Hey all, its been a while since ive been on here, hopefully someone can answer my question.

My car is going in for its second service next week and Sandicliff offered me all the various things i can have done but one in particular im not sure whether to get or not.

When booking it in for a service they offered a battery change in the key fob to which i said no because they are charging something stupid as the battery's cost a few quid but i was told that when the battery is out of the key fob it needs reprogramming after, can i do this my self or does this have to be done by Sandicliff? a mate said you just have to put the key in the ignition and go through some settings but im not sure.

cheers peeps

Greg

No as long as you dont take more than a few seconds you can change the battery and it certainly doesnt need reprogramming.

I cant remember the exact time frame but if you take longer than a certain time (something like 10-30 seconds??) it will need reprogramming but it takes them seconds to do. I know this because I got a battery from Ford, fluttered my eyelashes and less than 10 seconds later he was back with it changed.

Cheers for that, i just dont want to do it and then not be able to drive it because its reset its self lol

think i'll buy a battery and swap it the day of the service whilst in the car park so if it does go wrong i'l get them to sort but i very much doubt i'l have to.

I just didnt trust myself not to make a hash of it so thats why I asked the nice Parts Dept man to do it for me But your plan sounds like a good one lol

I have changed them in fiesta and mk3 mondeo fobs and never had to have one programmed.

I'm sure it is dead simple to change it but you're probably dead right to change it somewhere that if you mess it up then it won't be a problem. I'd have visions of me going to put the new one in and it flicking out somewhere across the room or something!

When I got one for my old astra went into the parts and they offered to do it for me just for free

My battery went a few weeks ago and the key was setting my alarm off when I tried to open it ...took it to ford, paid £4 and was sorted within seconds, didnt need re-programming

CR2032 folks. suggest we all keep a spare one in the car

I just opened mine, saw the code on the batt. (as steve sez ^) Bought some and changed it in Asda car park nothing went wrong

Cheers for the replys guys, to be honest i was quite confident about doing it myself until the people at sandiclff said the key will reset.

Ive ordered 2 batteries online for £1.40 gonna keep a spare in the car like Steve said
I'l change the battery before the service and save my self a good few quid i bet.

As a matter of interest how much were they going to charge?

I think they said 5 quid or something along those lines, so a lot more than a battery.

ordered all mine today from Maplins.

Well i had my car serviced n it cost me £245.00 oh well one more service at sandicliff under my warranty then i'll get it done else where.

I fitted the battery in the car park before the service no problems

Cheers for the advice guys