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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

More than a coincidence?

55 replies

DetailMouse · 02/03/2022 18:35

My car's been in the garage today, a minor thing dealt with under the warranty, the car is less than 6 months old.

When I've got it back it's telling me the key needs a new battery.

Now, it does seem a little far fetched to think someone might have a sideline in taking almost new batteries out of car keys, but surely it should last more than 6 months (and 3000 miles) and it's quite a coincidence that the warning appeared while it was in the garage? It wasn't there this morning.

How long should a car key battery last?

OP posts:
Booboobibles · 02/03/2022 19:23

Because my dogs are usually in there.

Original poster
DetailMouse · 02/03/2022 19:24

@Qwill

Last car I didn’t change the battery at all (3yrs from new), the new one has been through 3 batteries in the last 6 months! You don’t have a Tiguan do you? I still can’t see what you think the garage did to the key to make the battery run out?
I don't think they made it run out, I think they (might have) changed it for a dud one.
OP posts:
Mybestyear · 02/03/2022 19:25

[quote Qwill]@Mybestyear
Nope, you just pop the top off and change it like you would a remote control.[/quote]
Thank you. That’s not what the feckers told me. Said it needed “tuned in” etc. I will know better next time

Qwill · 02/03/2022 19:28

@Mybestyear
There was a thread earlier about garages making stuff up because they’re talking to a woman. It’s shocking, and makes me so angry!!

Qwill · 02/03/2022 19:29

@DetailMouse
I just think it sounds a lot of hassle for something that probably costs them about 50p!

Original poster
DetailMouse · 02/03/2022 19:32

I don't know, I can see it's easier, if you've got your own car key in your pocket and someone else's in your hand, to do a quick swap than to make the effort of obtaining a new one, regardless of the cost.

And it is odd that it's failed so early and in the one hour and a half the key wasn't with me.

OP posts:
MissAmbrosia · 02/03/2022 19:33

Mine is still going after 11 years!

Zelda93 · 02/03/2022 19:33

My last car I was literally changing the battery about every 6 months .. strange never had that with other cars!!

EvilPea · 02/03/2022 19:39

@marqueses
Does your car charge the key when it’s in the ignition? They are a right pain and expensive to replace. Something that’s over engineered.

@DetailMouse it will be a weird co-incidence. They will have stacks of batteries bought in bulk for pennies. It’s more grief opening your key, opening their key and swapping them over than walking to the parts department and getting one.

toastfiend · 02/03/2022 19:54

Don't know who quoted you a few hundred pounds but they were definitely trying to rip you off! I don't imagine the garage have had anything to do with it, though.

If you don't want to do it yourself, Timpsons do it for about £20. I realise that that is also a rip off if it's as easy as people say to do it yourself but I also believed it was about making sure electrics etc were in sync so was happy to pay it on the basis that it would then be someone else's financial problem if it went wrong!

gettingolderandgrumpy · 02/03/2022 19:58

My battery needed Changing in my key after a few months I was quite surprised but apparently it’s normal . A cheap battery won’t last very long at all. You can change it yourself although mines a bit fiddly . Honestly op it costs a couple of quid and the time it’s took to write a thread so I doubt very much he’s took your battery .

BluerThanRobinsEggs · 02/03/2022 19:59

I had a Ford car which needed a new battery for the key - except you couldn't change the battery, you needed a new key. Which you could have got anywhere, I suppose - a replacement was only £1.50 from the Ford dealer. It then cost £150 to have it reprogrammed Hmm Now that was a scam.

Dibbydoos · 02/03/2022 20:10

Unless it's been left under a weight so the battery has been in use for a prolonged time, I'd say the battery is probably defective. My batteries are £5 or £6 each. I've replaced mine 1 x in each key and travelled about 90k miles.

YforWanky · 02/03/2022 20:13

Wow, I've never actually thought about the key fob having a battery! My car is 16 years old - I've owned it 4 years and never changed the battery. It just never occurred to me that it's a thing. I'm going to keep some spares in the glove compartment now though Smile

NippyWoowoo · 02/03/2022 20:16

[quote Sausagerollandrock]@Qwill car key batteries aren't usually standard batteries - I was quoted a couple of hundred quid the last time I needed one

@DetailMouse - it wouldn't be the strangest thing - always an element of truth in a coincidence 😬[/quote]
someone was taking you for a ride

EvilPea · 02/03/2022 20:21

@NippyWoowoo
Not necessarily if @Sausagerollandrock ‘s car charges the key in the ignition it won’t be a standard battery and will cost a lot.
Off the top of my head I know some fords do this some land rovers and some Volvos.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 02/03/2022 20:29

My Land Rover is 16 years old and the keys use rechargeable batteries - they are both still working. How about that for green!

Mybestyear · 03/03/2022 09:02

@BluerThanRobinsEggs

I had a Ford car which needed a new battery for the key - except you couldn't change the battery, you needed a new key. Which you could have got anywhere, I suppose - a replacement was only £1.50 from the Ford dealer. It then cost £150 to have it reprogrammed Hmm Now that was a scam.
Yes - this is what I was talking about up thread!
HeadingForHome · 03/03/2022 09:45

My car key batteries took me a few minutes to change and cost a few pounds on amazon. They were the flat watch type batteries if I remember correctly

Same as ours. We did ours recently and the car is only 18 months old.

We needed jewellery appraised for insurance purposes and my in-laws were horrified we were leaving the jewellery there while they prepared the certificate etc in case the jewellers prised out the diamonds and replaced them with glass... Hmm

Don't let yourself get to their level OP Grin

billyt · 03/03/2022 10:17

DetailMouse,

If you say what car you have, someone can tell you if the battery is replaceable without any reprogramming etc.

OneTC · 03/03/2022 10:21

car key batteries aren't usually standard batteries - I was quoted a couple of hundred quid the last time I needed one

lol wut?

CounsellorTroi · 03/03/2022 10:27

I needed a new key battery the other week. Had the car five years and it was two years old when I bought it. Took it to a main dealer and they did both for £40 including the spare. Audi A3.

Twolostsoulsswimminginafishbow · 03/03/2022 10:29

My last car was a Kuga from new, which I had for around four years. My present car is a Volvo and I’ve had it two years from new. The keys don’t go in the ignition (so no way to recharge) but none of the keys ever needed a new battery so they must be meant to last several years.

ChoiceMummy · 03/03/2022 10:52

@DetailMouse

I don't know, I can see it's easier, if you've got your own car key in your pocket and someone else's in your hand, to do a quick swap than to make the effort of obtaining a new one, regardless of the cost.

And it is odd that it's failed so early and in the one hour and a half the key wasn't with me.

The mechanic would no doubt have an endless supply of batteries available to them, to not need to pilfer yours! Some last an age, some don't.
SoupDragon · 03/03/2022 11:01

@BluerThanRobinsEggs

I had a Ford car which needed a new battery for the key - except you couldn't change the battery, you needed a new key. Which you could have got anywhere, I suppose - a replacement was only £1.50 from the Ford dealer. It then cost £150 to have it reprogrammed Hmm Now that was a scam.
I have a Ford car and you just change the battery.

It doesn't even become "de-tuned" if you accidentally put the battery in the second key upside down and just leave it in a drawer for 5 years because it "doesn't work".

I think there are many scams involving these keys. I did use to think that you had to do it very quickly to avoid having to have the key reprogrammed (because that's what I'd been told)