Tip #21: A dead key fob battery rarely means you are stranded
When a key fob battery dies, most vehicles still let you in and start the engine. Many fobs hide a mechanical key blade for the door, and many push-button cars have a backup spot where a weak fob is still recognized. Your owner's manual shows exactly where.
Tip #21 in one line
When a key fob battery dies, most vehicles still let you in and start the engine. Many fobs hide a mechanical key blade for the door, and many push-button cars have a backup spot where a weak fob is still recognized. Your owner's manual shows exactly where.
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Call nowWarning signs
The range shrinks and you have to stand close to the car to unlock it. You press the button twice. The dashboard shows a message about a weak key battery or a key not detected. These are the signs to replace the fob's small coin battery soon, before it quits completely.
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Call nowGetting in and starting the engine
Many smart fobs contain a mechanical key blade that slides or clips out. The driver's door often has a key cylinder, sometimes hidden under a small cap on the handle that you pry off gently. Check the owner's manual for your model; it shows where the blade is and how the cap comes off.
Opening the door with the blade may set off the alarm until the car recognizes the key. That is normal.
Many push-button cars have a backup method for a fob with a weak battery, such as holding the fob against the start button or placing it in a specific spot in the console or cup holder where the car can read it. The location and method vary by manufacturer, so the manual is the authority here.
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Call nowReplacing the battery
Most fobs use a common coin cell listed in the manual or printed on the old battery. Many open with a small screwdriver or the key blade. Note which way the battery faces before removing it.
If you have a second fob, keep it somewhere you can reach quickly and replace its battery at the same time as the first. When both fobs are weak, the car may stop recognizing either of them reliably. A spare fob kept in a safe place at home is also the cheapest answer to the day you lose the main one.
Keep a spare coin cell in the house, not in the car with the fob.
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Call nowIf the problem is not the battery
If a new battery does not fix it, the fob may be damaged or the car may need service. We do not cut or program keys; a dealer or a locksmith does. If the keys are locked inside the car, a car lockout technician can open the door without damage. If the car will not start because the car's own battery is dead, a jump start is the fix. Call (908) 444-0129.
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Call nowMore on lockouts & keys
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Locked out of your car in New Jersey: what to do
- Tip #15: Locked out? Never break a window, unless a person or pet inside is in danger
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which does your car need?
- What happens to your car after a police-ordered tow in New Jersey
- Dead car battery in a New Jersey winter: why it happens and what to do
- Flat tire on a New Jersey highway: what to do
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