Remote Fob Batteries

My Freelander 1 remote fob seems to eat batteries, I get to unlock the doors only a couple of times with a new battery before it starts bleeping to tell me that the battery is low. I have tried about 10 new batteries of different makes and sources and I have cleaned the contacts in the fob and also cleaned the switches with contact cleaner but nothing has worked. Has anybody got any other ideas? I really don't want to spend £140 at the dealer for a new fob.

Yeh, I don't know what the score is with these fobs and batteries. Mine started beeping, so I renewed the batteries in both fobs.

The first one I tried works sometimes but often will still beep. The 2nd one didn't work at all. On investigating that one, the earth/clip that holds the battery has broken away when changing the battery. So we've been using the one that beeps 50% of the time at us for about 3 years now.

I suspect that one of the capacitors has begun to degrade. This could be leaking some current away from the battery. I have one fob that works perfectly and one that tells me to replace the battery 80% of the time. I just use the correctly functioning fob.

I'm sure the hand book states not handling the battery directly, use a tissue or some such. Other wise the battery life is very much reduced...

Stand to be corrected, but followed it and got two years out of a cheap battery.

Cheers all.

MULDERKE said:

I'm sure the hand book states not handling the battery directly, use a tissue or some such. Other wise the battery life is very much reduced...

Stand to be corrected, but followed it and got two years out of a cheap battery.

Cheers all.

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Correct. Handling the batteries can cause discharging and surface corrosion.

Tried 2 new batteries and didn't touch them at all, got low battery beeps straight away with them both.
Is there anything other than the fob that can cause this? I don't want to shell out for a new fob only to find it doesn't fix it.

Ledbelly said:

Tried 2 new batteries and didn't touch them at all, got low battery beeps straight away with them both.
Is there anything other than the fob that can cause this? I don't want to shell out for a new fob only to find it doesn't fix it.

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There was another thread on this very recently and someone suggested that the battery contacts in the fob might need cleaning or have slight corrosion.

I'm wondering if a watch repairer might be able to give it an overhaul?

If you want a replacement fob, these are possibly the best priced option https://www.remotekey.co.uk/land-rover-freelander-key-fob/ I'm pretty sure I've heard of people using these. You can continue to use your key while waiting for this and then yours will be backup.

These people say they will repair your existing fob for £28 https://www.remotekeyrepairs.com/shop/rover/mg-rover-2-button-fob-repair-service/ You won't have a fob while its away for repair though - and depending on year, your car will be immobilised.

Could just need a slight rub with a Non abrasive cleaner/ De-greaser/ solvent. Job done....

Never heard of major probs on this subect, have to say.

What years were the immobiliser linked to the fob?

Flying Scotsman! said:

What years were the immobiliser linked to the fob?

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Pre- MY 2001. Before 2001 the immobilizer transponder was in the fob. After 2001 it was moved to the key. The keys are different shapes between non -transponder and transponder keys. The flat key is early. The teardrop shaped key has a transponder in it.

cheers!

I think it is a result of Rover using cheap components or shoddy suppliers, we were changing batteries in both fobs for our car every 2 to 3 months, I was buying 10 at a time in the end and always kept a spare in the car. The battery in My fob for my 2002 Suzuki GSXR has only been replaced once since new.

Col