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Remote battery life

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Old Feb 18, 2007 | 03:49 AM
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Default Remote battery life

Has anyone gone through a life of their remote battery?

Just want to get some estimates on how long the battery on the remote lasts.
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Old Feb 18, 2007 | 04:53 AM
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I don't think anyone's car is old enough for the battery to go dead. I would guess that it would last at least a couple of years.
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Old Feb 18, 2007 | 06:46 AM
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The manual states that the remote battery should last around 2 years.
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Old Feb 18, 2007 | 07:39 AM
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One of mine went dead prematurely after just 2 1/2 months. The replacement is still going strong a year later, so it must have been a dud cell. Read my original thread, it has lots of good information including battery type and availability: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=202623
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Old Feb 18, 2007 | 08:30 AM
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Hmmm, this is a concern. I may just have to buy some spare batteries just in case should I get locked out of my car. The mechanical key inside it should open the doors and the dealer told me that there should always be enough charge to start the engine (by holding the transponder next to the Start button--lol, sounds like talking about Windows Vista).
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Old Feb 18, 2007 | 09:00 AM
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Originally Posted by TRDCorolla
Hmmm, this is a concern. I may just have to buy some spare batteries just in case should I get locked out of my car.
That's what I did. I'd rather not deal with popping off and replacing the painted cover over the mechanical door lock, for fear that in the heat of frustration it will get scratched, dropped, stepped on, or lost. As you know, Murphy's law predicts that you'll be doing this when it's dark, pouring raining, wind blowing, etc.

the dealer told me that there should always be enough charge to start the engine
Nope, not how it works. It uses passive RFID. When you hold it next to the start button, the reader generates a strong electromagnetic field that induces a current in a coil in the fob, which powers the dead key long enough to start the engine.

Most electric toothbrushes are charged this way. No direct electrical connection -- the charging base induces a current in a coil in the toothbrush handle.
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Old Feb 18, 2007 | 09:27 AM
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So no matter how dead the battery is, it will always start the car? Is this frequency generated by the car itself or the transponder?
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Old Feb 18, 2007 | 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by TRDCorolla
So no matter how dead the battery is, it will always start the car? Is this frequency generated by the car itself or the transponder?
You can take the battery entirely out of the key fob, hold it next to the start button, and it will still start the car. The reader (behind the start button) generates a strong electromagnetic field, a coil in the key fob uses that induced energy to power the transponder (in place of the battery).
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Old Feb 18, 2007 | 01:18 PM
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Yup, it works just like the RFID badge you probably use to get into work every day.
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Old Feb 18, 2007 | 03:29 PM
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I would think it will vary according to usage.

I was curious because i valeted one of our guest's is250 and the remote battery was gone (so the owner said). What was strange was, the remote was still working (lock/unlock windows up/down etc) but the display says key not detected. I'm thinking it might not have been the remote but something else
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Old Feb 18, 2007 | 03:35 PM
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I remember reading that the battery generally lasts for 2 years. Fortunately my dealer replaces them for free and recommends it done annually.
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 08:44 AM
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m info display said low battery last night. I called my dealer and they have it in stock but I was wondering if its covered under warranty?
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 10:01 AM
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I think the idea is even the key fob battery is dead we could use the KEY to open the door and put the empty key fob very close to the start buttom to start the engine!
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by wolverine
m info display said low battery last night. I called my dealer and they have it in stock but I was wondering if its covered under warranty?
Ray Catena Lexus replace mine for free when I told them I'd bought the car at their dealership; the battery was inexpensive enough that they didn't even bother writing up any paperwork. If your dealer charges you, stop by the waiting room and grab a pastry on the way out and you'll be even.
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Old Feb 24, 2007 | 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Bichon
Ray Catena Lexus replace mine for free when I told them I'd bought the car at their dealership; the battery was inexpensive enough that they didn't even bother writing up any paperwork. If your dealer charges you, stop by the waiting room and grab a pastry on the way out and you'll be even.
that's right. get their sodas for free and eat their food......

not a bad idea to stock couple at home just in case.....and dont forget, you have FREE lexus roadside assistance !

(they will rescue you in X hours, just be patient...... HA!)
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