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I have an oldish car for which I bought a new key in April 2023. It cost about 350 quid all in. Since then it's been driven less than 2000 miles
Yesterday the key stopped working, one of the micro switches had broken off. Called the dealer and they said it was out of warranty
Whilst I could send the key away to get repaired by some Internet random, I don't think I should have to on a point of principle. it's ridiculous that a key that rarely gets used should break after 25 months. I've not even changed the battery in this time.
Appreciate its out of warranty, but do any consumer acts protect me? Ie a key that breaks in this time surely points to a manufacturing defect?
Was it a genuine OE keyfob? Or a cheap copy/fake/clone. We've had "fake" keys appearing in the dealer network being passed off as "propa keys dat wurk n' evryfing" with customers then ranting about them breaking/having terrible range/eating batteries 6 months later...
The Consumer Rights Act states that goods have to be "of satisfactory quality" and you can claim up to six years after receipt.
Would it be reasonable to expect a £350 key to last more than two years? I'd say so, but of course getting the dealer to agree may be a different matter. If they turn round and argue that you must have mistreated it for it to break, you're probably shit out of luck.
What Cougar said, but "Yesterday the key stopped working, one of the micro switches had broken off" makes it sound like it didn't stop working, rather some circumstance caused it to become broken - and proving that you didn't break it vs it happening spontaneously because of a design flaw will be hard.
Where does the key live when not in the car - i.e. is it on the keyring that you carry around all day ? They can get bashed about quite a lot. That said, I've not had a microswitch fail. I've replaced cases and buttons before. My old Nissan enabled you to buy the transmitter circuit board from ebay (for opening doors), and programme that in yourself. Only the transponder stayed with the key.
New car, don't really use the buttons much - just touch the door handle to open and lock.
Got the key from an official dealer.
I'm sure they'll try to weasel out of it, even though I can't wait to hear their explanation of how ive broken it. It's not even that the microswitch had broken off the circuit board...the switch hs somehow broken in 2.
As I say, an easy repair fir someone, but very frustrating.
As I say, an easy repair fir someone, but very frustrating.
Put it on your computer keyboard and press the Alt key, that should sort it 😉
I think you’ll struggle to get a new key out of them for free for that, but it never hurts to try.
It would be more convenient if doors could be unlocked via smart watches…
Swear filter doing some sterling work there
Space bar to the rescue, it would seem.
I was amazed at the keys for my old Octavia, just remote open and lock, I don’t recall having to change a battery, and it was still working after nineteen years, I had the car for fifteen.
I have had to replace the battery once in one of the keys for my Ford, after about four years but that’s an easy thing to do.
I have a 19 year old BMW and the battery in the key fobs are not replaceable, you have to buy a new key when they stop working, or just put the actual key in the lock. One key has stopped working, who knows how long the other will continue for? They recharge from the car when in the ignition, but clearly not forever. Difficult to justify spending what would be circa £800 for 2 new keys on a car worth about £3k!
Here's me with two Peugeot's with their apparently notorious electrics and 4 keys that have been found in the washing machines regularly and still work -as well as smelling outstanding.
Id be pissed but I think it'll be hard to prove they were not fit for purpose after so long and the normal use case for a set of keys.
I have a 19 year old BMW and the battery in the key fobs are not replaceable, you have to buy a new key when they stop working, or just put the actual key in the lock. One key has stopped working, who knows how long the other will continue for? They recharge from the car when in the ignition, but clearly not forever. Difficult to justify spending what would be circa £800 for 2 new keys on a car worth about £3k!
Car keys are an absolute racket... there's no way they can justify the cost for some of them, the sheer amount they produce should mean, purley from an economics of scale perspective they shouldn't cost that much...
I mean, you can buy a fancy smart phone or a good laptop for that sort of money, so there's no real argument that the technology is expensive.
Car keys are an absolute racket... there's no way they can justify the cost for some of them,
+1.
I can see how there is a cost to them. Laser-cut key, transponder, encrypted (hopefully) transmitter, etc... But £350 is a pisstake, I wanted one of them not ten.
Automotive locksmith is usually the cheaper option.
However, they often can't supply genuine keys, and some of the aftermarket keys aren't exactly that great.
My old Mini could be opened with a long finer nail and started with a wooden lolly stick . Haven't seen much improvement since then. Timpsons wanted 30 quid for a Landrover key the other day! Out of bloody mindedness I modified an older landy to key a file. Seems good to me.
Car keys are an absolute racket... there's no way they can justify the cost for some of them,
+1.
I can see how there is a cost to them. Laser-cut key, transponder, encrypted (hopefully) transmitter, etc... But £350 is a pisstake, I wanted one of them not ten.
For the fanciest of fancy contactless keys on the market, I could understand maybe £100 for a replacement, sure. Otherwise...nope.. but it's not like you have a choice really.
I saw a cheap car advertised the other day, about £4k looked great, but only one key! That will be a reduction to £3500 straight away, then, or no sale.