Hi,
Been reading posts about the cost of replacement keys, scary.
So this might be a stupid question but I have to ask before I stuff up and incur the high cost of a replacement.
I am experiencing trouble locking the doors. Sometimes one press of the button does it, other times it requires numerous presses, does not matter if short, long hard or soft press.
So is there a battery in the key, if so how easy is it to replace?
Brought the car last October so do not have history of key.

not 100% so look for more replies but i think this is just a 380 thing. as my car does it and so does Chris' (380ftw), replacing the battery doesnt affect it. although theres no problem with coding etc for just a replacement of bettery. pop it open chuck the new battery in and put her back together.

i have 2 keys... i used one for over 12 months or so and this one is playing up as Captain described... i had spare key which im using now and open and closes on any distance without a problem... im about to get new battery for that one... but im no rushing... i think its a battery

Sometimes it's the battery, sometimes one of the connections comes a bit loose.

I had the same problem a couple of years ago, took it into the dealer, the service counter bloke popped open the remote (insert smallish flat blade screwdriver in slot, you can't miss it, and twist) and reglued the suspect connections. Worked again with the original battery but stuck in a new battery just to be sure. Never had a problem since.

KJ.

My short range sluggish key was fixed in 5 min with CR1620 3v from the supermarket

I just changed both my batteries the other week. The main key was also sluggish (easily unlocked, but often required many frantic presses to lock) and the spare key, which I never ever used, didn't work at all (no red light). New batteries fixed it and both work fine now.

I also had to mash my lock button to get it to work quite often. Replaced the battery and now it's just one press, even from 150m away!

I work at dick smith and for this very reason change 30-50 batterys a day in remotes for cars, most very likely to be this unless it is actually physically damaged

Inspired by this thread, I changed the battery in my 2 remotes and now once press does it all for the doors Before I was having a problem with the lock button requiring many presses and having to stand towads the rear quarter panel.
I had trouble finding the battery size in stock as Woolwoths and Dick Smith didn't have 1620 size batteries. Managed to get two for a total of $14.00 at a Mr Minute kiosk. Another kiosk type shop wanted 14.95 per battery, so I'm glad I passed on that kiosk

Captain, replacement is a piece of cake as even i could do it.

Inspired by this thread, I changed the battery in my 2 remotes and now once press does it all for the doors Before I was having a problem with the lock button requiring many presses and having to stand towads the rear quarter panel.
I had trouble finding the battery size in stock as Woolwoths and Dick Smith didn't have 1620 size batteries. Managed to get two for a total of $14.00 at a Mr Minute kiosk. Another kiosk type shop wanted 14.95 per battery, so I'm glad I passed on that kiosk

Captain, replacement is a piece of cake as even i could do it.


Which dick smith? Im at work now and they are on the hook behind me for $5.99 each.

Which dick smith? Im at work now and they are on the hook behind me for $5.99 each.

I was just thinking that, i always get customers coming into big w saying mr minute are double the price for the same battery.

BKo and HaydenVRX,

I went to the Northland (Preston, Vic) store; none on display and the sales guy said that was the one they didn't carry. Guess I was lucky they were only $7.00 each. The girl in front of me at Mr Minute bought one also and the guy at the kiosk commented that he had sold lots today.

lol
lol $5 for 5 free postage lol
lol eBay is your friend. lol
lol

I should buy a hundred, and sell them for $7 each . . . .$600 profit!! lol

http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/m/mLp_Bv6RxB2nuHoYgdYOrgg/140.jpg

Those Maxell batteries are great!
As long as they are the genuine ones and not some dodge china copy that is.

BKo and HaydenVRX,

I went to the Northland (Preston, Vic) store; none on display and the sales guy said that was the one they didn't carry. Guess I was lucky they were only $7.00 each. The girl in front of me at Mr Minute bought one also and the guy at the kiosk commented that he had sold lots today.

I will call up the manager of northland which i know quite well today and tell them that their staff are to be retrained in there battery knowledge.

Those Maxell batteries are great!
As long as they are the genuine ones and not some dodge china copy that is.

They are fine. I buy them for a device that lasts for 1 year, $5 battery from the local chemist or a $1 from eBay, both last the same.

I also went to a Dick Smith first and they didn't have that battery either. We both checked all the hanging packets carefully, but no go.

I just got a new battery my main key, been using the spare for months now, $10 bucks for a replacement at a watch place at Castle Hill Towers which they opened up and fitted for me. Key works fine now, just have to see about a new housing piece as it's a little broken

Be interested to see how you go with a replacement housing. My 'third' key has a broken bhousing abut works fine.

Thank you once again for all the replies.
Funny thing, I took the key apart to see how easy/hard it was going to be. Now it works like a charm. Still be buying a new battery just in case.

lol
lol $5 for 5 free postage lol
lol eBay is your friend. lol
lol

I should buy a hundred, and sell them for $7 each . . . .$600 profit!! lol

http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/m/mLp_Bv6RxB2nuHoYgdYOrgg/140.jpg

Wouldn't you know it but my remote started playing up yesterday (2 or 3 goes before it works), this is the one i didn't fit a new battery to two years ago so it's still the original six and half year old battery. The one with the "fresh" battery I keep at the GF's place as a spare.

Ordered a pack of five new batteries for a whopping $5 delivered, thanks Max!

Thread revive ...... I'm looking at ordering a key casing to replace one that has a broken keyring bit, just wondering if the new key blade can be removed easily to put all the guts of the original key into the new housing?

Thread revive ...... I'm looking at ordering a key casing to replace one that has a broken keyring bit, just wondering if the new key blade can be removed easily to put all the guts of the original key into the new housing?

See Pic below

Blade is moulded to one half of shell, but key ring bit is on both halves, so replacing top half will give you part of ring attachment

The other thing I have done in past (in that case with garage door remote) is to carefully file a couple of grooves in one half and lay an "o-ring" in there and close up again

In some ways it is better than original as it is more flexible and less prone to breakage

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/380key.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/380key.jpg

See Pic below

Blade is moulded to one half of shell, but key ring bit is on both halves, so replacing top half will give you part of ring attachment

The other thing I have done in past (in that case with garage door remote) is to carefully file a couple of grooves in one half and lay an "o-ring" in there and close up again

In some ways it is better than original as it is more flexible and less prone to breakage

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/380key.jpg/



Ok thanks for the info.

Thread revive ...... I'm looking at ordering a key casing to replace one that has a broken keyring bit, just wondering if the new key blade can be removed easily to put all the guts of the original key into the new housing?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MITSUBISHI-REPLACEMENT-KEYLESS-REMOTE-CASE-KEY-FOB-4-BUTTON-/270970457146?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f17190c3a#ht_500wt_969

just get the blade cut and chuck the guts in