Key Fob - Temporarily Not Working

[jac04]

I put my key fob in my backpack for my mountain bike ride this morning like I always do. A little over 2 hours later, the key fob would not do anything. I unlocked the JT with the key, which set off the alarm as expected, but I was able to start the vehicle without issue by pressing the start button with the key fob. The display immediately showed that the fob had left the vehicle. So, I figured the fob battery was dead, but I never got any low battery warning. I do not recall whether or not the little red light on the fob was flashing with button presses like it is supposed to. I wish I had paid closer attention to this.

Now, here's the weird part. As soon as I got home, about a 3 minute drive, the fob worked fine again. I checked the battery with a VOM and it showed 3.02V (the battery is a 3V battery).

My thoughts are:

1) Something about the cold was affecting the fob or the fob battery. The only thing different about today is that it was cold. The ride started at about 7F and ended up at about 10F, so the key fob was very cold when it did not work. It was definitely warmed up a bit from being in my pocket when it started working again.

2) It may be possible that a button on the fob was being continuously pressed for a long time while in my backpack. But the fob battery seems to check out OK. Is it possible that the fob enters some type of 'preservation mode' if it senses a button being pressed for an extended period? Could that account for why the fob didn't work?

Has anyone else had this type of issue with the fob temporarily not working?

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[WoolyKris]

Noticed similar thing with my key fob; we had single-digit temps this past week. I need to walk up right next to the truck to lock/unlock if I’m outside for extended periods of time. If the fob sits in the kitchen, I’m able to get the truck opened right from my house. I'm gonna pop in a fresh battery and see if that helps.

 

[Camaroboi13]

Out of curiosity, was your phone in your backpack next to the fob? Mine does not work when it’s in the same pocket as my phone. If I take either one out of my pocket then it works just fine. Food for thought.

 

[ScottBeach]

I can't speak to cold but my fob wouldn't work if I put it into the main part of my backpack. I figured out finally it was being activated being bounced around. So rather than clipping it In the main pouch I started clipping it to the water bottle net outside the bag. Never had the issue again.

More than once I came to the garage and it had been remote autostarted (in a closed garage)

 

[ALT2870]

Can confirm the cold definitely has something to do with it. Our garage isn't heated so if I let it sit 4-5 days during a good cold snap (I keep the keys in the vehicle), will have to press the start button with the fob. No issues later when I have the key on me. Had a similar issue after a day of skiing.

Is there a low battery warning though? My other fob seemed to actually die even when warmer and never saw a dash warning.

 

[ScottBeach]

I have had 2 battery die in my 2020. Never got a warning from. The truck the fob battery was low.

 

[jac04]

Out of curiosity, was your phone in your backpack next to the fob? Mine does not work when it’s in the same pocket as my phone. If I take either one out of my pocket then it works just fine. Food for thought.

When it is in my pack, it is close to my phone. But I always remove it from my pack to use it and it was a good 10 feet away when it wasn't working.

 

[jac04]

Can confirm the cold definitely has something to do with it. Our garage isn't heated so if I let it sit 4-5 days during a good cold snap (I keep the keys in the vehicle), will have to press the start button with the fob. No issues later when I have the key on me. Had a similar issue after a day of skiing.

Is there a low battery warning though? My other fob seemed to actually die even when warmer and never saw a dash warning.

I have had 2 battery die in my 2020. Never got a warning from. The truck the fob battery was low.

Well, it's good to know that I'm not the only one experiencing this cold issue.

According to the Owner's Manual, there is supposed to be a low battery warning, but based on the feedback above, I'm going to assume that it doesn't always happen.

It also says that the red LED light on the fob will not illuminate when the battery is low. The light on my fob comes on now, but I'll need to keep an eye on it, especially when cold.

 

[49Gramps]

After about 40 months my daily key fob started working intermittently, worked fine with a new battery. I started using the other fob, and it was also intermittent, now it's fine with a new battery.

 

[Viper501]

7 degrees? mine has done it a few times intermittently and with no rhyme or reason. I’d change the batteries prophylacticly.

 

[jac04]

After about 40 months my daily key fob started working intermittently, worked fine with a new battery. I started using the other fob, and it was also intermittent, now it's fine with a new battery.

Yeah, I'm going to just put a new battery in it. I got my other fob out of storage (never used), and its voltage reads 2.97V, so even lower than the fob that I've been using. I'm at 42 months.

Did you ever get a low fob battery warning from the vehicle display?

 

[jac04]

7 degrees? ...

It was a chilly ride this morning for sure. I used 2 toe warmers on each foot and one on the back of each hand. But, conditions were magical ... frozen hard ground with about 1/4'-1/2" of super light dry snow on the trails. So great traction even without studs - the only thing to watch out for were the slippery roots, but they were easily visible.

 

[49Gramps]

Yeah, I'm going to just put a new battery in it. I got my other fob out of storage (never used), and its voltage reads 2.97V, so even lower than the fob that I've been using. I'm at 42 months.

Did you ever get a low fob battery warning from the vehicle display?

I did get a notice once on fob not in vehicle, so I touched the fob to the push start and it started and performed fine for the rest of the day.

 

[articcatbill]

I left mine in my vehicle 8 degrees last night. Wouldn't work this morning, just figuring the cold effected the battery.

 

[ross neill]

Well, it's good to know that I'm not the only one experiencing this cold issue.

According to the Owner's Manual, there is supposed to be a low battery warning, but based on the feedback above, I'm going to assume that it doesn't always happen.

It also says that the red LED light on the fob will not illuminate when the battery is low. The light on my fob comes on now, but I'll need to keep an eye on it, especially when cold.

Take battery out put in freezer test cold battery and post results

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