RichardW
Member Since: 16 Jun 2009
Location: Lossiemouth
Posts: 52
  
|
| Key battery life if not used |
|
Guys this is a new take on how long can i leave my D3 parked and expect it to start when I return.
I was out in the Outer Hebrides with my dad a few weeks back and before we'd even cast a fly to all the beautiful brown trout I managed to fall off a boat and seriously bu$$er up my right knee. An air-ambulance trip to Inverness later I was 6 hours in surgery and now have two big scars and an awful lot of physio to do before I'm better. I think it could easily be 3 months before I can consider driving again. My wife won't drive my car ("too big" and she's too worried about my reaction if she scratches it)
My dad got the Land Rover back from Uist and we've got her parked in a friends garage with my CTech 7000 charger to keep the battery happy. My worry is the two rechargable car key fobs. The vehicle is a 55 plate so these are getting on for 5 years old, I'm not sure just how happy they'll be left without a charge for this time? I've always been careful to swap them back and forward reasonably frequently and not get left with a dead one but ending up with 2 dead ones in a few months would be a real downer!
Any reassurance on battery life? Any good ideas for keeping them charged? Do dealers have a device to do this by any chance??
Regards
Richard
|
 1st Jul 2010 3:24 pm |
|
|
BarneyRubble
Member Since: 24 Nov 2009
Location: Naphill
Posts: 105
 
|
To test my key fob, my dealer left the key in the ignition overnight, with the battery on charge (in his nice secure workshop).
He then stated that the key was 
Not sure if I'd want to do that for any length of time though, especially if you're not near by and not able to chase after it when some scroat decides he wants to take it. Barney
D4 - 2106 Graphite, Montalcino Red
Written Off - 2010 90 Hard Top, Stornoway Grey
|
| 1st Jul 2010 4:15 pm |
|
|
PaulP
Member Since: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 4317
  
|
We always use the same key - the spare has been kept in the drawer since we bought it 3 years ago.
About 2 months ago my wife left for work in the other car and took the D3 key with her. I got the spare out of the draw and it worked perfectly.
I could have been lucky, but didn't have any issues at all - our D3 is from 09/2006.
Hope this helps and that you get better soon  2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto Buckingham Blue
2007 Golf GT DSG
|
| 1st Jul 2010 4:24 pm |
|
|
Davro
Member Since: 30 Jun 2007
Location: London
Posts: 352
|
Think I have used my spare once a year at best and it is still fine, although now I have said that it will probably fail next time !.
ps:
sorry about the knee !
|
| 1st Jul 2010 4:39 pm |
|
|
bigdave
Site Sponsor
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 9869
|
Hope the knee heals quickly!!
We rotate our keys every 6 months.
Mine are over 5 years old and never had a problem.
(Cue problem!!)
All things shipping, storage, transport. UK and worldwide.
E-mail [email protected]
|
| 1st Jul 2010 5:00 pm |
|
|
Roel
Member Since: 16 Aug 2008
Location: home
Posts: 1215
 
|
My wife's key isn't used much it has been lying around for 3 months easily and never had problems. Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK (traded it for a Britains 42101)
1984 90 TD5
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55WPT
Also member of club MTR
and Club Faultmate
Interested in my 4x4 history see my website: www.mudmachine.webklik.nl
Sorry it's in Dutch and with google translator it gets funny.
|
| 1st Jul 2010 5:05 pm |
|
|
RichardW
Member Since: 16 Jun 2009
Location: Lossiemouth
Posts: 52
|
Thanks for the replies, sounds like i should get away with it. Hopefully! You can imagine my impending disappointment if when i finally get OK to drive I cannot even get into "the beast"!
Regards
Richard
|
| 1st Jul 2010 5:53 pm |
|
|
DrLex
Member Since: 15 Jul 2005
Location: Ciderspace [Oi be in Zummerset]
Posts: 4863
|
Remember that, even if the battery in the fob is flat or won't unlock remotely, one can pop off the cap on the RHS of the passenger door handle & open with the key blade. The alarm will sound, but insertion of the key into the steering column will stop it. The unlock button on the dash will work for the remaining locked doors.
(There are a couple of fragile white plastic clips on the cap; try to pull the cap towards you and rotate as if hinged on the RHS - some kind soul will be along to post a picture from the handbook or a page ref. to one) Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Member of Club Med Sucks
|
| 1st Jul 2010 7:23 pm |
|
|
caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
 
|
If you tape the flat key fob to the one in the ignition it will charge it whilst driving.  “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
|
| 2nd Jul 2010 3:55 am |
|
|
Chicken Duck
Member Since: 11 Nov 2009
Location: Italy
Posts: 1387
|
Just for the record this thread prompted me to use my spare which hasn't been used for 3 years. Hey presto it worked
|
| 2nd Jul 2010 8:11 pm |
|
|
