FOB Buttons "dead" after 1 week..??..

[PhilM_TX]

So... We picked up our Hybrid Mav last Friday - one week ago today and love it.

Yesterday afternoon, when I left work and went to unlock the door with the button on my FOB there was no response to any button - unlock, lock, alarm, start - nothing. My stomach initially dropped, as I thought it was the truck that was "dead". I then tried the push button unlock code on the panel on door and it worked. I got in and everything looked fine. The truck started and drove fine.

When I got home, I tried the other fob and it works fine. I would not think that a one week old fob would have a dead battery, but stranger things have happened. I tried a new battery and that particular fob is still dead.

I googled this and didn't get any relevant hits.
Is there some sort of "sync" process to re-associate the key fob with the vehicle? If so, I have to wonder why it will "loose" it's config so fast.
I called a local dealership and they said I'd have to leave the truck and key with them until a hybrid certified tech could look at it - no loaners available. That didn't sit well, given that it's only 1 week old.

Has anyone else experienced this?
Thoughts, recommendations...???....

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[Suzukiridr14]

So... We picked up our Hybrid Mav last Friday - one week ago today and love it.

Yesterday afternoon, when I left work and went to unlock the door with the button on my FOB there was no response to any button - unlock, lock, alarm, start - nothing. My stomach initially dropped, as I thought it was the truck that was "dead". I then tried the push button unlock code on the panel on door and it worked. I got in and everything looked fine. The truck started and drove fine.

When I got home, I tried the other fob and it works fine. I would not think that a one week old fob would have a dead battery, but stranger things have happened. I tried a new battery and that particular fob is still dead.

I googled this and didn't get any relevant hits.
Is there some sort of "sync" process to re-associate the key fob with the vehicle? If so, I have to wonder why it will "loose" it's config so fast.
I called a local dealership and they said I'd have to leave the truck and key with them until a hybrid certified tech could look at it - no loaners available. That didn't sit well, given that it's only 1 week old.

Has anyone else experienced this?
Thoughts, recommendations...???....

Why would you need a hybrid certified tech for a fob problem? Should be able to be fixed by someone at the dealership. Can you use the other fob for the meantime?

 

[KevCuRaoi]

So... We picked up our Hybrid Mav last Friday - one week ago today and love it.

Yesterday afternoon, when I left work and went to unlock the door with the button on my FOB there was no response to any button - unlock, lock, alarm, start - nothing. My stomach initially dropped, as I thought it was the truck that was "dead". I then tried the push button unlock code on the panel on door and it worked. I got in and everything looked fine. The truck started and drove fine.

When I got home, I tried the other fob and it works fine. I would not think that a one week old fob would have a dead battery, but stranger things have happened. I tried a new battery and that particular fob is still dead.

I googled this and didn't get any relevant hits.
Is there some sort of "sync" process to re-associate the key fob with the vehicle? If so, I have to wonder why it will "loose" it's config so fast.
I called a local dealership and they said I'd have to leave the truck and key with them until a hybrid certified tech could look at it - no loaners available. That didn't sit well, given that it's only 1 week old.

Has anyone else experienced this?
Thoughts, recommendations...???....

Hmmmm that does sound odd. It may be a simply a bad fob. If anything needs to be (re)programmed, they will need both fobs. So keep that in mind.

 

[Snax]

That dealer seems clueless and unhelpful. Maybe call a different one?

 

[PhilM_TX]

Why would you need a hybrid certified tech for a fob problem? Should be able to be fixed by someone at the dealership. Can you use the other fob for the meantime?

My thoughts exactly. Yes, the other fob works fine.

Hmmmm that does sound odd. It may be a simply a bad fob. If anything needs to be (re)programmed, they will need both fobs. So keep that in mind.

Good point, thanks for the heads-up.

That dealer seems clueless and unhelpful. Maybe call a different one?

Agreed. I guess in this case convenience is overrated.

 

[David_Mav]

I had the same thing happen to my FOB. Battery latest about a month so grabbed the other one until I got a new battery. It works fine after the battery replacement

 

[PhilM_TX]

I had the same thing happen to my FOB. Battery latest about a month so grabbed the other one until I got a new battery. It works fine after the battery replacement

1st thing I tried was a new battery (CR2032)
Still dead. :-/

 

[uh50]

So... We picked up our Hybrid Mav last Friday - one week ago today and love it.

Yesterday afternoon, when I left work and went to unlock the door with the button on my FOB there was no response to any button - unlock, lock, alarm, start - nothing. My stomach initially dropped, as I thought it was the truck that was "dead". I then tried the push button unlock code on the panel on door and it worked. I got in and everything looked fine. The truck started and drove fine.

When I got home, I tried the other fob and it works fine. I would not think that a one week old fob would have a dead battery, but stranger things have happened. I tried a new battery and that particular fob is still dead.

I googled this and didn't get any relevant hits.
Is there some sort of "sync" process to re-associate the key fob with the vehicle? If so, I have to wonder why it will "loose" it's config so fast.
I called a local dealership and they said I'd have to leave the truck and key with them until a hybrid certified tech could look at it - no loaners available. That didn't sit well, given that it's only 1 week old.

Has anyone else experienced this?
Thoughts, recommendations...???....

I do not have a dead fob, but one of our fobs battery ran down quickly in about a month. I had an old used CR-2032 battery from another source so I used it. When I opened the key fob, it the battery was corroded and so were some of the connections. I guess water got into the fob someplace causing the corrosion.

So, I cleaned the corrosion off where I could see it choosing not to take it further apart other than the battery access area. After receiving some cheap replacement batteries from Amazon I put a new one in. It lasted 1-1/2 days. Put another cheap battery from Amazon and it lasted a few hours...I'm sure the neighbors are tired of my alarm going off and me not being able to shut it off except to get my wife's keys, or getting in the truck and putting the key in the ignition.

A new Duracell has fixed the problem.

 

[C from SF]

So... We picked up our Hybrid Mav last Friday - one week ago today and love it.

Yesterday afternoon, when I left work and went to unlock the door with the button on my FOB there was no response to any button - unlock, lock, alarm, start - nothing. My stomach initially dropped, as I thought it was the truck that was "dead". I then tried the push button unlock code on the panel on door and it worked. I got in and everything looked fine. The truck started and drove fine.

When I got home, I tried the other fob and it works fine. I would not think that a one week old fob would have a dead battery, but stranger things have happened. I tried a new battery and that particular fob is still dead.

I googled this and didn't get any relevant hits.
Is there some sort of "sync" process to re-associate the key fob with the vehicle? If so, I have to wonder why it will "loose" it's config so fast.
I called a local dealership and they said I'd have to leave the truck and key with them until a hybrid certified tech could look at it - no loaners available. That didn't sit well, given that it's only 1 week old.

Has anyone else experienced this?
Thoughts, recommendations...???....

Maybe open it up and see if circuit board just needs to be adjusted in place? See youtube video on how to do this.

 

[PhilM_TX]

Maybe open it up and see if circuit board just needs to be adjusted in place? See youtube video on how to do this.

Looks like that fella needed a bigger hammer... Lol!

Because the circuit board is held in alignment via the pins molded into the top case half, I do not believe my issue is alignment. It was a good idea, and I appreciate the recommendation. ;-)

I did run out during lunch and buy another pack of new batteries in order to eliminate the possibility of "two bad batteries" and that did not work either. I am all but certain I have have randomly encountered 3 bad batteries in a row.

Additionally, I called two more local dealerships. Both said they would have to keep the vehicle (and both fobs) and neither could offer a loaner. One was able to offer an early AM appt on Saturday - two weeks from tomorrow.

Good thing it's "just a key", I guess.

 

[jsus]

Best way to eliminate concerns of a dead battery would be to open both fobs and swap batteries. If the one that worked before stops, and the one that didn't work now works, then the one had a bad battery.

Otherwise it's a problem with the fob itself.

 

[Last Truck Ever]

Just FYI, I have a fob with my home security system, was going through them like once a month, one after another, a tech finally asked if I carried it in my pocket (yes) and suggested I was butt-pressing the button, unknowingly, causing premature death from overuse. So I had a 3D sleeve printed for it, with recessed places for the buttons. That was 3 years ago, still going strong. If you can find a cover that similarly prevents accidental presses, might be worth a try.

 

[PhilM_TX]

Best way to eliminate concerns of a dead battery would be to open both fobs and swap batteries. If the one that worked before stops, and the one that didn't work now works, then the one had a bad battery.

Otherwise it's a problem with the fob itself.

Done. Perhaps I did not spell that out clearly.

Thanks.

 

[ValenciaOrange]

If possible, I would use the one working fob. When you go in for your first oil change, ask the dealer to fix the fob or replace it.

 

[jsus]

If possible, I would use the one working fob. When you go in for your first oil change, ask the dealer to fix the fob or replace it.

Yep, probably the best way to go. Wait until you're going back for your first service, unless you need two working fobs or will service it elsewhere. The key itself still works to open the door and start the truck, as you noted, so you're good there.

Has nothing to do with it being a hybrid. It's not hybrid-specific components, your dealer service department was just confused. And it shouldn't be anything new for them to do.

There's a simple procedure to pair the fob to the truck. It's easier if you have two that work, you don't need extra tools. Otherwise, they'll probably need to hook it up to the computer. If they're not able to do that, it sounds like a defective fob that should be covered under warranty.

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