Battery In Key Died?

[AwaKen]

Yesterday my car broke down at a mates place, all i done was switched it off for about 2minutes, ran inside, came back and it wouldnt start

It goes to tick over, then dies..then just won't even do anything.

I've had racq out and they said its most likely my key, and to get my car towed to holden and get them to reset the key etc

Just wondering if it could just be the battery inside the key that went? and if its at all possible to replace that battery? Or does that reset all the codes etc too then?

Cheers

Richard

[accentstencil]

You should be able to start the car even if the battery in the key is flat, I think.

[jessedevery]

happened to me too in a VR... was strange ended having to get mechanic to change the ignition cylinder

[bigonexeon]

yeah you should as the battery in the key is for the central locking not the actual ignition

[commsirac]

I was under the impression that the electronics in the key also unlocked the immobilser via the metal contact on the end of the module making contact with the rings around the ignition lock and that the battery would need to be working. Didnt think it would be possible to start the car with just the key otherwise.....Im talking vx here, dont know about other models atm. However, it does seem strange that the battery would suddenly give up, without warning, ie reduced range on the central locking etc......or maybe it doesnt work that way.

[vt_on_20s]

yeah the little metal semi circle rings around the barrel touch the metal ball on the key and let the car know its the key... i tested this by putting a peice of plastic between the metal ball on the key and the metal on the barrel and the starter motor doesnt kick... you need the get the batt fixed on the key

[luminex]

yea bro, my dad had the battery in his key go flat, they are supposed to be irreplaceable, but he cut the grove on the side with a knife and managed to get it open. Then all he did was replace the battery and glue it back up.

Good as new

[lockmac]

had the same problem with a vxii calais... was the key that was dead..got the battery replaced and she was sweet as pie

[vxcalais_01]

Wheres the best/cheapest place to get a new key cut for a VX ? Mister Minute or whatever i think charge $80.

[TheForgotten]

fat chance getting any cheaper than that really. holden charge $170 last i checked. unfortunately with mr minit you need a functioning key to copy the code from

[9C1pack]

Or the GMH plastic credit card thingy that came with the car from new.
It has the;
Radio code,
The key blade code, so the locksmith can cut a new key blade without even having your old key.
The security code so the locksmith can encode the key head.

[commsirac]

I bought a new key and remote for my vx from a local locksmith $100 as I only had one and the buttons were worn through and thought a spare might be a good idea!. They plugged into the cars computer to get the code to incode the new key, but as probably stated ^, there are numbers where they can just "key" in the details for the new remote. They also cut a new key, however, I had problems with this not turning in the barrel properly easily, they claimed the barrel was worn, key to specs etc. They actually had a couple of retrys at making the keys and all had the same problem(you'd think a locksmith could look at the old key and duplicate the worn bits), they gave me all the attempts, so now I have two spares which can turn in the barrel given a few minutes of jiggling! Had them take the old key out of the old unit and stick that in the new remote, just have to undo two screws and it works fine.