Strange message when I got in my XK yesterday. I had my key fob in hand, put it on the passenger seat, and pushed the red starter button. Message came on the dash, saying something like….”Key Fob not located”. So, I picked up the fob, and the message went away. Put my foot on the brake and car started.

I should also mention that when I entered the drivers door, it did not unlock by touch. I had to press the fob button to open.

So, anyone else ever have this heppen?
Should I be concerned ?

thanks.
John

 

It sounds like you need to change the battery in the fob. From memory CR2032. In the meantime, you can always use the key slot at the rear of the centre console storage space.

Richard

 

Your fob battery may be getting low. If it's been more than two years since the last time you replaced it, I suggest you do so now. It uses a CR2032.

I recommend not buying it online, as low price often means old stock with a short remaining life. I buy mine locally so I know it's not a Chinese knockoff and has a date so I can tell if it's old stock.

 

Thanks guys. I had changed this battery about 3 months ago, but it was in my box of batteries, so probably pretty old. At that time, I had a dash message warning that the Fob battery needed changing. I did not get that message this time.

going to a battery store and pick up new ones.

 

A word of caution when replacing the CR2032 battery. Leave the prong alone. Don't try to raise or lower it, as it is thin and brittle and very easy to break. If you break the prong, it can't be repaired or replaced and you will have to buy a new Smartkey and have it programmed together with your other Smartkey.

If your new CR2032 battery is loose and needs to fit tighter, use a small piece of aluminum foil to make a shim that fits under the bottom of the battery to snug it up against the prong.

 

thanks Stuart. Got a pair from Batteries +, and was assured that they are “ fresh”.
i also asked about a main battery for the XK, and they had an 850 CCA, and is an AGM. Priced at $259. USD. They said it was taller than the stock 93 group battery, which they did not carry.

 

Good thing, as these cars take the Group 49 battery.

 

Well, thats good info. The guy at Batteries + said it takes a Group 93.

 

Group 93 and Group 49 are not the same although they have the same base dimensions.

Group 93 is shorter at 6-7/8". Group 49 is 7-1/2" tall. A Group 93 will fit and bolt down but is 5/8" shorter in height.

 

New fob batteries in, and all is well.

 

This was answered by RichardS but it occurred to me it's in the Owner's Handbook. It is, but searching the 2009 handbook index, there is no entry for message centre, this particular message or for any error messages. You almost have to know the answer to find the relevant pages in the handbook!









The Smartkey "not found" and docking procedure is slightly better indexed in later Owner's Handbooks.

Graham

 

I suspect that post #2 might well have contained the answer. 🙂

Richard

 

Not to belabor this, but here is what confused me. The previous time that my smart key battery was low, I got a dash message, saying something like “check smart key battery, or replace smart key battery”. This past weekend, the message said “smart key not found, please insert in slot.”.
That is why I posted here, that it was an odd message, and I wasn’t sure it was the smart key battery. Also, I had recently replaced that battery about 3 months ago.
At any rate, things are performing fine, and my six year old Jaguar brand battery started the car fine, even after sitting unused for about a week.

 

Indeed it does - I have corrected the attribution in my post.

Graham

 

*** It's ALWAYS the battery ***

 

Agree…but which battery is the crux of the matter.

 

I change the fob batteries on the annual service.