Question - How often do you change Fob batteries?

[WelshGas]

How often do you change the battery in your :-

Key Remote?

Heater Remote?

 

[WelshGas]

Key remotes 8 yrs, although I do swap the 2 keys around every year.

Heater remote, 8 yrs.

 

[Meoncoast]

2012 van to 2016 then 2016 until now. daily drive never changed

 

[Hawthorn37]

No long term experience on Cali’s, but I guess most VW keys will be similar. Wife’s Golf, battery needed to be changed at 5 years in, daughters Polo changed also 5 years in.

 

[jeff]

2008 van key fob still going strong with no battery change.

 

[Wildcamper]

I wait until I get a message on the dash that says the key battery needs changing.

 

[owen_h]

Had the dash message end of last year so 10 years on my 2012 Beach.
Initially the new battery didn't work. Traced the issue to a (clear) coating that's now being added to the edge of button batteries. Coating is stop children and babies swallowing the cells but it can act as an insulator if the key contact is on the edge. Bit of a rub with sandpaper and worked.

 

[The Merle]

I get about 4-5years, just changed the one on my kombi (van is 4 and half years old), same with my t6 joker and t5.1 cali.
Used daily and same key.
Halfords sell replacement battery very cheap and 2min job (YouTube video available if unsure).

 

[Doorbundle]

My son's Golf Mk6 tells him that a new key battery is needed, it has nagged him for about a year.
I anticipate that in time the later vans will do the same.

 

[The Merle]

My son's Golf Mk6 tells him that a new key battery is needed, it has nagged him for about a year.
I anticipate that in time the later vans will do the same.

The van does tell you it pops up on display

 

[IanE]

Still on the original batteries for our 2010 van - also the exhaust!

 

[Pineweasel]

Van is ten years old, batteries never changed. Didn't realise I'd get a message on the dashboard.

 

[westfalia]

2008 van key fob still going strong with no battery change.

Same here Jeff, 2006.
Mine charge up when in the ignition. I know this cos one was flat
so I used it as the main key for a while and it charged up.

Heater remote I have changed once.

 

[oryx white]

Still using the originals on our 2016 for all three fobs.

 

[TheDoc]

I’m lucky if I get 6 months without a message in my car fob but my old car went years and my van has done a couple so far so I guess it either varies or I’ve got a dicky fob!

 

[mikebravo]

Same here Jeff, 2006.
Mine charge up when in the ignition. I know this cos one was flat
so I used it as the main key for

I don’t think the battery is rechargeable (at least not in models as recent as the T6). It’s likely your key had de-synchronized and through a series of actions (pressing the button, manually unlocking and putting it in the ignition or whatever) you inadvertently re-synchronized it.

 

[mikebravo]

Has anyone seen this dash board warning on a T5.1 or T6? The T6 manual doesn’t mention it, so I’m just wondering if I can rely on this in my T5.1… ?

Btw the T6 manual does have the following advice about a red LED on the key itself, which is supposed to indicate adequate battery levels. And it shows you how to replace the battery.

 

[The Merle]

Has anyone seen this dash board warning on a T5.1 or T6? The T6 manual doesn’t mention it, so I’m just wondering if I can rely on this in my T5.1… ?

Btw the T6 manual does have the following advice about a red LED on the key itself, which is supposed to indicate adequate battery levels. And it shows you how to replace the battery.

View attachment 105038

Yes on T6 and I’m sure my t5.1 cali had it but was along time ago

 

[David Eccles]

I just had this warning on my 2012 Beetle and it took me by surprise when such a warning came up
a week later the blimmin fob shaft broke from the casing .. so its spare key time!

 

[DavidofHook]

Just coming up to 11 years and the indicator light is still going strong so no need to change……. yet!