Vehicle Tip

[retiredguy123]

Yesterday, my SUV started acting up. The vehicle kept trying to relock every few seconds while driving and when I turned off the vehicle, the horn started beeping. I finally figured out that I needed to replace the battery in the key FOB. Problem solved.

A key FOB battery may last 3 years or so, but eventually it needs to be replaced. Also, it is a good idea to read the manual and learn how to unlock and start the vehicle when the key FOB battery fails.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Yesterday, my SUV started acting up. The vehicle kept trying to relock every few seconds while driving and when I turned off the vehicle, the horn started beeping. I finally figured out that I needed to replace the battery in the key FOB. Problem solved.

A key FOB battery may last 3 years or so, but eventually it needs to be replaced. Also, it is a good idea to read the manual and learn how to unlock and start the vehicle when the key FOB battery fails.

I probably should replace mine. I bought my car new in 2010, and haven't ever changed the battery on either key that came with it.

[Bill14564]

Mine needs replacing more often. I suspect keeping it my pocket results in higher battery usage due to buttons being pressed.

[Topspinmo]

Another tip, change your oil don’t wait on light to come on. That could take couple years if you don’t put enough mile to trip it. If you got turbo charged engine I wouldn’t go over 5000 miles or 6 months. Non turbo engine year maybe, but that’s pushing it. You don’t want VVT or piston rings coking up and sticking. Now if you trade every three years don’t matter it will be the next person’s problems.

[Topspinmo]

I probably should replace mine. I bought my car new in 2010, and haven't ever changed the battery on either key that came with it.


Probably depends on how much you use it and make model? My key fob only sends out singles when I push the bottom, my ancient 2012 still has actual key and I haven’t replaced battery yet. Key Fob carrying around in your pocket using battery power majority of time. So naturally the batteries will go dead quicker.

[JoelJohnson]

We had a 2008 Honda CRV and replaced the battery a couple of months ago, not because it went bad, but because we gave the car to our daughter.

[mtdjed]

I probably should replace mine. I bought my car new in 2010, and haven't ever changed the battery on either key that came with it.

Also important to do when it does fail. Things change by model and year. My 2013 VW Golf only is necessary to open and close the door locks. The key fob has a key which is always used to start the car.

However, it is also used to unlock the door once you locate the hidden key slot under a cap on the door handle. Not a big deal unless you don't know about the hidden slot.

Each car has its own technique. Learn yours now. Learn where the spare key is located in some FOBs. Learn what kind of battery is used and how to replace . Learn by changing now and then keep an accessible spare.

Don't read this and then wait until it happens.

[Tvflguy]

And. Replace the vehicle battery itself. Our hot weather does a job on the 12v battery. The original battery of our 2015 died in our garage a few years ago. No indication of an issue at all. So it was about 6 years old and one morning the car was dead in our garage. Our only car.

I had to have remote service come out to our house to install a new battery. At twice the cost it would have if I brought it to a service center.

Lesson learned. Replace your battery at least every 4-5 years to be safe. Fair warning folks.

[photo1902]

And. Replace the vehicle battery itself. Our hot weather does a job on the 12v battery. The original battery of our 2015 died in our garage a few years ago. No indication of an issue at all. So it was about 6 years old and one morning the car was dead in our garage. Our only car.

I had to have remote service come out to our house to install a new battery. At twice the cost it would have if I brought it to a service center.

Lesson learned. Replace your battery at least every 4-5 years to be safe. Fair warning folks.

No sense replacing it until it’s shot. Get a jump start and drive to one of the many auto parts stores in the area. They’ll install a new one for free (a tip is also nice).

[4$ALE]

No sense replacing it until it’s shot. Get a jump start and drive to one of the many auto parts stores in the area. They’ll install a new one for free (a tip is also nice).

:shrug: I have met a lot of Villagers who think Tipping is a city in China.

[crazygery]

Mine needs replacing more often. I suspect keeping it my pocket results in higher battery usage due to buttons being pressed.
I keep my key fob on a carabiner and attach it to my belt loop, so there is no unintentional button pressing. I have however activated the car alarm getting out of the car a couple of times. I leaned on the alarm button while getting out, but at least I know it works 😜

[MidWestIA]

heard of Teslas having lockout problems

[CoachKandSportsguy]

No sense replacing it until it’s shot. Get a jump start and drive to one of the many auto parts stores in the area. They’ll install a new one for free (a tip is also nice).

The antithesis of a well maintained mechanical device, upon which you depend for most of your significant / important activities in life, such as medical appointments, vacations, trips to airport for vacation, family holidays.

This strategy is very inconvenient if the car dies on these particular days, and crapping out on some of those days are a lot more expensive than other days, ie, a missed vacation flight. Obviously this poster has never worked in operations, where the whole operation shuts down for maintenance issues is a big net loss for the organization.

Personally, the dumbest operational strategy i have ever read. Also reads like a academic / consulting financial strategy to save money, like the railroads deferring regular track maintenance, until the tracks give way and the accident rail cars contain very poisonous / flammable contents. .

[Two Bills]

Yesterday, my SUV started acting up. The vehicle kept trying to relock every few seconds while driving and when I turned off the vehicle, the horn started beeping. I finally figured out that I needed to replace the battery in the key FOB. Problem solved.

A key FOB battery may last 3 years or so, but eventually it needs to be replaced. Also, it is a good idea to read the manual and learn how to unlock and start the vehicle when the key FOB battery fails.

Déjà vu.
Changed both my wife's and my own only two weeks ago.
Car messages me every 2-3 years, so change both each time.
Better safe than sorry.

[Miboater]

heard of Teslas having lockout problems

Yes I have. They actually issued a service bulletin about opening the door in cold weather and the door would freeze shut in cold weather. Luckily we don't have that problem here but my friend had it happen a few times in Michigan.

[toeser]

Another tip, change your oil don’t wait on light to come on. That could take couple years if you don’t put enough mile to trip it. If you got turbo charged engine I wouldn’t go over 5000 miles or 6 months. Non turbo engine year maybe, but that’s pushing it. You don’t want VVT or piston rings coking up and sticking. Now if you trade every three years don’t matter it will be the next person’s problems.

I always buy top grade synthetic and change my oil every 10,000 miles. With one car, that's an oil change around every 8-10 months, with my other car, that's an oil change every two years. Never, ever had a problem doing that.

[mntlblok]

Yesterday, my SUV started acting up. The vehicle kept trying to relock every few seconds while driving and when I turned off the vehicle, the horn started beeping. I finally figured out that I needed to replace the battery in the key FOB. Problem solved.

A key FOB battery may last 3 years or so, but eventually it needs to be replaced. Also, it is a good idea to read the manual and learn how to unlock and start the vehicle when the key FOB battery fails.
And your reading comprehension had better be on high alert with these kinds of operations. Ask me how I know. :-)

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

The antithesis of a well maintained mechanical device, upon which you depend for most of your significant / important activities in life, such as medical appointments, vacations, trips to airport for vacation, family holidays.

This strategy is very inconvenient if the car dies on these particular days, and crapping out on some of those days are a lot more expensive than other days, ie, a missed vacation flight. Obviously this poster has never worked in operations, where the whole operation shuts down for maintenance issues is a big net loss for the organization.

Personally, the dumbest operational strategy i have ever read. Also reads like an academic / consulting financial strategy to save money, like the railroads deferring regular track maintenance, until the tracks give way and the accident rail cars contain very poisonous / flammable contents. . hi coach I would add to that strategy the new Boston transit green line which cost 2.3 billion and opened in 2022 and has to have over 50% of the track widened which they knew in 2021 and went forward with anyway ,There are parts of line where the cars go so slow that people actually could walk faster

[kp11364]

Always a good idea to have a regular maintenance schedule for batteries and such.

Put a reminder on your calendar (or phone). Good to know about the fob - but I change the batteries in my smoke alarm every year on my b'day, and I reseal my granite countertops on July 4th.

[Topspinmo]

I always buy top grade synthetic and change my oil every 10,000 miles. With one car, that's an oil change around every 8-10 months, with my other car, that's an oil change every two years. Never, ever had a problem doing that.


Yet. Must be one who trades every couple years. If you have turbo 10K way too long.

[chris237]

The key fob battery on my 2018 CRV died in just over 3 years in the middle of a long trip. I now replace the battery annually and carry a new one in my glove box. Overkill? Yes, but no more trying to find a replacement battery on I-77 in the West Virginia mountains for me.

[photo1902]

The antithesis of a well maintained mechanical device, upon which you depend for most of your significant / important activities in life, such as medical appointments, vacations, trips to airport for vacation, family holidays.

This strategy is very inconvenient if the car dies on these particular days, and crapping out on some of those days are a lot more expensive than other days, ie, a missed vacation flight. Obviously this poster has never worked in operations, where the whole operation shuts down for maintenance issues is a big net loss for the organization.

Personally, the dumbest operational strategy i have ever read. Also reads like a academic / consulting financial strategy to save money, like the railroads deferring regular track maintenance, until the tracks give way and the accident rail cars contain very poisonous / flammable contents. .

The day you start paying for my vehicle's maintenance and repair is the day I'll take your diatribe for anything other than a pompous, self-serving response.

I've gotten along pretty well all these years without your sage advice. Would I replace a $250 battery just because it reached a certain age? Absolutely not. But hey, if this is something you do, by all means have at it.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Would I replace a $250 battery just because it reached a certain age? Absolutely not. But hey, if this is something you do, by all means have at it.

Yes, my F250 batteries, (2) are now 4.5 years old and am replacing them as winter is approaching, each cost approximately $190. Having led a transportation operations unit for several years in a highly regulated industry, maintenance for dependability is very high on the list of continued success. . waiting until items fail for maintenance is the antithesis of a proper operational strategy.

So as with everything, it works until it doesn't work.

[photo1902]

Yes, my F250 batteries, (2) are now 4.5 years old and am replacing them as winter is approaching, each cost approximately $190. Having led a transportation operations unit for several years in a highly regulated industry, maintenance for dependability is very high on the list of continued success. . waiting until items fail for maintenance is the antithesis of a proper operational strategy.

So as with everything, it works until it doesn't work.

I don’t lead a “transportation operations unit”. Just my wife’s vehicle and mine. Quite frankly there’s not a soul I’ve ever known in all my years that has ever proactively replaced a battery. Maybe I’m the anomaly! :)

But back to RG123’s post, he has some good advice

[Tvflguy]

No sense replacing it until it’s shot. Get a jump start and drive to one of the many auto parts stores in the area. They’ll install a new one for free (a tip is also nice).

????? That’s your advice? I believe in Preventative maintenance. Cheap money in the long run.

So perhaps run the tires bald, put on a spare when one goes flat then go to the tire shop.

So perhaps run the car until the engine oil is thick and black. When the engine starts to tick, plan for that oil change.

I could go on, but….

[photo1902]

????? That’s your advice? I believe in Preventative maintenance. Cheap money in the long run.

So perhaps run the tires bald, put on a spare when one goes flat then go to the tire shop.

So perhaps run the car until the engine oil is thick and black. When the engine starts to tick, plan for that oil change.

I could go on, but….

Easy there. I was referring to proactively replacing your car battery after so many years. No one said anything about oil changes, tire replacement etc.

[Pairadocs]

[QUOTE=mtdjed;2274042]Also important to do when it does fail. Things change by model and year. My 2013 VW Golf only is necessary to open and close the door locks. The key fob has a key which is always used to start the car.

However, it is also used to unlock the door once you locate the hidden key slot under a cap on the door handle. Not a big deal unless you don't know about the hidden slot.

Each car has its own technique. Learn yours now. Learn where the spare key is located in some FOBs. Learn what kind of battery is used and how to replace . Learn by changing now and then keep an accessible spare.

Oh what great advice. I learned ALL of this "the hard way" (a phrase my dad always used) one COLD early morning in a hotel garage on my way "up north" in my Volvo XC 90. The next Volvo SUV I had was completely different, different process, different "blank key" (the one hidden in the fob), so you certainly did many a favor by telling them they have to learn all this for EACH auto they buy !

[Pairadocs]

Easy there, princess. I was referring to proactively replacing your car battery after so many years. No one said anything about oil changes, tire replacement etc.

Wow, glad you commented. I was reading this strand and I almost thought some adult was trying to lecture a small child. Went from the "task" of opening a key fob (often using a coin from your pocket", to talking about driving on BALD tires, and then a lecture on not replacing only the bad tire but all four ($800 to $1200 minimum, obviously oblivious that there are young families and seniors who can not replace all tires when some have tread time left ! I didn't know what all that lecture type talking down to meant, but "WOW" was my first reaction. Someone needs to calm down for sure, and respect that others probably do not do exactly as they do. Seemed more like a "dressing down" or a "lecture or rant" of the "I know best" type. Strange post if it was actually written by a mature adult. Notice it did not start out with something like, "that's one way to look at it, I personally like to practice preventative maintenance by changing my oil often even if not needed, getting rid of tires even if still have some miles left, but I realize many people do like, or need, to get every hour of use out of anything they have to purchase".....nope, nothing in that post seemed to have any understanding that all adults have their own opinions and way of doing things. It's a mystery how some people "think" in such narrow perimeters ?

[photo1902]

Easy there, princess. I was referring to proactively replacing your car battery after so many years. No one said anything about oil changes, tire replacement etc.

Wow, glad you commented. I was reading this strand and I almost thought some adult was trying to lecture a small child. Went from the "task" of opening a key fob (often using a coin from your pocket", to talking about driving on BALD tires, and then a lecture on not replacing only the bad tire but all four ($800 to $1200 minimum, obviously oblivious that there are young families and seniors who can not replace all tires when some have tread time left ! I didn't know what all that lecture type talking down to meant, but "WOW" was my first reaction. Someone needs to calm down for sure, and respect that others probably do not do exactly as they do. Seemed more like a "dressing down" or a "lecture or rant" of the "I know best" type. Strange post if it was actually written by a mature adult. Notice it did not start out with something like, "that's one way to look at it, I personally like to practice preventative maintenance by changing my oil often even if not needed, getting rid of tires even if still have some miles left, but I realize many people do like, or need, to get every hour of use out of anything they have to purchase".....nope, nothing in that post seemed to have any understanding that all adults have their own opinions and way of doing things. It's a mystery how some people "think" in such narrow perimeters ?

Ain’t that the truth!

[Topspinmo]

I don’t lead a “transportation operations unit”. Just my wife’s vehicle and mine. Quite frankly there’s not a soul I’ve ever known in all my years that has ever proactively replaced a battery. Maybe I’m the anomaly! :)

But back to RG123’s post, he has some good advice


I highly doubt few actually replace their batteries, the call someone?

[Topspinmo]

Wow, glad you commented. I was reading this strand and I almost thought some adult was trying to lecture a small child. Went from the "task" of opening a key fob (often using a coin from your pocket", to talking about driving on BALD tires, and then a lecture on not replacing only the bad tire but all four ($800 to $1200 minimum, obviously oblivious that there are young families and seniors who can not replace all tires when some have tread time left ! I didn't know what all that lecture type talking down to meant, but "WOW" was my first reaction. Someone needs to calm down for sure, and respect that others probably do not do exactly as they do. Seemed more like a "dressing down" or a "lecture or rant" of the "I know best" type. Strange post if it was actually written by a mature adult. Notice it did not start out with something like, "that's one way to look at it, I personally like to practice preventative maintenance by changing my oil often even if not needed, getting rid of tires even if still have some miles left, but I realize many people do like, or need, to get every hour of use out of anything they have to purchase".....nope, nothing in that post seemed to have any understanding that all adults have their own opinions and way of doing things. It's a mystery how some people "think" in such narrow perimeters ?


Maybe is wasn’t lecture but learning experience to be avoided?

[LianneMigiano]

Another tip, change your oil don’t wait on light to come on. That could take couple years if you don’t put enough mile to trip it. If you got turbo charged engine I wouldn’t go over 5000 miles or 6 months. Non turbo engine year maybe, but that’s pushing it. You don’t want VVT or piston rings coking up and sticking. Now if you trade every three years don’t matter it will be the next person’s problems.
OK...I have a question... I've had one oil change (with synthetic oil) on the 3,700 of my 4 year old car. I put on about 100 miles per month. Realistically, WHEN MUST I get the next oil change???

[retiredguy123]

OK...I have a question... I've had one oil change (with synthetic oil) on the 3,700 of my 4 year old car. I put on about 100 miles per month. Realistically, WHEN MUST I get the next oil change???
Personally, I would do it every year or so, but I don't have any real data to support it. I definitely wouldn't let it go for 4 years.

To me, vehicle maintenance is much more important if you plan to keep the vehicle for a long time. The only maintenance I do is to change the oil, but I would not keep a vehicle for more than 100K miles or so.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

I highly doubt few actually replace their batteries, the call someone?

I change my own, its not hard. unbolt clamps from post, lift up place on ground, lift new battery and drop in place, tighten bolts on post.

On a gas VW Jetta one time, i changed the battery and there was a computer setting to say that if the battery is changed, don't allow the engine rpms go above a certain level. :cus: So I had to take the car to the dealer to get the computer reset so I could drive past 40 mph. . . spend another $40 or so for a diagnostic reader reset. :bowdown: to the dealers. . and you wonder why there was the right to repair law created in MA, after all the ways the car mfgs did to generate after market revenue for their dealers.

On my first 10 year owned car, new 1982 diesel Jetta, (top speed 70 mph in 5th gear going downhill 30 % angle with your foot on the floor (wind resistance took over) ) the battery died on a ski trip during the winter in NH. :cus: Fortunately with a standard transmission, we could start the engine by popping the clutch. So we got the car started, and 1/2 home we stopped for lunch so we let the car idle in the parking lot. Came out of the fast food chain and the engine had stopped! :cus: We had to push the car and pop the clutch again to get home where we had the second car. kind of one of those learning lessons that batteries die in places and at times which are usually not convenient.

But AAA has a great deal for driveway service, test it for you right in the driveway, and change it for you right in the driveway, and pay right there on the spot. Service within a few hours or so after calling. Try it out, might save you the jump and the trip to the service station. . . .

[Topspinmo]

OK...I have a question... I've had one oil change (with synthetic oil) on the 3,700 of my 4 year old car. I put on about 100 miles per month. Realistically, WHEN MUST I get the next oil change???


It’s the starting and stop in that will get you. Years ago My Aunt use to change her oil every 3000 miles. She only made short trips rarely engine got the engine GOOD and warm. The problem was it would take 2 or 3 years or more to come close to 3000 miles. Her 8 year old car with less than 25K miles sounded like non oiled sowing machine. You could hear every lifter smacking the the valve stems.

even more important today with fuel ejection, high pressure fuel deliveries, and especially turbo charged. With stop and go driving excess heat it breaks down the oil faster, oil eventually becomes black and gooey. This coked up small passages VVT, piston compression rings, create more heat in turbo charger faster. Only way to reduce this problem is with oil changes. It usually takes 80K plus to gum up engine with minimal maintenance. Most people don’t keep vehicles that long. I would never leave oil in my vehicles over 2 years regardless of miles.

[biker1]

Look in the maintenance section of your owner's manual and follow the recommendation for "severe service". If your car has a "maintenance minder", that tells you when to perform certain maintenance procedures, then you can follow that.

OK...I have a question... I've had one oil change (with synthetic oil) on the 3,700 of my 4 year old car. I put on about 100 miles per month. Realistically, WHEN MUST I get the next oil change???

[JRcorvette]

Don’t leave your Fob in or near your car. The Fob will continually try to communicate with the car and the battery will be drained very quickly!

[asianthree]

Our fobs battery only last about 13 months. One never leaves the house, so no idea why a short battery life. I have changed them myself, and had the dealership do it. Either way still 13 months

[Bill14564]

Our fobs battery only last about 13 months. One never leaves the house, so no idea why a short battery life. I have changed them myself, and had the dealership do it. Either way still 13 months

Ours seems to be a bit longer but I can't say exactly how many months.

EDIT: This is not quite correct. See the post below for better information.

I suspect the key fobs are constantly sending out a signal whether they are near the car or not. When you think about it, how would they know if they were close? They don't have GPS and they don't have a way to sense that the vehicle is near. The only way they can work is to constantly broadcast. The car is constantly listening and reacts when the fob comes close enough.

[asianthree]

Ours seems to be a bit longer but I can't say exactly how many months.

I suspect the key fobs are constantly sending out a signal whether they are near the car or not. When you think about it, how would they know if they were close? They don't have GPS and they don't have a way to sense that the vehicle is near. The only way they can work is to constantly broadcast. The car is constantly listening and reacts when the fob comes close enough.

Actually dealer said our fob must be within the car to activate. Standing outside of 10’ will not engage the car or fob. I asked last time had to change the fob that never leaves the house. He did state that the batteries used in fobs, don’t come with the new 10 date like regular batteries. So still got nothing

[Bill14564]

Actually dealer said our fob must be within the car to activate. Standing outside of 10’ will not engage the car or fob. I asked last time had to change the fob that never leaves the house. He did state that the batteries used in fobs, don’t come with the new 10 date like regular batteries. So still got nothing


EDIT: Was useful to look this up.

It seems current fobs have a passive system to "wake up" the active system that actually communicates with the car. The car sends out a signal that the fob can sense without using any energy, similar to how a gate card works. When the fob receives the correct signal it activates the transceiver that communicates with the car. It is entirely possible that the range of the "wake up" signal is ten feet.

This means it is very possible that the fob uses little or no energy when it is outside the "wake up" range. Now, just because the fob is inside the house doesn't mean it is outside that range. I keep my keys in a bin that is one door and another wall away from the car but might be within 10 feet. Perhaps that is why my battery doesn't last much longer than the 13 months you experience.


Most vehicles can tell where the fob is: whether it is in the car or out and even which door it is close to. It makes sense that the starter system would not work if the fob was not inside the vehicle.

I don't know what the range of the fob is (haven't looked it up). The system in the vehicle should be designed to sense how far away the fob is before allowing the door to unlock. You don't want someone to be able to unlock your door as you are walking away from your vehicle and you don't want a stranger to be open the passenger door while you are getting into the driver seat.

[retiredguy123]

EDIT: Was useful to look this up.

It seems current fobs have a passive system to "wake up" the active system that actually communicates with the car. The car sends out a signal that the fob can sense without using any energy, similar to how a gate card works. When the fob receives the correct signal it activates the transceiver that communicates with the car. It is entirely possible that the range of the "wake up" signal is ten feet.

This means it is very possible that the fob uses little or no energy when it is outside the "wake up" range. Now, just because the fob is inside the house doesn't mean it is outside that range. I keep my keys in a bin that is one door and another wall away from the car but might be within 10 feet. Perhaps that is why my battery doesn't last much longer than the 13 months you experience.


Most vehicles can tell where the fob is: whether it is in the car or out and even which door it is close to. It makes sense that the starter system would not work if the fob was not inside the vehicle.

I don't know what the range of the fob is (haven't looked it up). The system in the vehicle should be designed to sense how far away the fob is before allowing the door to unlock. You don't want someone to be able to unlock your door as you are walking away from your vehicle and you don't want a stranger to be open the passenger door while you are getting into the driver seat.
I never tested the range, but I can start the vehicle with my fob from about 20 feet away from the vehicle. I can open the lift gate from about 20 feet away. I can start or unlock the vehicle from thousands of miles away using an app on my smart phone.

[Bill14564]

I never tested the range, but I can start the vehicle with my fob from about 20 feet away from the vehicle. I can open the lift gate from about 20 feet away. I can start or unlock the vehicle from thousands of miles away using an app on my smart phone.

I can lock or unlock from the app which is useful. Not sure about the utility, or security, of starting the vehicle from an app. In either case, the fob doesn't have much to do with it at that point.

Oh, and it is questionable whether it will work in a parking garage, particularly an underground facility, or even my home garage. This remote operation uses the mobile network which is not terribly strong where my house is.

[justjim]

And. Replace the vehicle battery itself. Our hot weather does a job on the 12v battery. The original battery of our 2015 died in our garage a few years ago. No indication of an issue at all. So it was about 6 years old and one morning the car was dead in our garage. Our only car.

I had to have remote service come out to our house to install a new battery. At twice the cost it would have if I brought it to a service center.

Lesson learned. Replace your battery at least every 4-5 years to be safe. Fair warning folks.

Generally my motto is “if it’s not broke don’t fix it”. On the car, I would call AAA. We got the grandkids AAA last Christmas. Best present ever my granddaughter says! But to each their own…

[retiredguy123]

By the way, if you need a new fob, I found that the least expensive place is Affordable Lock, 352-792-0921. They will provide a new fob, program it, and cut the manual key that is inside the fob for $215. This is compared to ACE Hardware, $350, and the Ford dealer, $425. You can buy a blank fob on Amazon, but you need to get someone to program it.

[Dusty_Star]

OK...I have a question... I've had one oil change (with synthetic oil) on the 3,700 of my 4 year old car. I put on about 100 miles per month. Realistically, WHEN MUST I get the next oil change???

There are a couple of things you may be able to do to check. One is on the odometer/tripometer there may a be an option that tells you the oil life percentage. You may have to keep flipping through options to find it. If it exists & tells you 40% or less, then you need to get an oil change soon. Another option is to check the dip stick. Take it out, wipe with a clean cloth & reinsert. When removed again it will give you an idea of whether you are low on oil or if the oil you have is pretty dirty. In both cases get an oil change soon. If you are unable to check your dip stick, try asking a neighbor - it is a common check & someone will probably be able to help you.

[Topspinmo]

Don’t leave your Fob in or near your car. The Fob will continually try to communicate with the car and the battery will be drained very quickly!

Depends on fob features and manufacture. My 2012 Honda original fob battery still good. But it does basic functions. Most vehicle’s now you have to have fob to start the push button car along with outer functions it takes battery power so naturally the battery will go dead much quicker.

[CarlR33]

The antithesis of a well maintained mechanical device, upon which you depend for most of your significant / important activities in life, such as medical appointments, vacations, trips to airport for vacation, family holidays.

This strategy is very inconvenient if the car dies on these particular days, and crapping out on some of those days are a lot more expensive than other days, ie, a missed vacation flight. Obviously this poster has never worked in operations, where the whole operation shuts down for maintenance issues is a big net loss for the organization.

Personally, the dumbest operational strategy i have ever read. Also reads like an academic / consulting financial strategy to save money, like the railroads deferring regular track maintenance, until the tracks give way and the accident rail cars contain very poisonous / flammable contents. .
The battery can also be load tested every few months at any car parts store if you want to milk it, LOL. I have had batteries last anywhere from 5-10 years.

[Topspinmo]

Ok, here example of manufacture that considered most trusted/reliable brand in world. Even being most trusted/reliable brand you still have to maintain it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdIFYJvCCdM

This guy torn down about every brand modern engines out there. Most of the time it from neglected oil changes causing failures.

[Topspinmo]

heard of Teslas having lockout problems


Tesla’s having problems ? Noooooo. :D