Key out of Battery

B

benben

Member
So the E85 key has suddenly stopped working, assuming it has run out of battery. The second key looks like it has never been used but still does not work so I am assuming that one is also out of battery somehow.

I realise you can charge the key by taking the car for a long drive, but i don't really want to spend $100 on petrol and drive around all day. Is there another way?

I have also considered opening the key and replacing the battery/enegizer. Does anyone know what sort of battery needs to go in?
 
Try this first it may just have lost its settings ( esp if the other key is same)

http://youtu.be/3YcFN3Ns0yI
 
ah thanks ben g, Ill order it on ebay and sort it out if nothing else works.

Spikey Ill try that with both keys but I doubt it will work.
I have even hear ideas like, " if you put it in one of those wireless chargers like the ones for toothbrush, it will get charged up " :o
 
benben said:
I have even hear ideas like, " if you put it in one of those wireless chargers like the ones for toothbrush, it will get charged up " :o
Click to expand...

My keys have stopped working twice - the first time I charged them up again by resting them on a toothbrush charger; the second time I had to reprogramme them using the method in Spikey's link.
 
benben said:
WOW so it actually works? how long would you leave em in the toothbrush chargers?
Click to expand...

It *can* work as they both operate by inductive charging. I would guess a few hours would do it. However, if the battery in your key is knackered then it won't work.
 
Could be your module relays seems to be a common fault on BMWs of this era.

On this note is the key fob battery easy to change? Any instruction guide available?


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benben said:
So the E85 key has suddenly stopped working, assuming it has run out of battery. The second key looks like it has never been used but still does not work so I am assuming that one is also out of battery somehow.

I realise you can charge the key by taking the car for a long drive, but i don't really want to spend $100 on petrol and drive around all day. Is there another way?

I have also considered opening the key and replacing the battery/enegizer. Does anyone know what sort of battery needs to go in?
Click to expand...

I am fairly certain there is no battery in your key, the keys use a capacitance method of charging from the ignition so if you put the key in the ignition and turn until the dashboard lights come and you leave it there for an hour or so it will charge up. Your key is more than likely not working because it has lost it's charge, as with your spare, there is a sequence with the buttons once you have charged it up to get it working again, I will see if I still have the details somewhere...
 
benben said:
WOW so it actually works? how long would you leave em in the toothbrush chargers?
Click to expand...

I left it overnight. Careful not to brush your teeth with it in the morning.

Agree with the others that it's more likely to have been "forgotten" by the car though.

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RussellP said:
benben said:
So the E85 key has suddenly stopped working, assuming it has run out of battery. The second key looks like it has never been used but still does not work so I am assuming that one is also out of battery somehow.

I realise you can charge the key by taking the car for a long drive, but i don't really want to spend $100 on petrol and drive around all day. Is there another way?

I have also considered opening the key and replacing the battery/enegizer. Does anyone know what sort of battery needs to go in?
Click to expand...

I am fairly certain there is no battery in your key, the keys use a capacitance method of charging from the ignition so if you put the key in the ignition and turn until the dashboard lights come and you leave it there for an hour or so it will charge up. Your key is more than likely not working because it has lost it's charge, as with your spare, there is a sequence with the buttons once you have charged it up to get it working again, I will see if I still have the details somewhere...
Click to expand...

I'm fairly certain you're wrong as I just changed mine :lol: next please.
 
Well wrong as ben g says..

and here is said battery.
fob_lower.jpg


Frankly at this stage I'd not be cutting up the key, just stick it in the ignition, drive the car a bit (not 00's of miles) and if it doesn't work then think about changing batteries.

Key needs splitting and battery soldering in so more than a 5 minute job.
 
Thanks guys so here is what happened.
I left the main Key in the wireless toothbrush charger over night with no luck. I suspect this has something to do with the fact that the keys are 10 years old now and it cant hold charge anymore. I'd say the only thing that would work on it now is to change the energizer inside (panasonic vl2020 ).

So what I did is i went and got the second Key which is dead aswell since its been un-used for 10 years and looks brand new. So I put that in the ignition and let the car idle for 2 to 2.5 hours (is this bad for the car?) and the key was all charged up. It still didnt work though, but I did that programming thing where u turn it 5 times and hold the unlock key and press the lock key 3 times and now it works perfectly. Happy days.

This should last another 10 years, if not, new battery it is.

Thanks
 
haha I dont think its worth getting a toothbrush charger for your keys.
Best thing is to either recharge it by idling the car or just get the panasonic vl2020 for like 5 dollars and put it in. Plenty of videos on youtube, its not hard to do.
 
cj10jeeper said:
Well wrong as ben g says..

and here is said battery.
fob_lower.jpg
Click to expand...
Very interesting! Hadn't seen inside of one of these things before.
The squiggly trace to the left is undoubtedly the induction pickup "coil".
 
benben said:
Thanks guys so here is what happened.
I left the main Key in the wireless toothbrush charger over night with no luck. I suspect this has something to do with the fact that the keys are 10 years old now and it cant hold charge anymore. I'd say the only thing that would work on it now is to change the energizer inside (panasonic vl2020 ).

So what I did is i went and got the second Key which is dead aswell since its been un-used for 10 years and looks brand new. So I put that in the ignition and let the car idle for 2 to 2.5 hours (is this bad for the car?) and the key was all charged up. It still didnt work though, but I did that programming thing where u turn it 5 times and hold the unlock key and press the lock key 3 times and now it works perfectly. Happy days.

This should last another 10 years, if not, new battery it is.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Well you fixed it, which is exactly what was required. I certainly wouldn't idle a car for that length of time. Just isn't the right thing to do with engines.

Next time just take it for a 15 minute road drive and it'll be fine, provided you don't leave it for 6 months untouched.
 
Yeah I hear idling isnt the best thing for the engine. no real solid reasoning behind it though. it was perfectly fine and didn't overheat. Maybe this idling thing is a myth?
 
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