Intelligent key battery

jdTrader

jdTrader

Staff
Moderator
Car
2009 FX50S
So every 3-4 weeks or so, I noticed that when I got in the car, the "Intelligent Key battery discharge indicator" light would be on and then it would go off as soon as I put the key in the Intelligent Key port. I was under the impression that it needed to be "charged" and putting it in the key port "charges" the intelligent key battery.

I also thought this was the case because after I would see that indicator and put it in the port while driving for > 1/2 hour, the next few weeks, the indicator would NOT light up. Two days ago it started lighting up so I did the same thing, but now every time I start the car the indicator comes on even after keeping it in the port.

Then I checked out the manual and it says nothing about charging, so I'm not sure where I read or heard that and now am thinking it was just coincidence that it just would not show the warning message before and now I just need to change the battery.

1. So does the port actually charge or do anything to the key or is it really just a place holder for the key fob and that is the only purpose?
2. Looks like I need the CR2032 battery. When I replace it, will it keep all it's settings and memory or am I possibly going to lose something?
 
No,that port don't charge key. it is only place holder for key

replace battery,there is nothing to lose. I have replased battery after 2 years of operation.

I have another problem:the second key doesn't work (i've alredy changed battery - don't help such operation)
 
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Haha what a coicidence! I just changed mine last week cause the low battery indicator would come up on the OLED screen in the cluster. Sometimes it would say the battery is low and sometimes it wouldn't. I went to the dealer and bought a new battery. They gave me a duracell battery this time.


And yeah that port isn't for charging but it does serve another purpose besides just being a keyfob holder. If your battery is ever completely dead and you use the valet key to unlock the doors. You still need to be able to start the car. That's where the keyfob holder port comes in handy. If you insert the keyfob into the port it bypasses the push button immobilizer to let you start the car.
 
jdTrader said:
You can start the car without using the push button start? I think I'm misunderstanding this...
Click to expand...

No, I meant normally you can't start the car unless the key fob is in the car. But if your key fobs battery is completely drained and not functional and the push button doesn't detect the keyfob since the battery is completely dead, you can insert the key fob into the fob holder hole thing and the push button will let the car start even though it doesn't recognize the key fob since its dead.
 
George said:
He wanted to say, that you can insert key in its' holder and start the car when battery is completely discharged
Click to expand...

Oh gotcha! When key battery is completely discharged....I don't know why I was thinking car battery.....I'm been reading to much of cold start and battery issues on the IS forum! :)
 
Ok, respawning an old thread, but I have a few relevant questions.

Noticed you guys have the 2nd gen, with the little key fob garage. I have a first gen, with the ikey, but you turn the key socket with nothing in it version. Does the first gen have a "your key battery is no good" indicator?

I've been noticing lately that sometimes I have to be close to the car to use the remote.
This morning I went to start my car turned the key, didn't start, (got the unlock) I got out looked at the engine bay, and checked oil level, (not sure why, just seemed like the thing to do). Then I got in and tried again, and it worked fine. Dealer said it might be that the battery was low, so I was able to get signal for the unlock, but when I tried to start the car, the signal was too weak, so it was blocked by the security system. Anyone heard of a similar issue?

I might try testing out a few scenarios of this just to figure it out.
 
There is a small red indicator light on the brick key. It is super bright when you press any keys, indicating the battery strength. It faints with the battery going low or doesn't come on at all when it's dead.
And yes your car will put itself into the security mode if the battery is dead.
 
On the 03-08 pull the key out. It happened to me once and it was weirdly more difficult than I thought it would be. The key didn't want to seem to fit and then when it did, the ignition interlock kept stopping me. Eventually I got it going. More convenient on my old Lexus where if the key battery died, you can just touch the fob to the push start button and the car coul read the signal.
 
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