Remote Features Disabled Message and Fob Proximity

[JanTheSexyVektan]

Bit of a back story here. My wife drives a hybrid CR-V with push button start and I of course drive my key start Maverick. She has complained for ages about how the spare remote hanging inside the house dies so quickly . I had no idea about what might cause that other than cheap batteries, but it wasn't too urgent. What I thought to be unrelated is how I constantly have the Remote Features Disabled message on my phone, although it never results in a problem. I use the keypad on the truck and pretty much always leave the key fob inside the truck. But then I got to thinking how these fobs are always communicating with the vehicle and probably impacting the battery, so I experimentally brought my fob inside with me and started carrying it at work. Magically, the message stopped. I bought a Faraday pouch and put the key in that and left it in the vehicle - no message. So now I store the spare keys in a pouch to keep them from communicating. I expect it will keep the battery fresh a lot longer.
If you are getting that message, try moving/storing the key farther away and see if it helps.

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[scottjl]

makes sense. once the vehicle knows the key is around it's constantly checking to make sure it's still there so the vehicle is still authorized to keep running.. constant "are you still there? are you still there?" checking could easily run it down.

dunno if the faraday pouch is necessary if it's far enough away, anything more than a few feet with some walls between you should be good. my keys are about 30' away with some walls and never had a problem.

 

[JanTheSexyVektan]

makes sense. once the vehicle knows the key is around it's constantly checking to make sure it's still there so the vehicle is still authorized to keep running.. constant "are you still there? are you still there?" checking could easily run it down.

dunno if the faraday pouch is necessary if it's far enough away, anything more than a few feet with some walls between you should be good. my keys are about 30' away with some walls and never had a problem.

I agree about the distance. Our garage key hook thingie is probably less than ten feet from the CR-V, so time will tell if the pouch helps. Can't hurt, I reckon, and I own the pouches now

 

[Matso]

In my experience, key fob proximity has nothing to do with the battery saver mode and the associated remote feature disabled notification. It's more complicated than that unfortunately. That is what the anticipated SSM53087 update is supposedly going to correct.

 

[JanTheSexyVektan]

In my experience, key fob proximity has nothing to do with the battery saver mode and the associated remote feature disabled notification. It's more complicated than that unfortunately. That is what the anticipated SSM53087 update is supposedly going to correct.

Since you have all the experience, what is happening with my truck and key fob?

 

[Matso]

I wish I could help but after nearly three years of struggling with this issue, on Both a '22 XLT and now on a '24 Lariat, no one has yet to solve it. And in the meantime I have done my own due diligence with numerous trials and as many trips to the dealership. And while I don't profess to have ALL the experience, I have been down the road with this one. And in the process my hope is that I can spare other members from pursuing a similarly futile endeavor. I think we are at the point where waiting and hoping that the software update saves the day, because it appears all other options have been exhausted. Good luck to you.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

...after nearly three years of struggling with this issue, on Both a '22 XLT and now on a '24 Lariat, no one has yet to solve it...

Apparently, even some '25MY Mavericks are having 12v battery issues. https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/still-have-deep-sleep-2025-maverick.62661/

Thankfully, my '23 has not had this issue. Yet.

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