spare in the glovebox for the second key) Anyway, I digress, tried the spare key but it was totally dead as its been sitting in the safe since I bought the car. Mr Amazon sent me two the next day, so checked voltage, fine & installed them. As usual running late so rushed out to the car, nothing, would not unlock. Back to house, second key, nothing Back to house, rooted about in the bin, eventually found the old battery's, checked voltage to find best one, put it in the key, worked fine so off I went. Could not figure it out, voltage checked ok, was there a sticker, nah, I checked voltage, surely doesn't need coded in. Got home had a look at the batteries, turned one over & there was a sticker I had by chance never turned them over, even checking the voltage, just stuck the probe underneath which obviously touched an unstickered part. Put them in the keys, workedAs I said STUPIDITY AT ITS BEST

 

[markjay]

Just to say that my car was serviced by MB Brooklands under a service plan for 5 years, and they have always replaced the fob battery at every B service, and left a spare battery in the car (genuine MB-branded Varta battery) for the second fob.

 

[SpikyMikey]

As per the title, got the "change key fob battery " message (car was in for a service a month ago with a service plan & thought they would have done it, as in the past they had, & left a spare in the glovebox for the second key) Anyway, I digress, tried the spare key but it was totally dead as its been sitting in the safe since I bought the car. Mr Amazon sent me two the next day, so checked voltage, fine & installed them. As usual running late so rushed out to the car, nothing, would not unlock. Back to house, second key, nothing Back to house, rooted about in the bin, eventually found the old battery's, checked voltage to find best one, put it in the key, worked fine so off I went. Could not figure it out, voltage checked ok, was there a sticker, nah, I checked voltage, surely doesn't need coded in. Got home had a look at the batteries, turned one over & there was a sticker I had by chance never turned them over, even checking the voltage, just stuck the probe underneath which obviously touched an unstickered part. Put them in the keys, workedAs I said STUPIDITY AT ITS BEST

Duracells by any chance?
You'd never see me getting caught out like that

 

[poormansporsche]

As per the title, got the "change key fob battery " message (car was in for a service a month ago with a service plan & thought they would have done it, as in the past they had, & left a spare in the glovebox for the second key) Anyway, I digress, tried the spare key but it was totally dead as its been sitting in the safe since I bought the car. Mr Amazon sent me two the next day, so checked voltage, fine & installed them. As usual running late so rushed out to the car, nothing, would not unlock. Back to house, second key, nothing Back to house, rooted about in the bin, eventually found the old battery's, checked voltage to find best one, put it in the key, worked fine so off I went. Could not figure it out, voltage checked ok, was there a sticker, nah, I checked voltage, surely doesn't need coded in. Got home had a look at the batteries, turned one over & there was a sticker I had by chance never turned them over, even checking the voltage, just stuck the probe underneath which obviously touched an unstickered part. Put them in the keys, workedAs I said STUPIDITY AT ITS BEST

Don't worry about it, you are not the first to do it and won't be the last

(The wife did this a few weeks back when changing the cr2023 in the kitchen scales)

(We now have a spare set of scales because of that bloody sticker )

 

[chic0821]

Duracells by any chance?
You'd never see me getting caught out like that

Aye, Duracell, wonder how you guessed that

 

[SpikyMikey]

Aye, Duracell, wonder how you guessed that

'My Mate Dave' got caught out by it...

 

[TC350]

As per the title, got the "change key fob battery " message (car was in for a service a month ago with a service plan & thought they would have done it, as in the past they had, & left a spare in the glovebox for the second key) Anyway, I digress, tried the spare key but it was totally dead as its been sitting in the safe since I bought the car. Mr Amazon sent me two the next day, so checked voltage, fine & installed them. As usual running late so rushed out to the car, nothing, would not unlock. Back to house, second key, nothing Back to house, rooted about in the bin, eventually found the old battery's, checked voltage to find best one, put it in the key, worked fine so off I went. Could not figure it out, voltage checked ok, was there a sticker, nah, I checked voltage, surely doesn't need coded in. Got home had a look at the batteries, turned one over & there was a sticker I had by chance never turned them over, even checking the voltage, just stuck the probe underneath which obviously touched an unstickered part. Put them in the keys, workedAs I said STUPIDITY AT ITS BEST

I've been there many times

 

[TC350]

Just to say that my car was serviced by MB Brooklands under a service plan for 5 years, and they have always replaced the fob battery at every B service, and left a spare battery in the car (genuine MB-branded Varta battery) for the second fob.

I've had my car under the Mercedes Service Plan since new 12 years ago. They used to change the fob batteries and leave another for the spare, but haven't done so for the last two or three services.

I don't know if they're been doing it for the key I leave with the car, although it is one of the standard items. What I do now is leave a different key with alternating services.

 

[Ted]

Decided to disable the auto unlock on the Lexus for security.
That evening the farmer decided to harvest the corn in the field and it’s a sharp turn to where the car is parked, so I decided to move it a few feet forward.
No problem, car unlocked with the key, but I’d forgotten it also disables the push button start.
Put the key against the button and pressed it.
Nothing.
Tried various combinations, also with the spare.
Nothing.
Measured the battery voltage - it was a little low, but not imho low enough to prevent a start.
In desperation, I decided to remove and charge the battery - even though I knew in my heart of hearts it wasn’t that.
So, boot up, in the dark, loads of heavy machinery missing me by a couple of feet and mud all over the road.
Spent the the night worrying and working out the best way to get it looked at by Lexus.
Next morning I refitted the battery. Still no joy. Until I realised that you have to hold the fob against the button for at least five seconds before communication is established.
Auto- unlock and push button start immediately re-enabled and have been that way ever since.