After getting out of my car I used the remote key button to lock the MINI as I always do. It didn't work. Tried again, still didn't work, so I manually unlocked the car door, inserted the key in the ignition and turned ignition to "on" position, then shut ignition off. Got out fo the car and tried again to use remote to lock the car. Still didn't work. Shrugged my shoulder and drove off, hoping that electronics will right itself after the drive. It worked. Strange.

Has this happened to anyone?

 

Don't forget to use both keys to charge their batteries and keep the data in them about the MINI current. Your dealer uses a key reader to scan off info about the car and you when you bring in your MINI for servicing.

If you don't use a key the battery for it goes weak and the remote won't work. If you drive using that key the MINI will charge the battery and help it to recover.

Take your keys for a drive on a regular basis or rotate them from time to time.

 

Plus those keys use radio waves to unlock the car... It is possible that there was interfernce in the area and it was blocking your signal...

I actually had that happen to me this past Christmas Eve, in the parking lot of a church in Memphis the remote key fob for our Subaru would only work within 2 feet of the car. Once we got out of the lot it worked normally again (20 to 30 ft range).

 

This ia a common misconception. The battery in the remote is NOT rechargable. It does not recharge with use. Info is stored on a chip inside the remote that is not affected by the remotes battery.
Jim

 

Ya know, that's what I thought I'd read in the past.

I was at a "new MINI owners" orientation tonight and the Shop Foreman/Assistant Service Manager told us that we had to use the key periodically to keep the battery charged. I knew that BMWs needed it and he was specifically asked if that applied to MINIs as well. He replied that it did.

 

It happened to me once also. What was strange was I had just left a store & the alarm at the door went off when I went through it. No, I didn't steal anything! And then when I tried to open the MINI with the remote, it would not work. Worked fine the next time & ever since.


Lois

 

Oops-my brain is shrinking.

Here's an inside pic of the key in question-

We can easily see that a Panasonic CR 2032 3 V battery exists inside the Key fob. Yes, it is not rechargable-sorry for the error (why didn't I think of that?)
To learn more about the MINI key and how to shrink it alot see
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=24609

Does that add any HP if you do that?