Electronics » Opening the key fob

I decided a new riding season warranted replacement of the CR2032 battery in the key fob. Opening the fob, despite YouTube videos showing guys popping it open with their thumbs, turned out to be a trial with mine. In fact, I aggravated an old left thumb arthritic condition trying to pop that sucker open. I finally got out an eyeglass screwdriver, shoved it in the crack and popped it that way. I hated doing that but no damage resulted. However, I can't be the only one who's had difficulty using just one's thumbs to open that Fort Knox safe of a fob.

How do you do it?

Oh, and the irony of it all was that I must have had a bad CR2032 when I replaced the old one. I went out for a 75-mile ride and when I got back and stopped for gas, my TFT said something to the effect that the "key battery is at 50%, no limitations on use". A new battery at 50%? Right. Got home and replaced with another CR2032. What're the odds?

Basically a small, thin flathead screwdriver or other similar thing to gently pry the case open.

Were they Duracell batteries by any chance. There's a thread on UKGSer about 1250GS remote fobs and these batteries are causing issues including not lasting very long. I had problems with Duracell batteries in my car remote - I changed all the fob batteries for Duracell when one of the originals got low and 2 of the remotes wouldn't work at all! I changed to new Panasonic ones (OE on my car) and have had no problems in the 18 months since. On the GS forum Varta and Energizer also get positive feedback.

On my 2023 RS SE it didn't come with clueless keyless as standard and IIRC that's another £290 individually or part of the comfort pack for £790. Having had problems with remotes on the car and the fob giving me the yellow square of death on my GS on the way to the dealers when it went in for a service last year I decided not to bother so have one of those metal key things instead.

Same with Duracel not being worth it - 2 batteries under the seat, 2 more in the garage - all failed as 'back-up' as this thread reminded me to check my display!
Good job I always carry that extra plastic immobilisor peice in my jacket.
Never even got a display warning, alarm no response, unable to get ignition on dashboard, all duracel units were no response.
Low battery warning on my working remote but luckily my 2025 ikea expiry batteries are all working despite being 4 years old.
Display has no key/remote warning with Ikea so perhaps there have been duracel counterfeit issues - I bought mine on line?

Zitat von littleade im Beitrag #4

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Were they Duracell batteries by any chance. There's a thread on UKGSer about 1250GS remote fobs and these batteries are causing issues including not lasting very long. I had problems with Duracell batteries in my car remote - I changed all the fob batteries for Duracell when one of the originals got low and 2 of the remotes wouldn't work at all! I changed to new Panasonic ones (OE on my car) and have had no problems in the 18 months since. On the GS forum Varta and Energizer also get positive feedback.

On my 2023 RS SE it didn't come with clueless keyless as standard and IIRC that's another £290 individually or part of the comfort pack for £790. Having had problems with remotes on the car and the fob giving me the yellow square of death on my GS on the way to the dealers when it went in for a service last year I decided not to bother so have one of those metal key things instead.

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Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #6

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Zitat von littleade im Beitrag #4

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Were they Duracell batteries by any chance. There's a thread on UKGSer about 1250GS remote fobs and these batteries are causing issues including not lasting very long. I had problems with Duracell batteries in my car remote - I changed all the fob batteries for Duracell when one of the originals got low and 2 of the remotes wouldn't work at all! I changed to new Panasonic ones (OE on my car) and have had no problems in the 18 months since. On the GS forum Varta and Energizer also get positive feedback.

On my 2023 RS SE it didn't come with clueless keyless as standard and IIRC that's another £290 individually or part of the comfort pack for £790. Having had problems with remotes on the car and the fob giving me the yellow square of death on my GS on the way to the dealers when it went in for a service last year I decided not to bother so have one of those metal key things instead.

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Since mid-2016, we don't get the non-keyless option in the US on the RS.

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It was actually an Energizer Lithium CR2032 battery that gave the low battery warning. Might be a "one-off" bad one from Amazon. Got a new one in there now...we'll see. I carry the plastic emergency key in my wallet all the time.

I'd prefer a key ignition to keyless, but once I got used to keyless, it's been great. The battery in the fob from the factory was a Panasonic CR2032.

I would never use Duracell.

Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #6

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Since mid-2016, we don't get the non-keyless option in the US on the RS.

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With my delicate girly hands it hurts my thumbs when opening our fobs so I wear gloves when doing it..
On the first try on the 2016 I tried a small thin screwdriver but stopped when I saw I was making a mark.
I change the fob batteries each year and it never gets easier.

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #11

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You don't need the grey plastic "key" transponder if the battery is flat in the "smart" fob. The electron deficient fob will act as a passive transponder just like the grey one if you hold it close to the transceiver under the front of the pillion seat.

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Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #9

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Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #6

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Since mid-2016, we don't get the non-keyless option in the US on the RS.

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It's still possible to order a base model without keyless.

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Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #10

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With my delicate girly hands it hurts my thumbs when opening our fobs so I wear gloves when doing it..
On the first try on the 2016 I tried a small thin screwdriver but stopped when I saw I was making a mark.
I change the fob batteries each year and it never gets easier.

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Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #12

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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #11

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You don't need the grey plastic "key" transponder if the battery is flat in the "smart" fob. The electron deficient fob will act as a passive transponder just like the grey one if you hold it close to the transceiver under the front of the pillion seat.

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Did not know that. .

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