Scruff Vette

I've been getting the "No FOB Detected" message intermittently for about a week and yesterday my '08 coupe would not unlock or open the hatch. Retrieved my spare FOB #2 and got in and started no problem. Picked up two new GM batteries from my dealer for $10.62 who was good enough to install them in the FOBs at no charge (PITA if you haven't done it before).

It has been 4 years to the day since my batteries were last replaced and 4 years prior to that when the batteries and car were new. My lesson for today was FOB batteries are good for an average of 4 years. I made a note on my 2019 October calendar to be proactive and change.

ZR1Cat

I never felt compelled to milk the life out of any battery, particularly car batteries or FOB batteries. I change FOB batteries every two to three years and never wait for any sign of failure or weakness. It just isn't worth the hassle. This is especially so for car batteries. The first sign of slow cranking or weakness, that sucker is gone and in with a replacement. You'll never hear me bragging about how long I kept a battery in any car. I learned the hard way.

BTW, changing the FOB battery is simple as pie. I do it myself on all my button start vehicles. I'd skip the dealer for such service, if you can.

owc6

I've had one last over six years (non-primary, used only passively)at one extreme, all the way to less than 2 years on the primary fob used actively. I would say that 4 years is a good average for battery life.

I would, also, not recommend changing the battery early (before symptoms) due to the fragility of the case, especially the new-style. As long as you keep a key handy, there is no reason to subject the fob to that potential damage unnecessarily.

Zero_6

Maybe I should change the fob batteries on my 08. I think I'll wait since its not my DD.

Vette_DD

GM says average fob battery life is 3 years. I'd think seriously about changing them after 3 years.

jrose7004

You can buy those batteries at Radio Shack or most jewelry stores too.

cmonkey713

I change my FOB batteries every two years. As for the Corvette battery the OEM battery lasted five years and fortunately it went dead in the garage and not on the road somewhere.

Grimlock13

You have to choose bands carefully though as some brands have writing or a waffle pattern on one side and don't make as good contact with the tabs.

IIRC stay away from Ray-o-vac , spring for the duracell / energiser name brand.

Better chance to last longer, less chance of having it not work due to bad contact. Not much more expensive then the cheap ones.

Only things I use store brand/ cheap batteries for is TV remotes.

Cherokee Nation

OK..What is the best brand??

Cherokee Nation

I change my out my #1 fob battery about every 6 months. They are cheap and I get them at Walgreen's.

Kenny94945

+1 for every two years as an annual maintenance item.

That two year time has worked well for me going back to C4 pass key era.

2k Cobra

I'm one year on Fobs and three on car battery.

Don't like fixing stuff on an event...

Gearhead Jim

Regardless of what brand battery I use, after 6-10 months my fob starts getting weak and I may have to press the Unlock button on the fob itself occasionally, the door switch won't do it. Wait another month and I start getting No Fob Detected when trying to start. Replace the fob battery and everything works fine.

We drive the car ~15k miles per year, and I end up opening the door probably once or twice a day without driving; so the fob gets a lot of use.

Still, it should last longer and I don't know why the fob battery dies so soon. I may be getting a new fob in Spring, will be interesting to see if that changes anything.

owc6

The batteries are very sensitive to finger print/oils on the contact surfaces. They cause corrosion. I think this is as important or more than what brand, and whether it's hatched or smooth.

Also, if a fob battery is lasting less than a year, I would suspect a stuck button (thus allowing a drain due to an "ON" scenario).

Cherokee Nation

My might last 2 years or??.I have a habit to put a new battery in every oil change, which is around every 6 months. Only 2 bucks for a battery can't even but a beer for that.

sledmaster

I just changed my battery in my #1 fob yesterday and my car battery which was leaking acid and starting to swell, both are 3 years old. So i checked the old fob battery with a volt meter and it still had 2.96 volts.

Mikado463

as ZR1Cat said, changing them out is a piece of cake. Just changed mine the other day, DuraCell (CR2032), $5.69 for a two pack at my local Grocery store.