Seeking Solutions for Locking, Key Fob, and Warning Light Issues on a 2014 Dacia Sandero: Potential Ignition Key Battery Problem

Hey there, I dealt with something similar on my 2012 Dacia Duster, so I can share my experience. I'm not a car genius, just someone with low-level experience who fumbles his way through stuff. Turned out to be exactly what you're suspecting - a worn out key fob battery. Took my Duster to the local garage, where they simply replaced the exhausted battery with a fresh one. The diagnosis and solution was quick and, fortunately, didn't leave a big hole in the wallet - cost me only about 37€. Without knowing the full details of your issue, it's tough to provide a precise fix. How about you give us more about your Sandero’s specific problem? That way, we can guide you better!

Hey there, appreciate the quick response! That's interesting what you experienced with your Duster. As for my Sandero's specific issue, the locking problem is kind of intermittent. Sometimes it locks and unlocks fine with the fob, other times…. nada. The warning light on the speedometer is a little unusual too. It tends to light up unusually, mostly when I'm driving for 20-30 minutes nonstop. Also, one weird thing is the key fob sometimes loses all its settings and needs to be reprogrammed, happened about twice in the last 3 months. With the car at 45417 KM old and counting, I guess it's time to deal with these ageing issues eh? That cost of yours at the garage sure sounds reasonable. I hope I can get this sorted without tearing a big hole in my pocket either! Any more suggestions are welcome! Btw, has anyone lately serviced their Dacia around this mileage? What was it like?

Hey, cheers for elaborating on your problem. Sounds like your Dacia Sandero is having an intermittent episode alright! The issue you’re experiencing with the locking system and the fob acting up reminded me of what I had faced with my Duster. The issue with your key fob losing all its settings is still leading me to suspect that it's an issue with the key fob battery running low. Also, the warning light appearing after a certain time of driving might be an indication to this or something else, not quite sure there. When my Duster hit around 50k KM, apart from the key fob problem, I faced a small problem with the ignition coil pack, but nothing major that ripped my pocket apart. But speaking specifically to your Sandero issues, I’d say go ahead and have the key fob battery replaced - I feel like it's a good starting point. Oh and about the service, well, I had mine serviced recently at around this mileage. Got the oil and filters replaced, which cost me around 130 Euro all up - pretty standard stuff really. It's always best to keep 'em well-tuned, eh? I hope you find a decent mechanic who doesn't charge an arm and a leg. Good luck!

Thanks for the detailed response and sharing more about your experience with your Duster. I think you're right, replacing the key fob battery seems to be a good starting point, and the whole servicing experience you shared sounds pretty straight forward. It's been helpful to hear about real-world experiences with a Dacia. And hey, a mechanic who doesn’t charge an arm and a leg - Amen to that! I'll keep your advice in mind when I take my little Sandero in for its check-up. Thanks again for all the tips and suggestions! And to anyone else in the same boat, I'll keep you updated on how things turn out. Keep on driving!