I was driving this afternoon on my way home when all of a sudden I received a key system error warning on the info screen. My car started to lose power. The speedometer was going from 0 to 160 a number of times. A lot of the regular warning lights were on. The car wouldn’t accelerate but I managed to get it back to the house as it kind of slightly accelerated and didn’t and slightly accelerated then didn’t. Sorry for not providing a better description.

I did a search but couldn’t find anything that seemed to be relevant. The manual is pretty useless.

The warning said see manual and when I looked up the error code it basically said there is a problem with the I Key System? Didn’t tell me anything. I shut the car off for a couple of minutes and it restarted. Then the error came back. I shut it off again and it started without any warnings but I’m very nervous that there is something seriously wrong with the car. Fortunately, I was not in traffic were crossing through an intersection.

If anybody has any thoughts on what this might be, I’d appreciate any input. Thanks.

 

OK, so I replaced the batteries in both FOBS and went back tot he car and started the car with both FOBS. It started fine both times. I let it run both times and no error showed. However, the red battery light is remaining on. The manual says that is a possible battery charging issue. The battery is new being replaced in February at our local Advance Auto Parts. I am wondering if this could be the famous alternator issue others have reported on? I looked at some those posts but didn't see a Key System Error message in any of them. So I am a bit confused. And am afraid to drive to the dealership which is 20 minutes away. Again, I am requesting any suggestions. Thanks.

 

Your alternator could be failing to a point where your battery is undercharged, thereby all the error messages. If it were me, I would disconnect the battery and put a charger on it for a few hours. This will also reboot the computers in the car. If it is the alternator failing then the battery will soon discharge to a point where the problems start reoccurring. If you do have to change the alternator, make sure you install an OEM one.

 

Thanks. I will ask for the OEM alternator. The local shop is trying to sell me a remanufactured one.

 

The shop is saying the AC compressor needs to be removed to replace the alternator and will increase the labor costs. Is this accurate?

 

Yes I believe that is the case.