V50 Electrics : Key Fob Battery Life

[Weejada77]

Has anyone else got problems/had problems with extremely poor battery life in their key fobs?

Both sets of keys for my 2005 2.0D V50 have REALLY poor battery life. Which is strange, as my spare sits in the house (well out of range of the car) for weeks on end.

My normal set is now using a battery almost every WEEK!!!

Any suggestions?

[noney82]

That's not right, I'm not sure what brand of batteries your buying but don't buy cheap ones. Iv had my car 2 years now and only use 1 key, the spare stays in the safe and Iv not replaced a battery yet.

[iainmd]

Definitely not right. I've had my car over 9yrs and I've had to replace 1 battery after about 7yrs. The other fob (the spare) I replaced at the same time just to be sure but it's a daily driver and as such I would expect 6-7yrs out of a battery.

As said, don't use cheap no-name ones. I use Panasonic/Maxell/Duracell/Sony etc. for Lithium coin cells.

[Missing Lincs]

As well as not using unbranded/cheap batteries, check the date on them. They do have a shelf life and the unbranded ones especially won't be up to much after the expiry, not sure why but this seems more so if sat waiting to be used.

You could also give the inside of the remote a very careful clean, make no dirt is causing a button to contact when it shouldn't.

[Weejada77]

The batteries are always either Duracell or Energizer. So it isn't the battery brand that is causing the issue.

I'm actually getting to the end of my tether as I am constantly having to use the "real" key to get in by unlocking the driver's door manually. Which in turn sets off the alarm. Not great when you leave for work at 7am whilst most neighbours are still asleep

[IainG]

Hi
Are any of the buttons not working on your remotes. Just wondering if you have a switch permanently on. But not sure if that would cause batteries to fail early but worth a check. I had a switch in the remote fail but the battery was ok.
But had to replace a switch, the "unlock"one had failed.
Each switch normally makes an audible click

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=201489

Iain

[jeffmasson]

i would defiantly recommend taking the remote apart and giving it a good clean out take all the buttons out etc. very easy to take apart and looks a lot nicer after as well.

[AndyMcc]

I've never replaced the battery in my key fob. I've only ever used one of my two keys and it's still unlocking yards away. Mines a 2009 , 61,000 thou. Good luck.

[nozmeister]

Mine cars over 8 years old and never changed the batteries.

It still amazing works over about 100 metres away so I check I've locked it when sat on the train with the car park miles away.

will prob fail now I've said that.

[Weejada77]

Originally Posted by IainG

Hi
Are any of the buttons not working on your remotes. Just wondering if you have a switch permanently on. But not sure if that would cause batteries to fail early but worth a check. I had a switch in the remote fail but the battery was ok.
But had to replace a switch, the "unlock"one had failed.
Each switch normally makes an audible click

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=201489

Iain

Thanks IainG for the thread. I have had the keys apart rather often due to the need for replacement batteries. So am pretty familiar with all the bits. Out of interest, where did you get the replacement switches?

I also just checked each button/switch and they appear to all work fine! All have the audible "click" under same pressure also.

Quite a strange issue it would appear? I just thought that maybe it was a common problem on older keys due to the fact that both mine do the same thing?