Keyfob battery "low" warning

[heatmizr]

It's Baaaaaaack........! lol

[ard]

Are both FOBs doing the same thing?

Should tell you car vs fob, maybe?

[heatmizr]

Great idea. I will grab the other fob and use it for a while. It may be difficult to determine as it is Very sporadic, my primary one hasn't done it in a week...

[heatmizr]

So my wife used the X5 today with her remote. She said she got no "Remote Battery Discharged" message, but when she arrived to work the fob would not lock the vehicle.
This is starting to get annoying.

So my data is still a bit limited, I will keep experimenting.
But to Ard's point, if its the CAR and not the fob(s), why would it give the "Remote Battery Discharged" message ? The car should just be the receiving antennae.

[heatmizr]

Ok I used my wife's fob for a day. Not only wouldn't it lock/unlock remotely, it needed to be inserted into the dash slot to function. And the seat wouldn't move to her position until I pressed the memory button.

I went back to my fob. At first it was able to remotely lock the car, but I had to get right next to the door for it to unlock. But now its doing the same thing as the other fob - not recognized by vehicle at all until I insert it into the dash.
I measured both fob batteries - 2.98v and 3.01v.

Obviously the car's Comfort Access is failing altogether. This is good and bad - the fobs may be fine, and won't need replacing. But I don't know what needs attention on the car itself. However it sounds from my research that it would be covered under my CPO warranty as it seems to cover all electrical systems. Anyone have definitive info?

I was thinking of pulling the trigger on the Carly app and connector and am curious - Do non-engine/control system errors like this show up in the codes that get logged?
Worth mentioning --> I also got the ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCED POWER error a few days ago and wonder if this is related in any way. I re-started the car and it was fine for the remainder of the 400 mile trip (THANKS to reading similar stories on here).

[ard]

Have you replaced th FOB batteries? (I didnt go back to read...)

As the battery goes dead the fob will communicate this message to the car- for display- until they are so depleted they fail to work.

[heatmizr]

Yep, Both fob batteries are right about 3v.

So, I don't really understand how these failures could happen "gradually"... but they continue to do so.
Yesterday my fob buttons wouldn't work remotely but the car recognized it when inserted into slot, and I had all my programmed settings.
This morning I inserted the fob and started the engine, but ALL programmed functions are set to DEFAULT.

If its a module or whatever in the car, I find it very odd that its failing gradually, and not just all at once.
Also worrisome is that its changing each day, and I don't know what could fail next.

As I type this it occurs to me that perhaps these are all symptoms of the vehicle battery dying. As its sitting in the parking deck here at work I can't answer that immediately... Though I do have a voltage display I can put in my cigarette lighter to check...
Will check that during my break and report back, if nothing else will eliminate that possible cause.

[ard]

Modern electronics do not rely on simply a static "what does the voltmeter read" measurement for detecting battery charge and health.....FWIW

[heatmizr]

Yeah, I sometimes commute with the meter plugged into the cigarette lighter and try to watch what it does while driving. It's a pain because it keeps rotating between volts, charging watts (if phone plugged into it) and air temp. Wish it stayed on voltage...

Well after two years of enjoying Comfort Access I can tell you that not having it on a daily basis kinda sucks.
This morning I read the message "key not detected, engine unable to start" as I inserted the key and started the engine and drove off. Ok.

It's going in next week for two recalls (Fr d/s and airbag) and this will be on the list to address then, along with the rogue "Engine Malfunction" error I got 400 miles from home. Fun stuff!

[heatmizr]

MrF'in comfort access started working again the morning that I brought the vehicle into the dealer. I know they won't be able to fix it if it ain't broken.