Replace battery key message won't go away. suggestions ?
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,647
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From: Worldwide
2007 Mercedes E63 AMG
i bought 12 varta battires...went through them within 1.5 years...yes, all 12 batteries. some only lasted 2 weeks. all these batteries are all hit or miss regardless of brand. maybe thats because my key was very far away from the car? also tried Maxell batteries...all the same. funny thing is the batteries at Daiso seem to be working the best for me.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2022
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Holden Spark
Same issuX
Did you ever fins a solution to this? I'm having the same issue with my Holden Spark. Despite them saying the customer care would continue for Holden owners, it no longer seems to be functioning. You can ring the 0800 number, but it just says to try back within work hours (which is when I'm ringing already).
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From: The Great White North
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, Taycan GTS Sport Turismo, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars
Get FRESH brand-name batteries from a reputable source... not from Amazon where they may have been sitting in an overseas shipping container for two years.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2022
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Holden Spark
yep, only using reputable brand ones. The dealer suggested using the actual key to unlock and start the car, as he thought that would sync the remote. Made no sense to me as that key can be swapped between my 2 remotes anyway so isn't specific to each. Tried it anyway but it didn't work.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 386
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From: NorCal
'99 C43, '12 C63, '13 E350, '14 Sprinter
Dangit! I've been hit with this PITA myself tonight, but I think there's more to my issue.
Replaced the battery two months ago with a new 2025 based on the message. All was fine. Went and bought some beer tonight, a 7 mile round trip drive with no issues restarting at the store. Parked in the driveway at home, enjoyed a couple beers with me neighbor and then called it a night. Went to start the car to pull into the garage and saw the error. Only this time, the push to start didn't work either. Took the button out and inserted the key and received a message to remove the key. Got out, tested the fob by locking and unlocking the doors, and it's all good. Opened the door, was greeted with lights and the same replace battery error. So... replaced it. Tried both a 2025 and a 2032. Same events followed. No start, but all else seems to work fine. No prior symptoms of an impending ESL issue, so hoping it's the car battery. Threw the charger on for now and will disco the negative for a bit if the charging doesn't help. Will report back what I discover.
Update: ESL. On about the fifth try of putting the key in the ignition, I noticed a slight tick from it. Gave the wheel a couple thumps with my palm and it moved and then started. F me. Time for an emulator I guess. It'd be nice if the dash could tell you the wheel is locked instead of something completely unrelated. I also put the original battery back in and it's fine (for now).
Update 2: Installed an emulator after locating and removing the failing ESL. All is good now.
Replaced the battery two months ago with a new 2025 based on the message. All was fine. Went and bought some beer tonight, a 7 mile round trip drive with no issues restarting at the store. Parked in the driveway at home, enjoyed a couple beers with me neighbor and then called it a night. Went to start the car to pull into the garage and saw the error. Only this time, the push to start didn't work either. Took the button out and inserted the key and received a message to remove the key. Got out, tested the fob by locking and unlocking the doors, and it's all good. Opened the door, was greeted with lights and the same replace battery error. So... replaced it. Tried both a 2025 and a 2032. Same events followed. No start, but all else seems to work fine. No prior symptoms of an impending ESL issue, so hoping it's the car battery. Threw the charger on for now and will disco the negative for a bit if the charging doesn't help. Will report back what I discover.
Update: ESL. On about the fifth try of putting the key in the ignition, I noticed a slight tick from it. Gave the wheel a couple thumps with my palm and it moved and then started. F me. Time for an emulator I guess. It'd be nice if the dash could tell you the wheel is locked instead of something completely unrelated. I also put the original battery back in and it's fine (for now).
Update 2: Installed an emulator after locating and removing the failing ESL. All is good now.
Last edited by SDR; Jan 5, 2023 at 10:38 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2023
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GL 500
After trying various of the suggested solutions on this thread I kept having the same "replace key battery" message. I tried 2 brand new batteries but no luck, one of them even made the key useless ("key not detected"). I then tested the batteries and sure enough, one of them was weak and the other completely drained out.
CR2032 works but I don't like this solution because the battery is hard to get in (and harder to get out), and it makes the key cover bloated, which also makes it prone to water infiltrations. With my former Mercedes one of my keys was accidentally left in a pocket in the washing machine, but after drying it was still working. Pretty sure it would be dead if it was bloated like this, since the cover doesn't properly fulfil its role anymore.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2013
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From: The Great White North
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, Taycan GTS Sport Turismo, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars
While a CR2032 is the same voltage as a CR2025, it is physically too thick to properly fit in the key. You might manage to jam one in, but you may also mangle up the key itself in the process.
Newbie
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1
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c350e
My key worked after replacing the battery for the original CR2025, but after 2 months I got the same message again.
Following the advice which was posted here, I inserted the key and started the car instead of using the button to start the car.
I shut the car down and restarted using the button and the message was gone.
Following the advice which was posted here, I inserted the key and started the car instead of using the button to start the car.
I shut the car down and restarted using the button and the message was gone.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 31
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From: Socal
C63
Had this issue too. Tried replacing battery in vehicle and hard resets with a multitude of diff. youtube suggestions but just changing to a CR2032 battery did the trick for me.
DollarTree brand lols but it works
2012 c63 here
DollarTree brand lols but it works
2012 c63 here
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2021
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ML63 AMG
Doesn't figure. . !!
E400. So my remote key came up with a low battery message. I replaced the battery with a new CR2025. .. message didn't go away ..I tried a number of solutions other people suggested and finally swapped to a new CR2032 battery. .. problem solved .. yet when I put either of the new batteries on the multi meter they show exactly the same voltage. .. it doesn't figure. The CR2032 is an impossibly tight fit for the dongle and getting it out is a real problem..for later. ..🫢 !!
Edit: the CR2032 battery actually fits and the spring contacts take up the additional thickness .. the plastic cover fits without any issues ..only removing the battery is a problem. ..but it can be pried out with a strong pin. ..🤙
Edit: the CR2032 battery actually fits and the spring contacts take up the additional thickness .. the plastic cover fits without any issues ..only removing the battery is a problem. ..but it can be pried out with a strong pin. ..🤙
Last edited by Cornucopia; May 15, 2024 at 01:22 AM.
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E63 AMG
Worked
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W212
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E63 S AMG, CLS550 4matic, C63 Ed 507, Volvo XC90 T8s
Just resolved this problem in my GLK - changed out batteries twice in a day and message was still there. Inserted key into car with no push start and started then shut down and used push start and the problem was still there. Bent the key fob contacts upwards and the problem was still there. Finally started the car with push start, sat in there, took the battery out of the fob and reinstalled sitting in the car with the engine running. Then switched off the engine and restarted. Message went away. Finally. At least now I know what works for me.
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Just resolved this problem in my GLK - changed out batteries twice in a day and message was still there. Inserted key into car with no push start and started then shut down and used push start and the problem was still there. Bent the key fob contacts upwards and the problem was still there. Finally started the car with push start, sat in there, took the battery out of the fob and reinstalled sitting in the car with the engine running. Then switched off the engine and restarted. Message went away. Finally. At least now I know what works for me.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 62
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From: Goldfields, WA
AMG C63 W204
Just resolved this problem in my GLK - changed out batteries twice in a day and message was still there. Inserted key into car with no push start and started then shut down and used push start and the problem was still there. Bent the key fob contacts upwards and the problem was still there. Finally started the car with push start, sat in there, took the battery out of the fob and reinstalled sitting in the car with the engine running. Then switched off the engine and restarted. Message went away. Finally. At least now I know what works for me.
Perhaps I'll try this again except I'll meter out the battery beforehand to check the battery is good.
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Tried the trick of starting the car with push start and sat in the car, took the battery out of the fob and reinstalled sitting in the car with the engine running. Did not work for me.
Perhaps I'll try this again except I'll meter out the battery beforehand to check the battery is good.
Perhaps I'll try this again except I'll meter out the battery beforehand to check the battery is good.
Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: Ottawa, Ontario
2013 GLK350 Canada
1) Make sure to use a new Lithium battery (provides higher output current so its' voltage doesn't drop under load when it's in the middle of responding to the car). Not sure how car determines the battery is low.
2) Replace battery anywhere you like (I've never replaced it while in the car)
3) Start the car with the key after battery replacement (not the push button)
4) Don't use bargain batteries (they're usually not lithium from the ones I've seen, and near end of shelf life)
5) No need to bend battery contacts. They're already pressing on the battery, and believe me - you don't want to break them.
6) 2032 is thicker and lasts longer - bigger battery, more capacity (like your starter battery). Using a 2032 may squash the contacts.
7) 2025 and 2032 are designed to be the same voltage
8) Yup, 2032 is too big but will stay there. Might let water in. I've used both.
9) Going to try a dealer battery next, my lithium 2025 has lasted 4 months.
10) Try double clicking the lock button on the fob when locking up. I'm told this stops the car from querying the fob and discharging the fob (it responds to the car) if you're nearby. The car lights should flash 4 times.
I have used principles 1 to 8 over a variety of 6 cars with always the same results.
Ymmv.
Best,
2) Replace battery anywhere you like (I've never replaced it while in the car)
3) Start the car with the key after battery replacement (not the push button)
4) Don't use bargain batteries (they're usually not lithium from the ones I've seen, and near end of shelf life)
5) No need to bend battery contacts. They're already pressing on the battery, and believe me - you don't want to break them.
6) 2032 is thicker and lasts longer - bigger battery, more capacity (like your starter battery). Using a 2032 may squash the contacts.
7) 2025 and 2032 are designed to be the same voltage
8) Yup, 2032 is too big but will stay there. Might let water in. I've used both.
9) Going to try a dealer battery next, my lithium 2025 has lasted 4 months.
10) Try double clicking the lock button on the fob when locking up. I'm told this stops the car from querying the fob and discharging the fob (it responds to the car) if you're nearby. The car lights should flash 4 times.
I have used principles 1 to 8 over a variety of 6 cars with always the same results.
Ymmv.
Best,
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 163
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From: Surrey B.C.
2013 GLK 350 4 matic
I always use keyless go and today I tried to use the buttons on the key fob and they did not work. Changed the batteries again and buttons still did not work but could still lock and unlock car with keyless go and also start the car. Found I had to resync the fob with the car and all works fine. Never had to do this with any car before.
I kept getting remote battery warning after replacing battery and also swapping remotes.Then I read somewhere that a Panasonic battery would fix the problem. It did..👍 .!
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E63 AMG
MBWorld God!
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MB themselves uses Panasonic batteries as a genuine MB part so there is that.
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C63 507 Coupe
