If the battery-operated key fob/remote key for your vehicle shows any sign of weakening, REPLACE IMMEDIATELY. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a situation where you can't open your car door or start your vehicle. Fortunately, many batteries are easy and inexpensive to replace. Signs of weakening are:
1. You have to be closer to the a trunk or hatchback to open it.
2. The key battery warning light is lit on your dashboard. (This does not always happen.)
3. The vehicle will not start when the key fob is in a place where it's always worked - like a pants pocket.
I had two recent personal experiences and witnessed another. In one case, the trunk seemed to open more slowly and I had to be closer. Also, the battery would suddenly not work when the battery was in my pants pocket. I had to take it out. The next day, the battery died completely. Fortunately, it happened at home. In the second case, the dashboard key battery warning light came on. The next day that battery died.
Fortunately, I found on-line videos that showed how to replace each battery. The owner's manual of one vehicle also described how to replace the key. However, it was not as clear as the video. Both replacements only took a couple of minutes. One battery was very common. The second battery was a little harder to find, but I located one at Walgreen's. One of the batteries was four years old and the other was only two years old.
As a precaution, you could replace the battery every two years.
The key fob for a previous vehicle had a battery that could not be replaced. One had to buy a brand new key for nearly $200. Luckily, that battery lasted the four years I owned the vehicle.
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