Fob batteries? Why do I keep burning through them?

Like the title says, why do I keep burning through fob batteries? Are the CR2032s that I got on Amazon just all crap? Anyone else have experience with this? Thank you in advance.

Oh, and stay safe out there, amigos. Seems like weather is on the horizon.

Best,
MJA

 

We suggest keeping it further away from the truck as a starting point. Or keep it somewhere it doesn't see any radio signals.

Some fobs just eat batteries and there's not much you can do except replace them.

 

Thanks.

Hold down on the lock button and then push the unlock button twice.

Disabling the fob should help save juice, no?

 

how long do they last for everyone? - 1 year here and seems to be fading, i use the truck about 3 or 4 times a day

 

I just replaced mine after 33 months of owning/driving my 2019,,, never turned off or bothered moving it away, not that doesn't help, but with a nearly 4 year battery life, it's not a priority for me.

 

Yeah the smart key system eats batteries. Owner's manual says they typically last 2 years.

 

I've had my truck since Sept 2019. Just started getting a low battery warning recently.

 

Different ride but my wife's 2014 Rav4, we got it in summer 2019. I've changed the battery once.

Regular key style ignition if that matters

 

Same here.

 

5 yrs on oem battery,,, got a couple from Amazon, one lasted a couple months, second one still going..

 

A lot of the products sold on Amazon are counterfeit.

 

Fobs on older vehicles only used the battery when you pushed the buttons to lock/unlock/panic. These newer fobs are always searching for your truck and sensing various things and communicating with your truck so they eat up batteries much quicker. That’s my thought anyways. Disable your fob when you go to work or to bed at night, might give it a bit longer lifespan. I don’t mind spending $5-7 every year or two so don’t bother.

 

I've had mine since June of 19 and haven't replaced the battery yet. My Mustang is on the original battery 21 years later!

 

I have not had any issues with my FOB. Truck purchased/brought home on 5/14/2021.

One of many videos regarding how FOB works.

 

I buy my 2032s at Ikea. Cheap and reliable.

 

Sometimes when we keep the fob in our pants pocket were pushing it and not realizing it. Maybe if you work at a desk , toss it in the draw. I drive a truck, I clip it to my lunch cooler.

 

I've replaced all three of mine at least once if not more in almost seven years. I just turn them off now. Hold the lock, and press the unlock twice till the red light blinks a few times. Only been doing this for a few months now

 

February 2020 for me and just got the low battery warning for the first time this weekend.

 

OP, I know exactly what you're talking about. I was dealing with this problem as well. I had guaranteed good batteries (duracell from the store), I didn't push the button by accident in my pocket, and I was hanging them on a keyring in my house at night. I had to change batteries every 3-4 months. I tried so many things and I just couldn't figure out what was doing it. I even swapped fobs!
I sold and moved out of that house a year ago and the problem stopped. I haven't had to change a battery since then. Something in that house was doing it but I was unable to figure out what.

 

How often do they fail?
I got (3) years out of my original CR2032 for my 2018 TRD Sport and at almost 2 years so far on a Duracell purchaed from Amazon.