[Indalo]

Yesterday, just as I was about to exit my car, I spotted a message in the information panel in the instrument binnacle which informed me that the key fob battery was low.

As luck would have it, I had a recently purchased CR2032 remaining from a 2-pack I bought when I replaced my door bell battery a couple of weeks ago. It took all of two minutes to complete the task on the fob as I had replaced one in my previous Hyundai shortly before I traded it for the Optima and knew how simple the task is.

On reflection, I had noticed that, on occasions recently, the bleeps and flashes hadn't occurred as I approached the tailgate of the locked car and I had to step away and approach again for the mechanism to kick in. I just put it down to the cold weather at the time but now I know what it was!

I don't know whether other owners have had to change that battery yet but just for information, my car is 3 years and 7 weeks old and has always been locked and unlocked using the door handle button, rather than the fob which is always in my pocket.

 

[Trunka]

It just so happens I had the same low battery message appear on my display yesterday. My car is now 3 years 3 months old. I did start to notice the buttons weren't as responsive a couple of weeks leading up to this.

 

[Indalo]

It just so happens I had the same low battery message appear on my display yesterday. My car is now 3 years 3 months old. I did start to notice the buttons weren't as responsive a couple of weeks leading up to this.

The warning is a nice touch by KIA as it would be a real faff to approach the car one day….in torrential rain (sod's law) and find that the fob doesn't work and then having to remove the end piece of the driver's door handle and insert the key……if you successfully removed the end-piece!

I have the 4th of 5 pre-paid services coming up in November, after which I may look to part-ex against something new. As it looks as though there won't be any new Optima Sportwagons coming to the UK and not particularly liking the rest of the range, I don't know what I might replace the SW with, come the time to decide. All the estate cars that I like are rather expensive (for me) and I won't be able to go full-electric or PHEV as I have to street park, quite a long way from the house.

That leaves regular hybrid or more of the same, be it diesel (my preference) or petrol and the know-nothing politicians have demonised the former, probably forever more…….or until the next science-based review of vehicle emissions reveals that petrol cars are actually only marginally better than diesel in that regard.

Meanwhile, the SW remains a nice place in which to cover the miles safely, with space for everything I need to shift.

 

[Trunka]

I'm in the same boat as you. I'll look to keep the car for a couple more years, its currently on 50k miles. I would of loved to get the new Optima SW, especially after seeing the pictures of it

I'll probably look at getting a PHEV, with my favourites currently being the new Peugeot 508 SW or a Volvo V60. The only issue is making sure the next car has all the luxuries that I am now used to with the Optima....

 

[Indalo]

Yesterday, as I switched off my car, I happened to notice a low fob battery warning in the instrument binnacle. After performing a quick search, I was able to see my previous post on fob battery replacement which revealed that the previous battery was installed about 11 months ago..

As the original battery lasted just over three years, I was quite surprised to find that the replacement had only lasted around 11 months but that could be simply that the replacement I used was of poorer quality than the KIA original fitment.

That said, I changed it yesterday for a Panasonic one and I shall hope for better longevity from that one. Depending on how long I keep the car, I might never discover if the Panasonic is any better. As the car is running like a dream, free of rattles and returning good fuel economy, I'm reluctant to get rid of it at the present time.

ps I just checked the battery that I removed last evening. It was a Duracell but I'm not sure that is meaningful in any way.

 

[Wilco]

Yesterday, just as I was about to exit my car, I spotted a message in the information panel in the instrument binnacle which informed me that the key fob battery was low.

As luck would have it, I had a recently purchased CR2032 remaining from a 2-pack I bought when I replaced my door bell battery a couple of weeks ago. It took all of two minutes to complete the task on the fob as I had replaced one in my previous Hyundai shortly before I traded it for the Optima and knew how simple the task is.

On reflection, I had noticed that, on occasions recently, the bleeps and flashes hadn't occurred as I approached the tailgate of the locked car and I had to step away and approach again for the mechanism to kick in. I just put it down to the cold weather at the time but now I know what it was!

I don't know whether other owners have had to change that battery yet but just for information, my car is 3 years and 7 weeks old and has always been locked and unlocked using the door handle button, rather than the fob which is always in my pocket.

 

[Wilco]

I always use the button on the doors. So are you saying it could be the battery. . .??

 

[Wilco]

Yesterday, as I switched off my car, I happened to notice a low fob battery warning in the instrument binnacle. After performing a quick search, I was able to see my previous post on fob battery replacement which revealed that the previous battery was installed about 11 months ago..

As the original battery lasted just over three years, I was quite surprised to find that the replacement had only lasted around 11 months but that could be simply that the replacement I used was of poorer quality than the KIA original fitment.

That said, I changed it yesterday for a Panasonic one and I shall hope for better longevity from that one. Depending on how long I keep the car, I might never discover if the Panasonic is any better. As the car is running like a dream, free of rattles and returning good fuel economy, I'm reluctant to get rid of it at the present time.

ps I just checked the battery that I removed last evening. It was a Duracell but I'm not sure that is meaningful in any way.

 

[Wilco]

When checking the previous battery on my meter still showing 3.2v. Only been in use 16 days when warning mess popped up. Car only 16 month old.

 

[Indalo]

I always use the button on the doors. So are you saying it could be the battery. . .??

95% of the time, I use the door button both to enter and to lock the car. On the odd occasion, I may use the fob to lock and/or unlock the car.

Either way, the battery, like all batteries, degrades over time. In my case, I ought to replace the battery now on my spare key fob as it was replaced at the same time as I did the other one. I have two or three fresh Panasonics so I might as well use one. If I remember, I shall check for a 'use by', 'best by' or some kind of date on the packaging.

 

[anonandy]

Hi Indalo,

Yours lasted a lot longer than mine in the first place, I'm on a September 2018 Optima and got the battery low warning a fortnight ago. I'd say I probably use the door button around 95% of the time as well.

 

[ooorya]

I had to change the battery in my Optima GT LIne S key fob earlier this year, the car was 3 years old.

I will say what piddles me off about the fob, I have to remember leaving the fob in the house as everytime I clean the car and pass by the boot the damn thing keeps opening

 

[Sad555]

Thanks for the posts on this topic,when I read this a while ago i ordered some batteries CR2032 (online market)and put a couple in the car and kept the rest at home,well after returning from weekly food collection the fob warning light appeared on the dashboard and thanks to seeing this post was able to replace the fob battery very easily,was never a Boy Scout but on this occasion I was prepared,ps car just over 30 months old.

 

[Indalo]

I have to remember leaving the fob in the house as everytime I clean the car and pass by the boot the damn thing keeps opening

I'm sure you know this but I'll mention it anyway. You have two ways of avoiding that nuisance:

1) Switch off the smart tailgate feature in settings while you clean the car.

2) Place the fob inside a sealed 'Faraday' pouch and keep it in your pocket during the cleaning task.

The Eastern European chaps at my local Tesco car wash do an excellent job on the outside of my car for £10 and I do the inside myself when necessary. They never have a problem with the tailgate opening unexpectedly even though I leave the fob in the car while they do the job. I think that's down to experience as lots of cars now feature that facility.

 

[GPHolman]

I had to change the battery in my Optima GT LIne S key fob earlier this year, the car was 3 years old.

I will say what piddles me off about the fob, I have to remember leaving the fob in the house as everytime I clean the car and pass by the boot the damn thing keeps opening

If you press tailgate button on your keyfob when the tailgate starts beeping then the automatic opening will be temporarily disabled. I do this whenever I'm cleaning the car.

 

[Indalo]

If you press tailgate button on your keyfob when the tailgate starts beeping then the automatic opening will be temporarily disabled.

Well, that's a new one on me! Mind you, as I have never cleaned my car since I first got it, that's no surprise.

 

[ooorya]

If you press tailgate button on your keyfob when the tailgate starts beeping then the automatic opening will be temporarily disabled. I do this whenever I'm cleaning the car.

Many thanks and to Indalo as well, I never knew of those options.

 

[ooorya]

The Eastern European chaps at my local Tesco car wash do an excellent job on the outside of my car for £10 and I do the inside myself when necessary. They never have a problem with the tailgate opening unexpectedly even though I leave the fob in the car while they do the job. I think that's down to experience as lots of cars now feature that facility.

Have had a few minor body work repairs done to mine, I bought the insurance when I purchased the car having always said I wouldn't buy that type of insurance but it allows 3 repairs a year and if I had to pay the repairs I have had done it would have likely cost a lot more and I can have another 3 before May this year.

Anyway I digress, the reason I mentioned that, one of the chaps that had done some re-spraying said he never takes his car to any car wash as there is something in the cleaner they use that damages the paintwork over time. No idea if that is true

 

[GPHolman]

Have had a few minor body work repairs done to mine, I bought the insurance when I purchased the car having always said I wouldn't buy that type of insurance but it allows 3 repairs a year and if I had to pay the repairs I have had done it would have likely cost a lot more and I can have another 3 before May this year.

Anyway I digress, the reason I mentioned that, one of the chaps that had done some re-spraying said he never takes his car to any car wash as there is something in the cleaner they use that damages the paintwork over time. No idea if that is true

That sounds plausible, they only have a couple of minutes to get the grime off so the chemicals used may be more aggressive. The aggressive rotary action slapping against the paintwork may cause micro scratches too. They have a use if you're in a real rush and just need the worst of the grim taken off, but it's nowhere near as good as a handwash.

 

[Turnup]

Have had a few minor body work repairs done to mine, I bought the insurance when I purchased the car having always said I wouldn't buy that type of insurance but it allows 3 repairs a year and if I had to pay the repairs I have had done it would have likely cost a lot more and I can have another 3 before May this year.

Anyway I digress, the reason I mentioned that, one of the chaps that had done some re-spraying said he never takes his car to any car wash as there is something in the cleaner they use that damages the paintwork over time. No idea if that is true

Well I suspect that the nylon brushes are what does the damage.

WRT chemicals - does anyone think that all car washes use the same jollop - I hate these foundless generalisations.