Remote Control Key

[gazzer666]

Hi everyone, would be grateful to receive any advice on a problem with one of my remote keys.

 

My Galaxy is about 4 months old now and the other week my remote control key stopped working (i.e. no little flashing red light when pressing the buttons and unable to lock/unlock doors remotely).

 

As it's a Ghia, I do have another remote key but the wife keeps this one.

 

Looking in the manual, it provides instructions on how to take the key apart and replace the battery which I assumed to be the problem. On opening the device, I noticed a lot of brown rust-like staining on the battery itself along with a white layer of deposit over the circuit board in the other half of the fob.

 

I assumed the battery must have leaked and tested the key using the battery out of the working spare key. Unfortunately, it did not work so it seems that the key electronics have been damaged by the leaking battery.

 

I also tested the stained battery in my spare remote key and this did not work either. So this battery was certainly dead.

 

So I took the key to my Ford main dealer who took it into their little back room and came out a short while later stating that the fault had been caused by myself. They said that the 'rust' must have been caused by infiltrating water rather than a leaking battery and suggested that I had dropped my keys in a puddle at some point.

 

Now I most certainly have never dropped my keys in any water and always take care in looking after them and keeping them safe. However, Ford are adamant and are refusing to replace under warranty and want me to pay

[johnb80]

I would agree that it's water ingress and not a leaking battery. How the water got there is another situation entirely. I would suggest you contact Ford customer relations, explain you have purchased your ne Gal and that up to now you have been most impressed. However you are now concerned that this problem has occured and the dealer response will not be attracting you back to Ford next year when you are going to replace this vehicle. Furthermore you feel that the goods were not fit for the purpose for which they were sold, keys should be able to stand a little water, you however have not exposed them to it.

 

See how you do, I got my battery replaced way outside warranty because it failed at 20 months old, you do have to be pretty firm though and stand your ground, you're right, they're wrong.

 

Regards - JB

[gazzer666]

Thanks, I will give this a a go. We give Ford a lot of business and will be replacing the wife's Fiesta with a new one next year. I was just a bit suprised at Ford's lack of concern really.

[Masked Marauder]

Sounds like ingress to me, most likely sweat if it has not been dropped into water.

 

As for proving that it was Ford before you got the car then your on an uphill struggle. Any settlement you get from Ford should be seen as a bonus.

 

And I agree, under normal use, keys in pocket etc, the unit should be reasonably water-tight. But again you have to prove the goods are not fit.

 

If I was sneaky I would buy the new one from a different dealer and then clean the knackered board up and change the insides over, then take the new one back and get it replaced as faulty when bought, and then pimp the replacement new one on here or eBay.... But I don't suggest you do that as that would be dishonest...

[mumof4]

noo..you not sneaky are you MM!! :D :( :D