spelham

Probably worrying over nowt here but would rather ask.

Spent the last two hours digging my car out of the snow and then moving it in fits and starts until I got it where I wanted it. Left the engine running throughout but after about an hour and a half I received the dreaded "BRING!!!!!" sound and up pops the following warning:
CHARGE BATTERY IN KEY/REMOTE CONTROL.
I changed the fob (car uses a start button) to the spare, but the same thing happens. My understanding was that the remote is charged automatically when inserted in the car. When I drilled down into the control message menu it said that the batteries where charged over a long run, so could it be that idleing is not sufficient? Also, if the remote was not being charged why did it take an hour and half to "BRING!!!!!" at me yet the changed fob alarmed immediately (I guess it may not have cleared the original alarm so that may be the reason)?
Basically can anybody put my mind at rest. Everytime I hear that blasted alarm sound my heart misses a beat even if it turns out to be just for info.
I am becoming a nervous wreck. Help appreciated.

Thanks Steve.

Rudy

Do you have Comfort Access? If so, the battery is not rechargeable, you have to replace it instead.

spelham

Hi Rudy,

As far as I am aware I do NOT have comfort access.

Does the alarm work for both COMFORT ACCESS and NON-COMFORT ACCESS. If so, how does the car know if the battery is dying for COMFORT ACCESS? I assume NON-COMFORT ACCESS is constantly monitoring the fob and knows that it needs charging. In which case, do I actually need to drive around for it to charge or is idleing sufficient.

Steve.

Rudy

The low fob battery alarm will work for both CA and non-CA cars. Clearly, the car is able to communicate wirelessly to the fob (a ton of other service related data is constantly updated and stored in the fob) so battery charge level would be simple to include in the data stream. I would think that an idling car would charge the fob in the slot.

If the fob is in your pocket and you attempt to start the car, does anything happen? If so, you have CA. This would be an important detail to establish...

spelham

Defo don't have CA. I need to insert the fob into a slot and then push the START BUTTON for anything to happen.

Rudy

How old are your fobs? I suppose it's possible that the rechargeable batteries are at the end of their life...

spelham

Car is new to me, but 3 and half years old.

What worries me though is that I changed to the spare FOB when the alarm came up, but it didn't clear. I knw the system reads FOB info to ensure your personal settings are maintained, but I would have expected the car to say "OK, that battery is good" and clear the alarm.....................but it didn't.

njlou

From your description the fobs are probably not low.
It seems that he cold weather is causing some strange things. Check the error codes on the stalk (the push button on the directional).
I think that if everything runs ok just wait it out.
It takes quite a few cycles to clear.

spelham

OK. I will wait until its warms up. Will reply around June

Seriously thanks for the info. I hadn't noticed codes before when I pushed the CHECK button, just a description, which is the title of the thread. I will check tomorrow though - if I do get a code how can I find out what it means?

EBMCS03

I would just drive a bit with the key in the slot and see if it charges back up. I would rather it have a replaceable battery... would suck to have to replace the dang fob for $125 instead of a $1.25 battery.