Key battery low - Replace soon

[Scott R Nelson]

I've had my Bronco for three years (minus a week) and I was surprised to get the message on my main screen that the key battery was low. How long should those last?

I almost never press the buttons on the key FOB, preferring to use the keypad on the door to unlock it and lock it again. And the FOB spends more than 90% of the time at the bottom of the bin in the center console, in that indentation made for it. If it has to be sending out some signal to let the Bronco know that it's nearby, it's as close as possible to the receiver for that signal.

So why only three years out of the thing? And can I replace the battery myself instead of having the dealer do it?

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[HotdogThud]

It's still just a watch battery in there keeping it going, and since it's doing more than just clicking buttons like older remotes (it's doing proximity shit constantly for the keyless entry), it makes sense that it'd run out 3-4 years in.

 

[Ducati1098]

How long should those last?
So why only three years out of the thing? And can I replace the battery myself instead of having the dealer do it?

3-5 years typically. And yes, it's very easy to replace on your own. The fob just splits in half and the battery is inside.

 

[WD.]

If it's always inside the vehicle in that cut out I would imagine that could possibly make the battery die quicker because the bronco is probably communicating to the fob and pinging it more than if it was just in your pocket and not talking until it is within the proximity radius of the vehicle. In theory the battery can be completely dead in the fob and still be able to start. That's the main purpose of that cutout so that in the event the fob battery is completely dead and you are in the middle of nowhere you can still start the engine without being stranded.

As far as changing the battery you just have to pull out the key blade from the fob and on the flat side of the fob that gets revealed when you pull the key there's the hole the key sits in as well as an indent that the key tip can fit into to pry the back of the fob up. Just have to pull the back off fully once you get it started with the key and then you'll be able to see the battery right there. It should be a CR2450 if you want to get one ahead of time

 

[jsoa]

I must of had a bad battery because I had to replace one of mine at like 10 months

 

[Poppavein]

If you just leave it in the console all the time, then you don’t really need a battery.

 

[Scott R Nelson]

That's the main purpose of that cutout so that in the event the fob battery is completely dead and you are in the middle of nowhere you can still start the engine without being stranded.

If you just leave it in the console all the time, then you don’t really need a battery.

If this is true, I think I'll just let it die completely and find out for myself.

 

[Darren D]

Please don’t crucify me on this, but isn’t leaving the fob in the vehicle taking a chance it will “walk”? I live in New Yorkistan, there’s no way I’m taking that chance!

 

[Scott R Nelson]

Please don’t crucify me on this, but isn’t leaving the fob in the vehicle taking a chance it will “walk”? I live in New Yorkistan, there’s no way I’m taking that chance!

When I visit other states, or even different parts of my state, I take it with me. I don't think someone will break into my garage and drive off with it. I'm also not worried about parking for half an hour at a restaurant and somebody breaking into it.

 

[JawnyBronco]

Just replaced my wife’s Volvo spare key battery at 4.5 yrs old while the key she uses was replaced at 3 yrs old.

 

[Rydfree]

Wondering since the FOB is always left in that cutout, which is there to allow cranking of the vehicle if the FOB battery is dead, could have the computer thinking "Hey , that key has been there a long time , tell the driver to replace the damn battery !" LOL

 

[Scott R Nelson]

Wondering since the FOB is always left in that cutout, which is there to allow cranking of the vehicle if the FOB battery is dead, could have the computer thinking "Hey , that key has been there a long time , tell the driver to replace the damn battery !" LOL

That's probably it.

I had mentioned possibly waiting for it to die completely, but I'm already super annoyed to have to acknowledge, every time I get in it, that the battery needs to be replace. I strongly dislike all of the warning messages that the Bronco puts out:

• The front facing camera behind the frosty windshield can't see (you'll have to actually pay attention to driving). That one has two messages to acknowledge.
• Can't connect with your phone. (Why does that one have to be acknowledged, but running low on fuel just goes away by itself? I would like to talk to whatever moron at Ford decided that.)
• Your tires are low. (Yes, I let the air out for off road driving. Why can't it notice that they all have equal pressure and maybe decide that I did it in purpose? Especially since I have the off-road display as the default.) Have to acknowledge very time I turn the Bronco back on.
• You're getting really close to that car in front, let me distract you with this stupid message. (Only if the front camera is not frosted over.)

Not the exact words on any of them, just voicing my frustrations. I love how my 2005 Mustang has no warnings at all other than a tiny low fuel light.

I'm going to switch to my other key FOB and see how long that one lasts. When it finally starts complaining, I'll replace the batteries in both of them.

 

[Roger123]

It's better than having to replace the main 12V battery at 2 years and 11 months which I just did. Between 2 cars and 4 fobs seems like I'm always swapping batteries. It's really not that hard.

 

[Scott R Nelson]

It's better than having to replace the main 12V battery at 2 years and 11 months which I just did. Between 2 cars and 4 fobs seems like I'm always swapping batteries. It's really not that hard.

Yeah, the hardest part looks like it will be going to the store to buy a CR2450 replacement. I had a look at the battery compartment as I was switching to the other unused FOB for a while. I'll resurrect this thread when that one dies.

I've done a couple of battery replacements in my Mustang recently. A bit over a year ago my 6-year-old battery started dying, so I bought a genuine Motorcraft battery from the dealer to replace it with. Ten months later that one was totally dead. Probably had an internal short or something. I received a new replacement at no charge so I can't complain about it. Slightly more work than the key FOB battery, but only by a little bit.

 

[judy jamie]

Personally, I would NEVER use the keypad on the outside of the door. Thieves can sit in their car with a computer or phone and capture your code. Thus, they can break into your car. And if you keep anything personal with name, address etc. They then, know where you live and if you have a garage door opener in your car they have access to your home.

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