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      08-08-2013, 07:56 AM   #1
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Help, key acting strangely

I've recently used a key which had been sitting around for awhile and it behaves a little erratically. Sometimes the alarm goes off on its own, the lock button stops working temporarily, or the unlock button opens the trunk.

Could the key battery be depleted? And if so, does it get recharged when put in the ignition slot? Or do I need a new battery?

I don't have CA, just the regular key with the alarm option. Any suggestions would be highly appreciated!
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      08-08-2013, 08:16 AM   #2
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Could be a low battery. Not having CA means the key charges while in the ignition slot. Let it recharge and see if that resolves your issues...
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      08-08-2013, 12:53 PM   #3
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If the battery is way depleted it may not recharge. I would just change the battery in the key fob, it opens up and has a small camera-like battery that you can buy at the drug store.
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      08-08-2013, 02:13 PM   #4
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Hmmm... Be careful when replacing the battery on a non-CA car. CA equipped cars use a non-rechargeable watch battery available at any drug store but non-CA equipped cars use a rechargeable battery. Not sure those are simply available at the drug store...
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      08-08-2013, 03:06 PM   #5
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Mine is CA, and is rechargeable, and is replaceable, too. I wasn't aware of the difference between the non-CA.
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      08-08-2013, 06:12 PM   #6
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CA keys are not rechargeable, they use a simple CR2032 battery. You can put the key fob in the ignition slot but it does not charge. The non-CA key does charge in the ignition slot... It has been this way since CA was introduced, having had CA on my '08 550 and and my '11 M3.
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      08-08-2013, 06:39 PM   #7
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How long should a CA key battery last?
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      08-08-2013, 07:10 PM   #8
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Good question! I changed my battery for my M3 key a couple of months ago as it seemed to not work consistently. Had never changed the battery on my Sept 2010 built car so 2.5+ years. What I can't be sure of is if the dealer ever changed it for me during a normal service. Never changed my key in three years of owning my '08 550 but I think the dealer changed it once during a regular service.
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      08-08-2013, 08:23 PM   #9
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So I guess changing every 2 yrs would be a good pattern to follow. I've got a zillion CR2032 batteries around. Maybe I'll throw a set in the glove box.
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      08-08-2013, 08:29 PM   #10
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Agreed on the 2 yrs but I have never experienced an outright failure. I have noticed the CA not working as advertised on occasion and that is usually a good indicator to change the battery...
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      08-09-2013, 07:03 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kscarrol View Post
CA keys are not rechargeable, they use a simple CR2032 battery. You can put the key fob in the ignition slot but it does not charge. The non-CA key does charge in the ignition slot... It has been this way since CA was introduced, having had CA on my '08 550 and and my '11 M3.
Thanks, I stand corrected. I could have sworn that my key improved after plugging it in!---probably a placebo effect. Go figure.

So, there is never a need for me to plug in my CA key into the ignition slot? I'll continue to just change out the battery.
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      08-09-2013, 07:34 AM   #12
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Correct, no need to plug in the key. Only time mine has been plugged in by the occasional valet who doesn't know the system. Otherwise it stays in my pocket.
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      08-09-2013, 11:00 AM   #13
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Going on 5 years here and I've never replaced the battery in my CA key. Still works like a champ.
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      08-16-2013, 12:26 AM   #14
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I have had my fare share of CA issues with bmw's (long story) My wife's key was going nuts so I did this. Replaced the battery, used the key in the fob to lock/unlock the care, then put the CA fob in the dash, start the car, shut it off, remove the fob and all was well. I read this in another thread and it worked like a charm. worth a shot.
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      08-22-2013, 03:42 PM   #15
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i can't find my second key its somewhere in my apt....dammit.
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