[JasonB]

I got the low battery warning on the dash. I replaced with a CR2032 (energizer) battery. The key is sitll completely dead. I then tried a separate package of batteries (whose batteries I know work) and it is still completely dead. It seems like either the motherboard got damaged when I replaced the battery or it needs to be reprogrammed.

Has anyone else had this issue with the key fob after a battery replacement?

 

[Gatorgibson]

I got the low battery warning on the dash. I replaced with a CR2032 (energizer) battery. The key is sitll completely dead. I then tried a separate package of batteries (whose batteries I know work) and it is still completely dead. It seems like either the motherboard got damaged when I replaced the battery or it needs to be reprogrammed.

Has anyone else had this issue with the key fob after a battery replacement?

May try giving dealership a call. Could be a quick fix.

 

[tomupnorth]

I just replaced wife's battery today and had no issues. She also had been getting the battery warning.

Assuming you replaced it properly i.e. correct polarity and no buttons pinched mechanically etc. the only other thing I can imagine is a static electric discharge that damaged the fob. Agree to call the dealer but they can probably only sell you a replacement.

 

[greecer1]

I, too, got the low battery warning for the Key Fob on my dash display last week. My other car (Ford) has had its battery for 10 years, so what's up with this only lasting 26 months on the Passport.
When I took the Passport Key Fob apart, which was not obvious how to do, the whole thing fell apart. It did not break, but the buttons were loosely inserted into their Key Fob holes and fell to the floor, and the rubber silicone circuit board just popped out of its Key Fob holder. It took some time to figure out how to get this thing back together using my spare Key Fob as a visual guide on what goes where.
I am not impressed with my Honda Key Fob, but to add discussion to the original poster who replaced the battery and now his Key Fob doesn't work, my thought is that it is not re-assembled exactly as it is supposed to be... something isn't making electrical contact somewhere.

 

[jasonpp]

I, too, got the low battery warning for the Key Fob on my dash display last week. My other car (Ford) has had its battery for 10 years, so what's up with this only lasting 26 months on the Passport.
When I took the Passport Key Fob apart, which was not obvious how to do, the whole thing fell apart. It did not break, but the buttons were loosely inserted into their Key Fob holes and fell to the floor, and the rubber silicone circuit board just popped out of its Key Fob holder. It took some time to figure out how to get this thing back together using my spare Key Fob as a visual guide on what goes where.
I am not impressed with my Honda Key Fob, but to add discussion to the original poster who replaced the battery and now his Key Fob doesn't work, my thought is that it is not re-assembled exactly as it is supposed to be... something isn't making electrical contact somewhere.

The reason why your old Ford key lasted that long is because they weren't keyless start fobs.
Keyless start fobs work continuously sending out signal to the car vs the old fob only sending out signal when pressed.

 

[greecer1]

The reason why your old Ford key lasted that long is because they were keyless entry fobs.
Keyless entry fobs work continuously sending out signal to the car vs the old fob only sending out signal when pressed.

That makes sense. Thanks.

 

[tomupnorth]

The reason why your old Ford key lasted that long is because they weren't keyless start fobs.
Keyless start fobs work continuously sending out signal to the car vs the old fob only sending out signal when pressed.

And while the bad news of that is that batteries seem only to last about a year, the good news is that at least now the CR2032 battery used therein is readily available and reasonably cheap. I think wife paid $8 bucks for a card of 4 batteries the other day.

Don't like having to bust the thing apart of course, given there's always a chance to mess the fob up. Still, it's a maintenance item that some of us are just getting used to.

 

[greecer1]

So I have one keyfob that I use routinely, and a spare that hangs on a hook in my closet. Do you think the non-used keyfob will burn through a battery in the same 2 year time frame as the one in regular use? Maybe I ought to try the spare out with some frequency to make sure it isn't hanging in the closet with a dead battery.

 

[Gatorgibson]

So I have one keyfob that I use routinely, and a spare that hangs on a hook in my closet. Do you think the non-used keyfob will burn through a battery in the same 2 year time frame as the one in regular use? Maybe I ought to try the spare out with some frequency to make sure it isn't hanging in the closet with a dead battery.

I was told while driving Fords for years to change out the spare every 6 months to keep the battery charged in the spare. Now not sure that is the same with Honda? Not even sure it made any difference in the Fords because i always forgot to do it.

 

[jasonpp]

So I have one keyfob that I use routinely, and a spare that hangs on a hook in my closet. Do you think the non-used keyfob will burn through a battery in the same 2 year time frame as the one in regular use? Maybe I ought to try the spare out with some frequency to make sure it isn't hanging in the closet with a dead battery.

If it's not being used, it will go into sleep mode to save battery.

 

[CHEFERMAN65]

If it's not being used, it will go into sleep mode to save battery.

You know this how? Nowhere in the manual I have makes any mention of "sleep mode".
Page 135 refers to a 2 year battery life pending use and storage of the fob. The fob fob consumes battery when transmitting radio waves to communicate. If stored near electronic devices such as computers or televisions it has the potential to transmit and draw power reducing battery life.

Toyota has a fob that can be put into sleep mode, Honda, specifically the Passport, makes no such claim.

 

[tomupnorth]

Surfing a bit on this subject I found two tidbits:

1. That if you store your keyfob within easy range of the vehicle, they communicate unnecessarily. I dunno if this is true but it seems logical, nor do I know what the effective range might be, but it seems prudent to keep our keyfobs well out-of-range of our vehicles when not in use!

2. Like anything, there are quality batteries and there are crappy batteries, and the best ones seem to be Maxell from Japan. I seem to have read this iin the past. And my goodness these are awfully cheap (though we don't buy from Amazon any more!).

https://www.amazon.com/CR2032-Maxell-LITHIUM-5-BATTERIES/dp/B0002TJGQS/ref=sr_1_4_s_it

 

[jasonpp]

You know this how? Nowhere in the manual I have makes any mention of "sleep mode".
Page 135 refers to a 2 year battery life pending use and storage of the fob. The fob fob consumes battery when transmitting radio waves to communicate. If stored near electronic devices such as computers or televisions it has the potential to transmit and draw power reducing battery life.

Toyota has a fob that can be put into sleep mode, Honda, specifically the Passport, makes no such claim.

They are not gonna mention the details of how the remotes work. But usually for anything to work on a coin cell to last 2 years, there will be some kind of sleep mode.

 

[stevenD]

Did you try your second Key Fob?

(sorry did not read thru everything)

 

[mjsparky363]

This is more a question about starting when the remote goes dead "far from home". Has anyone tried to use the start procedure listed in the owners manual on p620 ?

 

[tomupnorth]

Yeah someone here, who is replacing their battery, should pull the dead one and then tap the START button to see that their PP starts with a completely dead fob.

 

[greecer1]

Did you try your second Key Fob?

(sorry did not read thru everything)

I just tried my 2nd key fob spare, that has been rarely used and is hanging in a closet for the same amount of time that the daily primary key has been in use. No issues, the spare key works without the warning for a low battery.

 

[Coyotefred]

Does anyone think there is any truth to this? I've replaced the batt in my wife's fob three times now in 2 years which seems too frequent. She keeps it in a purse that is probably 30' from the vehicle (although straightline signal would have to go through house wall and concrete garage wall).

This just seems wasteful/a hassle. Would putting the fob in some kind of metallic or RFID-blocking pouch prevent the unnecessary communication and prolong battery life?

Surfing a bit on this subject I found two tidbits:

1. That if you store your keyfob within easy range of the vehicle, they communicate unnecessarily. I dunno if this is true but it seems logical, nor do I know what the effective range might be, but it seems prudent to keep our keyfobs well out-of-range of our vehicles when not in use!

[snip]

 

[tomupnorth]

You stand in the garage while Wife is where the purse is kept, and reaches-in to whereever in it (side pocket? other?) the fob is, and she pushes the lock and/or unlock button. Does it work from that distance? If not, I'd guess "proximity" is not your issue.

You could also buy her an RFID purse, but it might take a year or two to tell if that worked!

 

[Coyotefred]

Good thought...I'll give that a try

You stand in the garage while Wife is where the purse is kept, and reaches-in to whereever in it (side pocket? other?) the fob is, and she pushes the lock and/or unlock button. Does it work from that distance? If not, I'd guess "proximity" is not your issue.

You could also buy her an RFID purse, but it might take a year or two to tell if that worked!