Battery in Smart Key

gee arent they like 7 year lithium?? or something like that?

 

Have you replaced yours Evan? My '05 had just it's one-year "birthday."

 

Y'know, I was just thinking about this.

Had noticed the little red light when I used the buttons on the fob to unlock the door, and suddenly wondered if they indicated low battery.

I know -- I'll read the manual.

 

i thought the light was to let you know the fob was working...i believe my red light has worked from day one. the SKS explanation definitely makes sense

 

I think I'll replace mine this week then. I've had the original battery in my main fob since May '04.........I'm probably pushing my luck.

 

oh oh all four fobs have origional batterys in them. This is going to be and expensive weekend.

 

The red light is only a range indicator, and as such only a range indicator as to when 'ready' can be achieved -- thus, it should only blink when actually IN your car, and then only for 30 seconds. I just saw this posted...

 

my red light only lights up when i push one of the buttons... at least im pretty sure of that. i have been sitting here staring at mine for about 3 minutes now and it has done nothing.

 

Huh -- didn't notice that, 'cause I've never pressed a button.

Looks like it blinks when you press a button, or it is inside your car within 30 seconds after you open the driver's door... ('ready' range indicator)

 

I believe I'm still using the Primary fob, and while I had a false-alarm this past Summer thinking it needed a new battery, so far so good as two years approaches.

Perhaps it's like watch batteries: they say X number of alarm beeps per day plus Y uses of backlight equals Z years of life. So if one doesn't use the remote much and just fobs through life, the battery keeps going and going and going and...

 

Well at least a year and four months. I think I will get a battery and put it in the glove box.

 

Purchased the car in August 9 2004, so that's what, a year and 4 months? Hmm, I have been getting occasional weird beeps lately when trying to lock via SKS. May be that the battery is getting low.

The red light lights whenever the fob transmits. It will transmit if you press a button, or when an SKS oscillator in/on the car tells it to.

Whatever you do, don't press the button more than 250 times while out of range or else you will need to have the dealer re-pair it. They'll need the other fob.

 

$10 USD for four of them, maybe. Don't know how much they gouge you for these things in Canada. :lol:

Anyway, did anyone else have a problem getting those tiny screws out and back in? I had to use an eyeglass kit; those screws are really tiny and they're Phillips.

 

Too many different posts I want to comment on so no quotes just observations.

1. The red light on the fob does light, or rather flash predictably, when you are in range and the fob and car are in communication.
2. The red light should also flash if you use the buttons on the fob to lock or unlock the vehicle.
3. The battery is a CR2032 (large button battery). You can get one at just about any drug store, mass merchant, discounter, electronics store, Radio Shack. No need to go to a Toyota dealer to get one. The goal is the lowest price because a CR2032 is basically the same no matter where you get it.
4. My car is just a few days over a year old and there are no signs that the fob that I use is suffering from a low battery.
5. I wouldn't recommend buying a battery and storing it. Batteries do have a shelf life. Better to buy one the moment you are going to use it because at least the time between manufacturer and installation is the least it is going to be.
6. Remote unlock will operate much longer than SKS because the power needs are much more limited. Only a transmission with a single press of the button rather than a longer duration communication with the vehicle.