My Durango will be 4 month old to me this week and just turned 7k miles. Yesterday I was able to open the rear door and get in, it starts but in about a minute I get the" key is away from vehicle" warning. Since I was away Skiing in VT I keep driving back to the hotel where I had the spare key. Sure enough the key I had been using since July wouldn't do a thing. If I popped out the start button the key would start the motor. Well I get home today and pull the key apart and the 3 V battery was at 2.6V. I had a couple form some old computers and while one was in the 2.9 V range not good. I had a spare brand new key for my old 2004 D that has been sitting in a drawer for 3 years and sure enough it was 3.22V. Stuck it in and wala key fob works.

So my ? How long are you guys getting from a key fob battery?

 

I used to carry a bill fold in my front pocket that had a magnet on it. Killed my key fob batteries in weeks. Took me a few batteries before I figured out what was going on. lol

 

I usually keep it in the cup holder all the time, only time it comes out is when I'm in store or restaurant. I had it in my pocket skiing but it was protected and temp was 50. Never got the "low key fob battery" warning I'm reading about. It did seem to die once I put it on the hotel door lock credit card type key. Odd thing was it opened the doors and I drove form parking lot to pickup area, loaded the kids and skis all while the key was in the D and it was running. While leaving the MT access road it threw the warning.

 

The heck with the key, where were you skiing?

 

Sunday River Maine last weekend, Killington VT yesterday.

 

How was Killington, I'm itching to start using my pass.

 

it was good, 25 but skied like about 12. We skipped today. Snow will take a beating today and tomorrow. Back to winter on Tuesday with snow and cold thru Turkey day.

 

STill on original battery since February always keep key fob in left front pocket.
STEVE

 

I'm not sure if it translates to the Durango's or not, but before we got the R/T we had a Venza with pushbutton start. I was told by Toyota dealer (and confirmed with several sources online) that leaving a pushbutton start key fob in the vehicle all the time, even when you're not running the engine, will kill the FOB battery much quicker. While it's in the vehicle, it stays in constant communication with the vehicle keeping it 'awake' all the time. I've read the same thing happens in my VW GTI if I had pushbutton start (which I do not)... Maybe that's what killed it.

 

If your cellphone is near it as well it will kill it WEIRD
STEVE