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What happens if my keyless fob battery dies?

I recently acquired a Toyota Corolla Hybrid which has a Power On/Off button but not keyless entry - I still have to physically lock/unlock the car using the fob buttons.

This is the first car I’ve had that has a Power On/Off button and whilst I understand that the fob needs to be in the car, or in the vicinity, for the Power button to start what happens if the fob was to ever fail. By that I mean let’s say I’m driving along and the onboard computer for some reason no longer detects the fob due to some malfunction, would the car slow to a stop or be allowed to carry on?

Asked on 14 October 2024 by Leo

Answered by David Ross
The operation of keyless entry systems varies depending on the manufacturer, but for most vehicles should the key fail while the engine is already running it will continue to do so until the engine is switched off. It may also flash a warning message to indicate that the key is no longer detected. Many vehicles will also warn if the battery in the key is running low to avoid this situation, but we would suggest consulting your vehicle handbook for clarification.
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