Have you ever wondered why your Subaru Key Fob Battery seems to die at the most inconvenient times? Many car owners assume it’s simply the passage of time or constant use, but the truth is a bit more nuanced. While it’s easy to point fingers at “air exposure” as the culprit for battery drain, especially for those small coin cell batteries in our key fobs, the reality is that humidity and temperature fluctuations are the more significant factors affecting your Subaru key fob battery life.
It’s a common misconception that lithium coin cell batteries, like the CR2032 often found in Subaru key fobs, are rapidly degraded by simple air exposure. If air alone were the enemy, wouldn’t these batteries need to be hermetically sealed in metal containers? Instead, we find them in standard blister packs, often with small holes for ventilation in older, non-child-resistant packaging. The truth is, these holes aren’t designed to accelerate battery death.
The real issue lies in environmental factors, specifically humidity and temperature changes. Think about where your key fob spends most of its time. It’s often in your pocket, exposed to body heat and sweat, or left in your car, enduring extreme temperature swings from scorching summer heat to freezing winter nights. These conditions significantly impact battery performance and lifespan.
Humidity, in particular, plays a critical role in battery discharge. Studies on CR2032 batteries have indicated that higher humidity levels, especially above 75%, can accelerate self-discharge, corrosion, and transient shorts within the battery. This is far more impactful than mere air exposure. Temperature fluctuations exacerbate this issue. Heat increases the rate of chemical reactions within the battery, leading to faster degradation, while cold temperatures can reduce battery efficiency and power output.
Consider the packaging of these batteries. Many older style blister packs, and even some current ones, aren’t designed for airtight storage. The primary purpose of modern, more robust packaging is child safety, a crucial feature given the small size and potential ingestion hazard of coin cell batteries. This shift towards child-resistant packaging was driven by safety concerns, not necessarily to combat air-related battery degradation.
So, what does this mean for your Subaru key fob battery? It’s not just sitting on your shelf that drains the battery; it’s the daily environmental stress it endures. To maximize the life of your Subaru key fob battery, consider these tips:
- Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Don’t leave your key fob in direct sunlight or extremely cold environments for prolonged periods.
- Minimize Humidity Exposure: Try to keep your key fob dry and avoid excessive moisture.
- Purchase Fresh Batteries: Check the expiration date on battery packaging to ensure you’re buying the freshest stock. A battery with a later expiration date is less likely to have suffered from long-term storage degradation.
- Consider Battery Quality: While inexpensive batteries may seem appealing, investing in reputable brands like Duracell or Energizer can often lead to longer and more reliable performance.
In conclusion, while the idea of air exposure as a battery killer is a common thought, for your Subaru key fob, the real enemies are humidity and temperature fluctuations. By understanding these factors, you can take steps to prolong your key fob battery life and avoid those frustrating moments of a dead remote.
