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Car Forum / Saab Cars / October 2005

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Saab 900s key problem

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derek - 13 Oct 2005 18:11 GMT
Hello,

Saab 900s

The key, which operates the central locking needs a new battery.  Took it
into my local watch repair shop, and they wouldn't touch it in case changing
the battery resets the code or similar.
Is there a problem here?  The car is 10 years old - seems to  me, it just
needs a new battery, rather than taking it to the nearest dealer which is a
3 hour drive from where I live!

Help!

Nichollette
Jim M - 13 Oct 2005 22:10 GMT
I have a 1995 900S, which sounds like what you also have, give or take a
year. Just pick up (2) CR2016 lithium batteries at Radio Shack or Wal-Mart
and you can change them yourself.

Carefully pry the battery cover off of the keyfob using something like a
knife blade, slide the old batteries out and the new ones in. While the
batteries are out, it's a good idea to carefully inspect the contacts for
corrosion and clean if necessary. I use a contact cleaner pen that I picked
up at Radio Shack.

After installing the new batteries, press the left-button (5) times in
succession with the remote pointed at the car to synchronize the remote with
the receiver. This is all in the owners manual.

Jim M

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Nichollette
ma_twain - 13 Oct 2005 23:55 GMT
You could always put the key in the lock and turn it . . .

> I have a 1995 900S, which sounds like what you also have, give or take a
> year. Just pick up (2) CR2016 lithium batteries at Radio Shack or Wal-Mart
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>>
>>Nichollette
Dave Hinz - 14 Oct 2005 15:03 GMT
> You could always put the key in the lock and turn it . . .

Why would you abandon a feature just because it needs a 2-minute battery
swap?
ma_twain - 14 Oct 2005 19:15 GMT
>>You could always put the key in the lock and turn it . . .
>
> Why would you abandon a feature just because it needs a 2-minute battery
> swap?

Depends on your point of view of what is a feature and what is a pain.
There is a reason you should take eveything out of your pockets when you
sleep at a camp out.  This was Cub Scout camping and some adult did not
remove his keys.  He rolled over or somehow pressed the alarm button
early in the morning. Once one car alram went off, the other half alseep
adult started pressing their alarm buttons to run of "their" alarm.
Well, you know where this goes - soon every car with a remote and alarm
was blasting away.  I had a similar incident happen to me with my car in
 my garage so it wasn't quite so bad.

I prefer my Saabs to have manual transmission, crank down windows . .  .
  and not be made by GM :-)
Dave Hinz - 14 Oct 2005 19:26 GMT
>> Why would you abandon a feature just because it needs a 2-minute battery
>> swap?

> Depends on your point of view of what is a feature and what is a pain.

Well, sure, but if he's asking how to do it, apparently he's made that
decision already?

> There is a reason you should take eveything out of your pockets when you
> sleep at a camp out.  This was Cub Scout camping and some adult did not
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> was blasting away.  I had a similar incident happen to me with my car in
>   my garage so it wasn't quite so bad.

You seem to be extending an example of misuse of a tool, to all users of
that tool.

> I prefer my Saabs to have manual transmission, crank down windows . .  .
>    and not be made by GM :-)

Same here, but not the point.
Johannes - 15 Oct 2005 12:34 GMT
> >>You could always put the key in the lock and turn it . . .
> >
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> was blasting away.  I had a similar incident happen to me with my car in
>   my garage so it wasn't quite so bad.

Hehe, that's a funny story.

I can't see the point of those radio keys. In fact their signal can be
snooped by someone with a scanner and stored for later use... Also, the
keys sometimes don't work in the proximity of transmitters.


> I prefer my Saabs to have manual transmission, crank down windows . .  .
>    and not be made by GM :-)
Dave Hinz - 15 Oct 2005 17:53 GMT
> I can't see the point of those radio keys. In fact their signal can be
> snooped by someone with a scanner and stored for later use...

Not with the method Saab uses.

> Also, the
> keys sometimes don't work in the proximity of transmitters.

That's what the key-part is for then.  Aren't choices wonderful?
My 9-5's remote keyless entry has never not worked.
ma_twain - 16 Oct 2005 04:07 GMT
>>>>You could always put the key in the lock and turn it . . .
>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> snooped by someone with a scanner and stored for later use... Also, the
> keys sometimes don't work in the proximity of transmitters.

Technology is a wonderful game of one-up-manship, just like the
Spy-vs-spy comic.  Saab claims no one can steal the signal for their
remote entry.  Perhaps this was true when it was designed, but I would
bet the signal could be stolen today.  But this leads to the question of
why?  The NG Saabs stolen today are probably taken by a thief who just
needs any car at that particular time and finds one with the keys left
in the ignition.  Since GM took over they have earned a reputation for
having problems (GM V6, DI cassette etc) - so why would anyone want to
steal a GM Saab? If you could not afford to buy one - you certainly
could not afford to keep it on the road.

>  
>
>>I prefer my Saabs to have manual transmission, crank down windows . .  .
>>   and not be made by GM :-)
John Hudson - 16 Oct 2005 17:51 GMT
 Since GM took over they have earned a reputation for
> having problems (GM V6, DI cassette etc) - so why would anyone want to
> steal a GM Saab? If you could not afford to buy one - you certainly
> could not afford to keep it on the road.

The DI problem is not peculiar to Saabs. Most GM Saabs in the UK are not
fitted with a V6 engine. Please explain the etc.
Dave Hinz - 17 Oct 2005 15:08 GMT
> Technology is a wonderful game of one-up-manship, just like the
> Spy-vs-spy comic.  Saab claims no one can steal the signal for their
> remote entry.  Perhaps this was true when it was designed, but I would
> bet the signal could be stolen today.  

You would find reading about "one time passwords" informative, possibly
with a google modifier of "cryptography"
Pooh Bear - 14 Oct 2005 01:14 GMT
> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> needs a new battery, rather than taking it to the nearest dealer which is a
> 3 hour drive from where I live!

Ebay ! Best place ever for such batteries.

Graham
derek - 14 Oct 2005 22:18 GMT
Sorry, I made a mistake.  It's a fob thing, and not the key that needs the
new battery.  It seems impossible to get into, bu clearly, there must be a
way.  Can anyone help?  It's a fob thing with 2 buttons on it - one does the
trunk and the other does the doors. There's a seam that goes all the way
round it, but seems to be moulded, maybe.  Then there's a little panel which
can prise off, probably, but it would maybe be a problem getting it to go
back on.

However, now I know what the button on the key is for.  This has never had a
working battery in it!  I assumed it was some sort of defunct alarm button.
heh!

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Nichollette
Laura K - 15 Oct 2005 02:12 GMT
> However, now I know what the button on the key is for.  This has never
> had a working battery in it!  I assumed it was some sort of defunct
> alarm button. heh!

On mine, 1997 900CS, the button on the key is for a mini-flashlight. There's
a tiny lightbulb next to the side of the key at the top of the metal part.
Mine works but is fading.
Jim M - 15 Oct 2005 03:57 GMT
Yes, it's the small cover on the back that you need to pry off with a thin
blade. It takes a bit of force, but it's made of a fairly durable plastic so
it shouldn't break too easily. When replacing, I think I had to squeeze the
tabs in on the sides to refit.
It's really not that difficult.

Jim M

> Sorry, I made a mistake.  It's a fob thing, and not the key that needs the
> new battery.  It seems impossible to get into, bu clearly, there must be a
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>>
>> Nichollette
derek - 15 Oct 2005 10:38 GMT
Jim,

Thanks for that - great!

Nichollette
> Yes, it's the small cover on the back that you need to pry off with a thin
> blade. It takes a bit of force, but it's made of a fairly durable plastic so
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> >>
> >> Nichollette
 
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