Why did my Freelander 2's keyfobs fail to work until I placed the remote in the dock?

I returned home after six weeks abroad to find my Land Rover Freelander 2 diesel would not respond to the remote control plipper. Having tried the second remote with the same result, I used the retractable blade to open the (passenger) door. Fearing that the three-and-a-half-year-old original equipment battery had failed, I pessimistically put the remote in the docking aperture and pressed the starter button. The engine fired immediately. Do you have any idea what may have happened?

Asked on 10 February 2011 by DS, Marlborough

Answered by Honest John
The remotes may have chargeable batteries that had lost their charge but regained it as soon as you put the key in its dock from which it is charged.
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