I love having the keyless entry keypad (number code) since I can leave my keys in the car when I'm jogging, etc. But I was wondering if there is a chance that it runs on a battery that could go bad one day and prevent me from getting into my car with the keys inside. Does anyone know? Thanks.

KenRyan

 

Of course - it is an electronic module. You also need power to pop the locks. The only good thing is that it probably draws a tiny amount of current and the battery would probably give you warning before it was too weak to pop the locks.

Also..if the battery can't power keyless entry then its time for road service anyway .

 

More specific to the original question, does the keyless entry have it's own battery? No. It all runs off the main vehicle battery.

 

Oops..read the question too fast..yeah I meant it runs entirely off the vehicle battery. No back ups. The last poster is correct.

 

yup, vehicle battery. if it can't drive that piece of equipment you're not going anywhere anyway because the battery also can't drive the starter.

 

I bet the "aftermarket" keyless pad (one that is installed on cars that didn't originally have it) runs on a battery (like the key fob). If not, you'd have to drill through your door skid and try to route a wire to it. It also says the pad is removable without damaging your vehicle...so someone could steal the pad while your keys are locked in the car
http://www.fordaccessories.com/produ...d=15012&dept=9

 

Ok, this brings up a funny "What a dummy!" story that happened to me in '97.

I had a one year old '96 Ranger. Had a Golden Retriever Puppy (who's now snoring beside me - much older) that I liked to take to work on Saturdays. I was the only one at the shop on Saturdays, and it was only for a few hours.

There's a small mom & pop resturaunt across the street that had the best SOS on the planet, so I stopped there for breakfast every day.

Well, it was pretty hot ouside, and I couldn't take Comet inside of course, so I left the truck running with the A/C on and locked the truck with the Key-Fob.

Yep. You guessed it. The Key-Fob picked that EXACT time to have a dead battery. The locking of the door was it's last breath.

Sheesh!

It was 7am and NO ONE had one of the batteries. I had one of my friends at the resturaunt watching the dog/truck for me while another at the body shop next door ran me around town looking for one of the damned things.

2 hours later I finally had my doors open.

Comet was happy as a clam the whole time. He sat in the drivers seat the whole time, ears flying back from the nice, cool A/C that was blasting him in the face

Those 2 minute quickie stops will get you every time

From that point on I have ALWAYS carried a spare key in my wallet. Just the flat, non encoded types. Just enough to get the door open.

My new explorer has a keypad too, but I still have a key in my wallet

-Larry

 

Great story...lucky you didn't have a pupcicle by the time the doors were opened

 

Thanks everyone!

Kenryan