How to Repair Car Key Fobs Key fobs can become damaged even if we use them often They are able to break down in a variety of ways Other issues can be more grave than an unresponsive battery Most of these issues can be solved by a quick fix at home Dead Battery A dead battery is the most frequent cause of the key fob not functioning Fob batteries are known to drain quickly, particularly if they are exposed or cold temperatures, humidity or water Keep an extra battery in your wallet in case you need it The LED light will generally stop blinking when the battery in the car key fob is low The fob might also stop working at the same distance that it used to In this case it might be necessary to reprogram the key fob or even replace it entirely Fortunately, replacing the car key fob battery is easy First, you need to determine the type of battery is used The type should be engraved on the side of the fob Google can help you when you're not sure Once you've found the type of battery you want to use, open the key fob near the seam Make use of a flathead screwdriver or even your fingernail to pry apart the two halves Then, you can remove the old battery and put the new one in its place Place the new battery in such a way that the positive + face is facing the buttons on the fob Some drivers may not be aware the fob is dead until they try to lock or unlock their vehicle and the buttons don't respond This can be corrected by reprogramming your fob However it could be time-consuming and expensive You can also contact roadside assistance to find out whether they are able to jumpstart your vehicle and get it back on the road If you've tried both of these solutions and your car is still unable to start, then it's time to contact an expert A qualified technician can determine if your car's computer needs reconfiguring, or if your key fob only requires a new battery They may also recommend an auto shop that will replace the key fob In the end, though, sometimes a brand new fob is the most effective solution Circuit Board Damage Key fobs aren't indestructible, but it is able to withstand a lot of physical harm The battery, the circuit board, and buttons all get their fair share of wear and tear with time, so it's important to be aware and take care of them to keep your car key fob operating well The most straightforward thing to do is to ensure that the battery inside your key fob isn't dead If it is then replace the battery and determine if this fixes the problem If not, you'll need to open the key fob and clean the contact surfaces It can be difficult to open some key fobs since they don't have an easy-release mechanism You may cause damage to your fob by trying take it apart You can purchase a specific tool to open your key fob, but you must always adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines to avoid damaging it Another issue that is common is a damaged or faulty circuit board in the key fob This can be due to various factors like dirt or moisture getting into the battery compartment software problems or even an unintentional firmware update If your key fob isn't working, you may think about having it reprogrammed This can be accomplished by a locksmith who specializes in this kind of work Radio interference is another possibility It could happen when you have other wireless devices around that transmit at the same frequency, such as radar detectors or home security systems If this is the situation you must get in touch with the manufacturer of the other device to ensure that your key fob will not be affected by their signals It is also possible to replace a switch or another electrical component of your key fob This is a more difficult fix however, you can find guides online that show you how to do it yourself You should be careful to be careful, however, since the circuit board in your key fob is very small and can easily break if handled roughly If you're doing this yourself, make sure to make use of an SMT switch that is of high-quality and then solder the switch into the correct position Worn Out Buttons Car key fobs can get a lot of wear and tear They are prone to getting lost and spend a significant amount of time in your purse or pocket This jostling can sometimes cause the buttons to wear down or get stuck When this happens it's possible that a simple adjustment will be all it takes to get it working again Modern key fobs are fitted with sensors that can detect when they've been pressed They're designed to detect this to lower the risk of thieves stealing your car If the buttons on your key fob aren't responding when you press them, that's an indication that they're worn-out and need to be replaced Key fobs also have a circuit board inside them that transmits signals to the car These signals include unlock and lock commands and also commands to start your engine If the circuit board inside your vehicle is damaged, the key fob you have may not unlock your vehicle or even start the engine Typically, this type of damage is caused by water, blunt force or a scratch on the circuit board You'll be able to tell that the buttons on your key fob are deteriorating when you press more than usual in order to get them working Additionally your fob could cease transmitting signals to the car, or have less range than before If you're unable to get your key fob to unlock or start your car, you need to contact a locksmith near you immediately https//wwwg28carkeyscouk/car-key-repairs-near-me/ 'll be able to determine whether the key fob itself is damaged or the ignition cylinder has worn out Fortunately, most key fobs for cars issues aren't very complicated or even serious The best way to avoid being taken by surprise by an issue with your key fob is to keep an extra in your pocket at all times You won't be left stranded because of an unresponsive or lost key If you have lost your spare key, an expert locksmith can rekey it to work with your car's engine They'll also be able to fix any internal damage that may have occurred on the key fob Broken Case The case for your key fob does more than just protect the battery and buttons The case also houses the circuitry that does all the electrical magic every time you press the button on your key fob This board transmits the signal from your key fob to your car If this board is damaged or dead, your key fob won't be able to operate Sometimes, a key fob that is dead will just need to be reset which is something that your local auto locksmith or dealership can assist you with Another reason your key fob may not be working is that the batteries are dying The battery can be replaced at your home The good news is that you can locate a replacement battery on the internet or at a local auto parts store since the batteries aren't limited to key fobs Depending on the type of key fob you have, there are a variety of ways to open it and access the insides A quick search online should show you which type of key fob you have and the type of battery it uses From there, you can buy an alternative and then simply pop the old one out, and then the new one in The biggest concern when repairing the broken car key fob is that you don't want to cause damage to the circuit board or buttons further When you try to break the fob using an edge that is sharp like screwdrivers can damage the case or even damage the plastic Luckily, a replacement case is inexpensive and you can buy a whole fob assembly with the electronics on eBay or Amazon for less than 40 If your key fob doesn't work look into whether the batteries are dead or whether the circuit board has been damaged If this is not the situation, you can get it repaired quickly and cheaply by a professional If not, it may be time to replace the fob Make sure you check the warranty on any replacement or used fobs that you purchase online